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Due to declining interest and enrollment, the Williamsport Area School Board voted in favor of closing the machine tool technology/machinist Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at the high school. The action was taken at this month's board meeting.
"We currently have 15 CTE programs that we're constantly evaluating what's appropriate, what does the job force look like in the community and a big part of that is students interest and students completing that program," said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Richard Poole.
"Over the last ten years we've seen a consistent reduction in the number of students selecting that program and that was really recruiting students into it," he said.
He noted that often students started the program but never completed it.
"So really, over the last five or six years, as we looked at that, we felt it is time to end that program to look at bringing in the other program to that space. That's what we're currently doing. We explored HVAC, plumbing, electrical - there's a big need in this region for that," Poole said.
The district is making sure that any student in the program as it's been winding down, will have opportunities to make sure they're completers before it is totally closed.
"We spent a whole year really studying whether or not we should remake that program. To really do that program well, we really would have had to basically take everything out of that space and put all new in because our machines were getting old and antiquated," said Superintendent Dr. Timothy S. Bowers.
"Our concern was making that kind of investment, and then not having kids want to do the program when we do have such a good partner in Penn College - we do partner on a lot of things. It just makes more sense to go this direction. We know machining is needed in Lycoming County, and we think that need is being satisfied by Penn College," Bowers said.
Poole pointed out that this program is the district's most expensive CTE program.
"At this time, this feels the best option is to end that program, let's look at that space, refurbish it, for many new programs," Poole said.
In other business, the board approved the following change orders, related to the stadium and tennis court projects: Lobar, Inc., the general contractor, a total of $45,997; and TurnKey, Inc., for electrical work, $6,574.
Under personnel, the board acknowledged the retirements of: Jeffrey R. Marshall, full-time head custodian; Steven D. Weaver, full-time custodian; and Deborah A.Parks, part-time aide at the Middle School.
They also approved the resignations of the following personnel: Fatima Y. Miller, full-time school nurse at Hepburn-Lycoming and Lycoming Valley; Anna L. Sloey, full-time sign language interpreter at Jackson; Sarah l. Travelpiece, full-time sign language interpreter at Hepburn-Lycoming; Tammy R. Adams and Tabitha R. Gehr, part-time aides at Jackson Primary; Diane S. Salamone, part-time aide at Hepburn-Lycoming; and Mark A. Signor, part-time custodian at the Warehouse.
Other personnel items included hiring the following people at the rates of pay listed: Madeline E. Charles, full-time 7th grade English teacher at the Middle School, $71,356; Nikki L. Kirkendall, full-time nurse at Hepburn-Lycoming and Lycoming Valley, $60,742; Tytianna Z. Blackstock, part-time aide at the Middle School, $20.54 per hour; Alexis M. Miller, part-time aide at Hepburn-Lycoming, $20.54 per hour; and Tatanya K. James, part-time aide at Lycoming Valley, $19.19 per hour.
Diane E. Welch was approved as a certified retiree substitute teacher at $200 per day and the Lydia R. Krizan was hired as a certified substitute teacher at $150 per day.
Cara M. Parsell, Abigail C. Burley, Courtney A. Burns, Ty A. Estes and Diane S. Salomone, were approved as non-certified substitute teachers at the rate of $125 per day and Angelina A. Macchia-Barbs and Abigail L. Becker were approved as student teacher substitutes at $125 per day.
Several coaches and volunteers were approved for the 2026-27 school year including the following head coaches at the stipends lister: Lamar W. Ballard, girls' high school basketball, $9,000; Eric E. Goodwell, 9th grade girls' basketball, $3,240; Allen V. Taylor, boys' high school basketball, $9,00; Dion M. Young, boys' 9th grade basketball, $4050; Tyree J. Kirkpatrick, 9th grade boys basketball, $3,442; Isaac F. Ritter and Ahmir N. Elizy, 8th grade boys' basketball, $2,677 each; Joshua D. Aarons, 7th grade boys' basketball, $2,992; Brian J. Nasdeo, high school boys' wrestling, $8,858; Keith E. Segraves, middle school boys' wrestling, $3,600; Kevin C. Werner, girls' high school wrestling, $7,267; Kenneth S. Williams, girls' middle school wrestling, $$3,060; Brett L. Johnson, high school swimming, $5,400; Caitlin M. Clemons, unified indoor bocce, $1,068; Jeremy S. Steppe, boys' track and field, $7,200; and Vicki L. Eberhart, girls' track and field, $7,200.
Agreements approved by the board included: the training services agreement with Penn College for the Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship (AMP), which will allow a high school student to participate in a blend of online trainings at the high school and four in-person days at Penn College with tuition fees paid through the college's grant funding; the renewal agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for Pennsylvania Electronic Teacher Evaluation Portal at a cost of $19,523; an Intro to Social Work course, a psychology course, Lifespan Development and a course on technology for individuals with exceptionalities at Commonwealth University with all costs for the courses the responsibility of the student's family; an agreement with Perry Weather to provide comprehensive weather monitoring and alerting services to the district at a cost of $24,362; and an agreement with Keystone Advertising for two van wraps at a cost of $12,650 to be paid out of the athletic and public relations budgets.
The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m, November 10 at the District Center Board Room, 2780 West Fourth St.