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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Career and Technical Center Board met Tuesday and heard from Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Corbisello that a roundtable with Ohio Director Lydia Mihalilk held at the center earlier in the day was a success.
"We had a small roundtable meeting. I have been pestering Lydia Mihalik who is the director of the department. She oversees some grants, especially the Appalachian Community Grant that we've been working for," he said. "We've been working with the Port Authority since and knowing she had some influence I kept messaging her assistant and Director Mihalik was able to come down for a visit today. It was a nice meeting."
The mission of the roundtable - which also included CCCTC students and staff, local leaders, superintendents, higher-learning institutions and industry representatives -- was to start a discussion about ways to keep the CCCTC in step with advancing technology and consider Electric Vehicle Workforce Strategy launched by the Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's Office of Workforce Transformation as the center looks to expand its automotive program to include the servicing and maintenance of electric vehicles.
CCCTC is planning to expand its programs to embrace other emerging fields such with the inclusion of solar power into the construction technology program as well as advancing interactive media to include intel and cyber security with an addition to the building. Corbisello said $5 million is needed to see the project through to completion (construction, new equipment and instructor training) and invited Mihalik to learn new avenues of funding and put a bug in the director's ear about funding that is already available and waiting to be dispensed.
"We invited some stakeholders, especially when looking at the first project, the transportation addition with electric vehicles and automotive technology. We had some dealership representatives here and they brought some electric vehicles," Corbisello said. "We asked Director Mihalik for $5 million today. That's what we told her needed and we also asked her to recommend some additional funding streams. Overall, it was a good meeting and she said that she thinks they will be able to help us."
The board also took action on several items during Tuesday's meeting. The board approved to employ James Peters as a Precision Machining and Manufacturing Consultant as needed for the 2023-2024 school year and Jarod Roof as an Adult Education Instructor. Breakfast prices were approved at $2.75 per adult and $1.35 per student with lunch $4.70 per adult and $2.65 per student. The operating bills and financial statement was presented by the treasurer and accepted and approved by the board as were the appropriation, cash reconciliation, investment and revenue reports. A balance of $ 8,369,331 was reported.
During the meeting, Superintendent Chuck Adkins asked for a volunteer from the board to serve as a delegate for the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). Board Vice President Brian Moore agreed to step into the role with Mike Ellyson volunteering as an alternate delegate. Each member board of education in Ohio is entitled to appoint one of its members as a delegate to the annual business meeting, or other called meeting, with power to vote and make up the OSBA Delegate Assembly.
The board also heard through the Adult Education Director's report that all six police cadets passed state testing and now serve in law enforcement and the RN/LPN class boasted a 94 percent pass rate. Practical Nursing and Police Academy graduation is set to take place Sept. 14. It was also reported that 58 new students are enrolled in the Practical Nursing program.
Atkins, Corbisello and the rest of board voiced excitement, optimism and best of luck to students and staff on the new school year, which begins Monday. Atkins said he was looking forward to seeing both the high school and adult education students back in the hallways and Corbisello echoed those sentiments.
"We are very excited to get out new juniors and returning seniors back in the building on Monday. Most programs are near capacity. We have a little bit of space in IT, precision machinery, landscaping and culinary careers," he said. "I just wish all of our students and staff as well as all of our partner schools a great 2023-2024 school year."
Corbiello also announced that the 2023-24 school year will mark the fifth time that a grandchild of CCTCC Board member Linda Morris, who is serving her 24th year on the board, will be a CCCTC student.
selverd@mojonews.com