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Northern Lebanon School officials learned Tuesday, Sept. 8, that planned renovations at the Lebanon County Career & Technology Center in South Lebanon Township have been placed on hold.
Board director Dave Kline, who represents NLSD on the joint operating committee of the LCCTC, informed fellow NLSD members that no movement toward those renovations will occur until it’s determined if Lebanon School District will opt out of its current arrangement to launch its own vocational education program.
The directors also made a number of moves involving facilities throughout the district during the meeting.
LebTown first reported that the city’s school district is exploring opening its own career and technology studies program as it researches the possibility of leaving the LCCTC, which comprises all six public school districts in Lebanon County.
“It kind of puts everything on hold for the time being. So for the time being, I believe Lebanon’s intent is to have a vote on the future of their participation in the CTC in November,” Kline said.
LSD officials voted in mid-August to explore options of exiting the LCCTC, which is the county’s vocational career program for students in Lebanon County. The decision comes in the midst of the JOC considering making major renovations at their facilities located in the 800 block of Metro Drive in South Lebanon Township.
Read More:
- (Aug. 20, 2026) CTC director offers ideas to keep Lebanon School District in fold
- (Aug. 20, 2026) Lebanon school board weighs leaving Career & Technology Center
Cost estimates are $79.5 million to $93 million for renovation and $116.5 million for all-new construction, according to preliminary drafts by the LCCTC’s architect on the project, Beers + Hoffman of Lancaster, LebTown has previously reported.
Kline highlighted what could happen if LSD decides to pursue their own in-house vocational career program.
“So if they decide to withdraw, there’s a whole process. It’s in the articles agreement. We have to vote on it as a JOC and approve their withdrawal. So that’s hurdle one,” Kline said. “There’s a lot of moving parts to this. I think at the end, we all want an amicable resolution. As of right now, I don’t know what that looks like.”
Kline mentioned a court case involving the River Valley School District in Indiana County that made a similar move as the one being contemplated by LSD officials.
“In this court case, the judge ruled that they can leave, but it’s going to take 13 years of financial responsibility,” Kline said, later noting the timeframe is actually 11 years. “So there’s a lot going on. We’re going to hope and pray for an amicable resolution. But there’s, like I said before, there’s a lot in the courts.”
Depending on Lebanon’s decision, the renovation project – which has already been delayed and has faced increasing costs – may need to be revised, he added.
“And then we’ll probably have to start all over again with renovations if we do have an amicable resolution,” Kline said.
Superintendent Gary Messinger, current superintendent of record at the LCCTC, said he had no additional comments but felt Kline had “hit it with a nail on the head.”
“We have a lot to work on,” Messinger added. “If anybody has any questions, feel free to ask.”
Facility projects
The following facility agenda items were all approved unanimously by the board to:
- Repair and do preventive maintenance of the recreational fitness equipment by Maiden USA totaling $9,835.
- Renew the hot water system treatment agreement with Tustin Water Solutions from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2027, for two facilities for $1,694 each. This addresses prevention of the water used to heat the Northern Lebanon Elementary School and at the second school from becoming corrosive as it gets heated through the boiler system.
- Conduct a roof infrared study by Optics Diagnostic Solutions LLC totaling $7,881. This is a roof scan for the secondary building to ensure there is a proper seal between the new sections of the roof and the old ones.
- Grant the Fredericksburg Sewer and Water Authority and board a joint temporary construction easement agreement for a public water right-of-way to run along the east side of the property. The agreement includes running a water line from Airport Road across the property up to FSWA’s old treatment plant, which authority officials want to retool and bring back online. The sewer and water authority will install a fire hydrant along the driveway side of the elementary school property for the district to use for irrigation and to water the athletic fields on that side of the building, according to assistant district superintendent Dr. Bradly Reist.
Other board business
In other business, the board voted unanimously to:
- Name Madison National Life Insurance as the district’s carrier for the district’s life insurance benefit plan.
- Allow various ag field trips for the 2026-27 school year, including the Big E Eastern States Exposition, Sept. 17-18, Springfield, Massachusetts; National FFA Convention, Oct. 20-23, Indianapolis, Indiana; ACES (Agricultural Cooperative Establishes Success), Feb. 6-7, Harrisburg; State Legislative Leadership Conference, March 14-16, Harrisburg; and PA FFA State Conference, June 8-10, Penn State University.
- Grant a World Language Field Trip to Costa Rica from March 9 to 17, 2028.
- Accept a memorandum of understanding with Thaddeus Stevens for students to take coursework there. School board president Barry Naum said he believed the agreement is fantastic because it will get students into the workforce much quicker.
- Approve Amy Wingerter to provide up to five hours a week of home instruction to a secondary student beginning the second week of September through Oct. 31.
- Enact the Student Transportation Agreement policy.
- Grant a variety of personnel transactions including employment offers, resignations, redesignations, mentors to assist students, tenure and a number of 2026-27 substitute hires. Other personnel moves involved hiring coaches, help at games, and bus drivers/aides.
- Approve the minutes of their Aug. 5 and Aug. 11 meetings.
- Receive various committee reports.
Dates to remember
Sept. 25 – Legacy Night
Sept. 29 – Middle School pictures
Sept. 30 – High School pictures
Oct. 2 – Homecoming Football Game
Oct. 3 – Homecoming Dance – 6 – 9 p.m.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the NLSD board is Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the board room of the Northern Lebanon Elementary School, 346 School Drive, Fredericksburg.
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