CTE program streamlined at Jersey Shore; adds a health and medical assisting services track

JERSEY SHORE -- After months of discussion, the Jersey Shore Area School Board approved adding a health & medical assisting services program to their Career Technical Education (CTE) program beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The vote was 8-1 with board member Harry Brungard as the lone dissenter.

In order to add the health careers program, the board also voted on measures to streamline the CTE program overall, including closing the construction trades program; closing the precision production program and opening a machinist/machining technology program; closing the administrative assistant program and opening an entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial skills program; and opening a diversified occupations/job-changing skills program.

All other changes to the CTE program were approved unanimously.

The construction trades program will close in the 2025-26 school year in order for students currently enrolled in it to finish. All other changes in the CTE program take effect for the 2024-25 school year.

The instructor for the construction trades program is retiring, so by closing that section, the cost of an instructor for the new health and medical assisting services will be covered by an already budgeted position, Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer told the board.

"When this program didn't get approved before, it would have been adding a position to the budget or taking one potentially from somewhere that had not been determined," Ulmer said.

"Now that you have voted first to close construction trades, you have a position in your budget that would be moved to health careers," he added.

Referring to concerns about the cost of starting the new program that board members had voiced at prior meetings, Ulmer said that he believes that the district is in "a better position at this point than we've been in a long time in the month of March."

"So, I'm going into this vote saying confidently that I think we're in a good budget position to work on closing a smaller deficit than we've had historically at this point in the budget process," Ulmer said.

Ulmer indicated that 30 students have shared that they're interested in health careers.

Again addressing the concerns about costs, Ulmer said, "I know it's hard to not cut the position and save that money out of the budget. But, it only takes three or four kids to go somewhere and by the time you pay their tuition and transportation you're back there."

"I also look at this program as a starting point and making sure that, as with all of our CTEs, this one is a place where people can continue to stay and work and live in Jersey Shore and we would be setting them up for that," Ulmer said.

In other business, under personnel, the board approved the following: Thomas Ford Jr., volunteer baseball coach; Justin Jordan, volunteer football coach; Collin Glorioso, assistant middle school track and field coach, $2,399 stipend; Glenn Stephens, head middle school track and field coach, $2,932 stipend; Misti Hart and Renee Yarborough, assistant middle school track and field coaches, shared stipend of $1,019 each; Sophia Sprunger, athletic event staff position; and correction of the Fitness Center supervisor stipend for Eric Hess to be $1,390.

The board also accepted the following letters of resignation: Brooke Stroble, special education learning support K-2 paraprofessional at Jersey Shore elementary; Justin Jordan, head middle school football coach; Jeremy Tyson, assistant middle school football coach; and a letter of retirement from Gemma Rinella, reading specialist at Salladasburg Elementary.

Other actions taken by the board included approving: the Class of 2026 to hold the 2024-25 prom at Clerestory in the Pajama Factory; a donation of $250 from Grace Lutheran Church for the high school music program to buy instruments; awarding the 2024-25 athletic ball and supply award/CSIU to various vendors for a total of $6,487; the BLaST IU 17 2024-25 general operations budget; and the commitment of $117,200 of fund balance for future technology purchases from funds budget in the 2022-23 technology budget.

Board member Jessie Edwards voted no on the item concerning the location of the prom due to concerns for safety. All other votes were unanimous.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 25 at the District Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.