CCTI's Joint Operating Council reorganizes for 2010

The Joint Operating Council of the Carbon Career and Technical Institute used its December meeting to reorganize for the coming year. The council accepted letters of appointment for a number of members and elected officers for 2010.

JOC acknowledged receipt of Letters of Appointment from Jim Thorpe Area School District for Thomas Henry and Palmerton Area School District for Carl Bieling, both of whom will serve a three year term beginning in December 2009 and ending in December 2012.

Letters of Appointment for alternate representatives to the JOC were received from Jim Thorpe Area School District for Gerald Strubinger, Lehighton Area School District for William J. Hill, Jr., Palmerton Area School District for Susan Debski, Panther Valley School District for Bill Hunsicker, and Weatherly Area School District Joanne Dougherty. Alternates serve for one year, beginning this month and running through December of 2010.

Finally, a Letter of Appointment was received from Jim Thorpe Area School District for Randall L. Smith, who will serve on the council for a five year term beginning in January and running through January 2015.

Attorney Robert T. Yurchak was retained as the JOC's solicitor for the six months beginning January, 1, 2010 and ending June 30 of the same year at a rate of $2,500.

The JOC appointed Anthony DeMarco chairman and Carl Bieling was nominated and appointed vice-chairman. A plaque was presented to outgoing JOC chairman Frank Ruch.

The 2010-2011 Proposed Secondary Budget for Carbon Career & Technical Institute was also approved during the meeting. The budget calls for receipts and expenditures in the amount of $6,649,542 for the next school year. The budget was forwarded to the Boards of School Directors in each of the participating school districts for review.

When Thomas Henry reported to the Jim Thorpe Area School District board earlier in the week, he said that this was only a preliminary budget and that there was a lot of work to do on it before it would be ready for adoption. As it's currently written, the proposed budget represents an increase in district member share of 4.6%, which is the same as last year's increase.

CCTI will enter into a two year contract with Constellation New Energy (CNE) for retail electricity purchasing pending the Solicitor's review. The move was based on the recommendations of the administrative director, the business administrator and Provident Energy, a consultant hired to provide a recommendation on electricity procurement.

CCTI will also go with a new local and long distance telephone provider next year. The school will contract with Frontier Communications for these services in 2010, which is expected to save about $500 monthly.