An educational consultant from Ashland concerned about the future of vocational/technical education for high school students in Schuylkill County is developing options to bolster it.
Clyde K. Hornberger — a special adviser to the state secretary of education from 2005 to 2011 — presented some of his ideas to the Pottsville Area school board and area business representatives Wednesday night, and he’s planning to make a presentation to the board of directors of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 on Monday.
“At the request of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Superintendents Advisory Council members, I am providing consulting services in an effort to resolve career and technical education issues concerning program offerings, operational considerations and the method of cost proration to member school district,” Hornberger told the school board.
Hornberger, who worked for IU 29 from 1971 to 1985, started his study in January, Diane M. Niederriter, executive director of IU 29, said Thursday.
“He’s focusing on program operations, budget efficiencies, and he’s reviewing the articles of agreement,” Niederriter said.
“And he’s doing this gratis,” Charles Wagner, a member of the Pottsville Area school board and the IU 29 board of directors, said Wednesday.
The IU 29 board is planning to discuss Hornberger’s ideas at a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Maple Avenue Campus, Mar Lin, and Niederriter said the board may take action on Hornberger’s suggestions.
On Wednesday, Hornberger talked about encouraging local businesses and industries to become involved with the program, developing new budgetary strategies and adding 9th grade to the curriculum at the Schuylkill Technology Center.
“Currently, it’s geared for grades 10 to 12,” Niederriter said.
Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, superintendent at Pottsville Area, has been pushing to change the formula IU 29 uses to fund the Schuylkill Technology Center. In January, he and Blue Mountain Superintendent Robert Urzillo submitted their own proposal to the IU 29 Superintendents Advisory Council, but the council took no further action.
“I want to thank Dr. Hornberger for the work that he has done over the last two months, working with all the superintendents at the IU. Mr. Manning can testify to that. He’s been in the room with us. There’s been a lot of progress in a short amount of time,” Zwiebel said.
He was referring to Brian A. Manning, an IU 29 senior staff accountant who is running for a seat on the Pottsville Area school board. Manning was at Pottsville Area’s meeting Wednesday.
“I can testify, but not yet,” Manning said.
“There’s progress,” Zwiebel said.
“We’re only into this about three months, so I cannot talk to you about accomplishments at this point because they’re under development. And some of the things that were proposed have not yet been reviewed by the Intermediate Unit board but, hopefully, action will be taken soon,” Hornberger said.
“The technology centers really do have excellent facilities and strong core programs. It is not a broken system. The system has a lot of quality attributes to it and our hope is that we can add to those and create some new offerings,” Hornberger said.
During his 15-minute speech, he outlined a few of his ideas:
• “New program offerings will provide a greater diversity of offerings that will appeal to broader student career interests resulting in increased enrollment.”
• “In reality, career and technical education costs more than basic education and cost is the primary reason it is offered on a consortia basis at area career centers and typically not at school districts.”
• “One of the things you need to understand is the cost is relatively high at the Schuylkill Technology Center because it’s under enrolled. They’re approximately 50 percent at capacity. There are some programs that are very full with a waiting list and there are a lot of programs with a very low enrollment.”
• “The process for revising or developing new articles of agreement will require several meetings and a full- or multiple-day retreat with member district superintendents to build consensus on a more equitable funding model. A draft revision or funding formula should be available for consideration by member school districts no later than September 2015.”
“As the workforce changes, the education to supply the workforce has to change, as you’ve pointed out,” John F. Boran, Pottsville Area school board president, said.
Area business representatives who came out to hear Hornberger’s speech Wednesday night included Darlene J. Robbins, president of the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council; Richard L. “Dick” Yuengling Jr., president of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.; Frank J. Zukas, president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.; and Robert S. “Bob” Carl Jr., president of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce.
Career and technical education programs need to change, and evolve, with the times, Robbins said Thursday, and she’s curious about Hornberger’s suggestions.
“Our economy is linked to the strength and skills of our current and future workforce. We must work to ensure that students of all ages are prepared not only for college and/or technical schools but for successful careers,” Robbins said.
In other matters, the Pottsville Area school board voted to buy 150 Speed Classic brand football helmets from Riddell at a cost of $34,700.
On Jan. 21, the school board decided to transfer Dan Vidal, the head custodian at Pottsville Area High School, to a custodial position at the middle school with a reduced salary. At the start of the 2014-15 school year, Vidal had a salary of $39,552. It was reduced to $31,070.
On Wednesday, after reviewing applications from 11 candidates, the school board hired Brad Ross, who had been working as a full-time custodian for the district for more than five years, as head custodian at the high school with a salary of $27,500.