The Carbon Career & Technical Institute has reorganized Student Forum at the school.

Student Forum is a regional collaboration designed to promote student leadership through experiential learning opportunities including: community service projects; engagement in leadership topics; and engagement in school-related topics and current events.

The vision of Student Forum is that it will strengthen bonds between high school students and the community while fostering student leadership. The students in the schools who participate meet four times per year for about three hours to participate in the leadership and community service events. The schools take turns planning the experiences.

“CCTI had a Student Forum in the past,” Principal Michele Connors said. “This year, one of our teachers, Mrs. Larissa Genetti, one of our English teachers and a special education case manager, came to us. She is an alumnus of CCTI; when she attended school here, she was a member of the Student Forum. She graciously offered to serve as a volunteer adviser of the forum.”

CCTI teachers nominated students for the forum. The eight students chosen were: Xavier Philipovich, Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School; Amanda Martell, Jim Thorpe Area High School: Gabryelle Barnett and Calli Mae Peiffer, Lehighton Area High School; and Chloe Klotz, Emily Dorward, Willa Green and Landen Thomas, Palmerton Area High School.

Their most recent event was held on Dec. 17, when they participated in community services activities at Heather Glen Senior Living Facility near Allentown. The students hosted a holiday party for the residents, complete with holiday music, games, crafts, cookie decorating, and more.

Parent conferences

Christine Trovato, facilitator of special education, reported that parent-teacher conferences took place on the evening of Dec. 4. Approximately 34 families signed up to attend. Conferences provide parents and educators the opportunity to meet, gain information about students’ performance, strengths, areas of needed improvement and recommendations.

CCTI offers services for students with special needs. The school currently has 84 students with Individualized Education Plans, 27 students with 504 Service Plans, two students with Gifted IEPs, three English Language Learning students and three homeless/unaccompanied students.

New equipment

The CCTI Joint Operating Committee voted to approve the purchase of a new forklift for the school at a cost of $44,590.

“This reflects the Costar 10% discount, an additional Eastern Lift discount and trade-in credits for two existing units,” Ken Walters, supervisor of Building and Grounds, explained. “The current forklift, manufactured in 1994, has been flagged for safety-related repairs, making replacement necessary.”

Lead time for the new unit is estimated at 8-16 weeks from the issuance of the purchase order.

Also, the school received the new showcase refrigerator for the marketing classroom school store.

“This unit was purchased through the capital plan and replaces a failed leased Pepsi unit, eliminating ongoing lease costs and providing a reliable, school-owned asset for the program,” Walters said.