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The Lebanon County Career & Technology Center’s joint operating committee voted on Jan. 28 to accept two grants totaling over $156,000.
Representatives from the county’s six public school districts comprising the JOC unanimously voted to approve a COVID-SFR mental health grant totaling $70,000 and a Perkins grant for $86,165.
The COVID-related grant will cover a two-year period to provide mental health counseling services for individuals still struggling in the aftermath of the 2020 pandemic. Â
Chuck Benton, executive administrative director of the Lebanon County CTC, said the Perkins grant will be utilized for equipment purchases at the career and technology center.Â
Perkins grants are federal funds that support career and technical education (CTE) programs for secondary and postsecondary students. The grants are awarded to states, which then distribute the funds to local school districts and institutions.
In an unrelated action, JOC members unanimously approved a $49,268 purchase with Allentown-based IntegraONE of wireless access points through the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rate program.
When asked if the federal funding freeze enacted by President Donald Trump last week would impact funding for this purchase, the JOC was told the funding was approved prior to that action. It was also asked whether that funding will be available in future years.
Trump reversed the freezing action on Wednesday – the day after the board meeting – due to widespread confusion he said it had caused, according to media reports.
In other matters, the JOC took action on four personnel matters including a retirement severance payment to the former administrative director, two retirements and a hiring. All votes were unanimous.Â
The board agreed to pay former administrative director Andra Groller $250 per day for the 12.5 days of accrued and unused sick days remaining as of her last day of employment. Groller resigned near the end of 2024. The Dec. 17 board meeting was Groller’s last.Â
Her resignation, effective Dec. 31, came 13 months after she signed a three-year contract through June 30, 2026, to serve as the center’s administrative director. Previously asked by LebTown why she was resigning in the middle of a three-year contract, Groller said, “it was time.”
Read More: Lebanon County CTC school director resigns from post before contract ends
The two personnel matters regarding staff departures included the “resignation for the purpose of retirement” of Nina Eckert, dental assistant instructor, and Michele Werni, cosmetology instructor. Eckert’s resignation is effective on June 30 while Werni’s was noted as occurring at “the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year.”
The board also moved to hire Rebecca Zimmerman as special education facilitator, effective on or before April 7 for 189 days plus 5 days (per diem rate), with benefits. The hiring comes pending receipt of all required paperwork.
Concerning curriculum, the JOC unanimously approved four agenda items.Â
The board approved five FFA students and an adviser to attend the 2025 state legislative leadership conference in Harrisburg on March 23 at an estimated cost of $350.
Three other actions were also taken for the purposes of staff development.
Marilyn Lethroff, assistant director, was approved to attend professional learning in the Dominican Republic between Feb. 13 and 18 at an estimated zero cost. Michelle Werni, cosmetology instructor, will attend the spring AVTEC meeting in Ebensburg on March 7 at an estimated cost of $369. Robert Corle, culinary arts instructor, will attend the Chef2Chef 2025 Conference in Baltimore, March 24-26, at an estimated cost of $281.
During the director’s report, which was the first for Charles Benton after replacing Groller, he said the school’s masonry program received a donation of manufactured veneer stone valued at $7,000 from ABS manufacturing LLC, and the dental program received a $3,000 donation from Lebanon County Dental Society.
He said the CTC’s FFA chapter competed in the large landscape design competition at the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show and won second place. Additionally, LCCTC FFA member Evan O’Rourke placed second in the mini-landscape design competition during the agricultural extravaganza.
Benton informed the directors that Justin Green, electrical mechanical instructor, was selected to the Lebanon County Educational Honor Society. Other recent honors of note were January’s Rotary Club’s students of the month, Jewell Ortell of Lebanon High School and Kevin Foster, who Benton said he believes attends Palmyra School District.
In other CTC business, the JOC agreed to:
- Accept the cafeteria, student activity and financial reports.
- Pay invoices totaling $958,193.12. Included in this amount are the following Capital Reserve Fund check payments to Beers+Hoffman Architects, $10,351.25; Steckbeck Engineering & Surveying, Inc., $9,725.06; and Blatt & Myers, $15,975.00.
- Approve the minutes of their Dec. 17 meeting.
The CTC’s JOC meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, 833 Metro Drive, Lebanon, at 6:30 p.m. Parking and entrance are on the rear (north) side of the building.
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