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Lieutenant governor visits career, technical education programs

Officials of the Williamsport Area School District hope to see the state provide more funding for education after showcasing its career and technical education programs to Lt. Gov. Mike Stack on Thursday.

Stack stopped in the city as part of his “Schools that Teach” tour to learn more about public schools across the state.

The visit gave him the chance to see that state dollars are going to good use to prepare students to enter college, the military or workforce, Dr. Timothy S. Bowers, district superintendent, said.

Finding funding to support school needs can benefit society by sending students out prepared to work, he said, noting his hopes to receive state grant funding for at least one project.

One of the state grants the district hopes to receive is a $3 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant to complete the final renovations of its $3.9 million football stadium project and other athletic facility projects, public relations director Greg Hayes said.

The district’s education foundation has raised $2.3 million of its $2.7 million goal to fund the stadium project, he said. The grant money will fulfill the rest of the cost and also improve tennis courts and build a field house with locker rooms and bathrooms for athletes.

Administrators showed Stack the high school’s football stadium, kitchen for culinary students and automotive garage.

“Public education is key to success in this state,” Stack said. “We want to give people the tools to educate … to encourage people to tap into young minds.”

He said the district is a model of a comprehensive school that provides academics, technical programs and extracurricular activities.

“I agree with a well-rounded curriculum,” Stack said.

Head high school principal Brandon Pardoe said in the last two years the district has expanded its technical education beyond welding and carpentry to include engineering, robotics and biotechnology.

“We should be supplying the community with students to meet their needs,” he said.

Randy Zangara, 12th-grade principal and director of career and technical education, said 700 students are involved in the three-year program that has 14 paths students can choose.

He said he hopes Stack will talk with Gov. Tom Wolf to make sure education is a talking point for future state investments.

Funding programs like those in the career and technical education department provide students with the academic and work skills needed after high school, he said.

By collaborating with the state, county and city governments as well as the private business sector, Jonathan Williamson, City Council president, said there is a chance for economic development through the school district.

Investing in industry partnerships leads to developing well-trained kids to receive jobs that pay, he said.

Schools and businesses need to understand a relationship must take place to prepare students to be ready for the workforce, Jason Fink, executive vice president of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, said.

To develop that relationship, county commissioner Rick Mirabito said he and school administrators have taken students on tours across the county to “paint a picture of what they can be” after high school.

“We need (state) help to help the community and education,” he said.

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