Western Center JOC: no-cost feasibility study, Penn College dual enrollment and HOSA student honors reported

At the April 8 Pottsgrove School District board meeting, trustees heard a report on the April 7 Joint Operating Committee meeting for the Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center (Western Center). The JOC report, delivered by the district's representative, summarized a range of academic and facility developments affecting the center and its sending districts.

David Livingood, administrative director at the Western Center, reported that Gilbert Architects has agreed to conduct a no-cost feasibility study for a potential expansion of the center; the study is expected to be completed by the end of the school year. Livingood also said that beginning next year the Western Center plans to offer dual-credit courses through the Penn College of Technology (an affiliate of Pennsylvania State University) for students enrolled in the center's electrical and welding programs.

The JOC report also highlighted student success at the Pennsylvania HOSA (Future Health Professionals) state leadership conference on March 28 in Lancaster. The Western Center sent 54 students to the statewide competition; 18 finished in the top 10, and five of those were Pottsgrove students. The Pottsgrove students named in the report were Gabriel Fruance (10th in medical law and health science), Kenija Alexander (7th in world health and disparities in health care), Alicia Cranford (6th in job-seeking skills), Zachary Strunk (2nd in sports medicine) and Marley Flannery (1st in interviewing skills and recipient of a $2,000 scholarship). Superintendent Dr. Finney said the district plans to recognize the five students at a future board meeting.

Business and facility items noted by the JOC included efforts to create a capital fund and to increase student enrollment, an observed rise in supply costs affecting the center's budget, and an applications update: 309 students began an online application for 2025–26 and 279 completed applications. Administration told the JOC it expects to finalize acceptances in April and said it hopes to enroll between 190 and 200 students, which would produce an acceptance rate the administration estimated between 68% and 72%.

The JOC approved several facility upgrades, including dehumidification of the precision machine shop ($6,500), repair of a leak in the dining room lobby ($14,700), lighting installation in the precision machining shop ($7,500), and boiler preventative maintenance ($14,009.76). Painting was approved for $33,006.24. (The JOC packet lists additional maintenance items; one line in the verbal report contained a formatting error and the district packet should be consulted for precise budget entries.)

Committee members discussed harmonizing field-trip and award-reimbursement policies across the three sending districts (Pottsgrove, Springford and Upper Perkiomen). At present Pottsgrove policy requires students to pay for state-level competition participation with the district paying for national competition; Springford’s policy was described as the opposite. The JOC policy committee considered a first reading and sent the item back for further discussion; no final decision was made.

The JOC will return to the board on May 5 with further updates on the capital fund and enrollment.