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Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center highlights equipment grants, enrollment and staffing needs in 2025–26 budget preview
Summary
The Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center told the Pottsgrove board it expects steady enrollment, new grants and certifications, and has budgeted for an assistant principal and market-value adjustments; Pottsgrove’s share of center costs was described as a modest increase.
David Levingood, administrative director of the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center, presented highlights of the center’s 2025–26 budget and program updates at the Pottsgrove board meeting on March 25.
Levingood said the center’s overall enrollment is holding steady at about 700 students and described active student placements and partnerships: 40 students on co‑op placements, 11 shadowing experiences, an early‑childhood education student in dual enrollment with Shippensburg University, and 54 students headed to the HOSA competition in Lancaster. For Pottsgrove specifically, Levingood said the center received 98 applications from Pottsgrove students (about 74 from eighth-graders).
He outlined program successes: the welding program is now an American Welding certification site; the automotive and diesel programs are a Northeast Training Center for Hunter Engineering, with more than $500,000 in equipment installed; and electrical students installed LED flat‑panel lighting purchased through a PECO grant at minimal cost to the center. Levingood said the cosmetology program was the most popular among Pottsgrove applicants, followed by introductory medical careers and welding.
On budget items, Levingood said the center’s budget allocation to districts will change modestly for 2025–26. For Pottsgrove, he identified a $31,773 increase, a 1.95% change from last year’s share. The center is asking districts to support an assistant principal position to strengthen instructional leadership and teacher support; Levingood said the position has been requested for two to three years and is included in the draft budget. He also described a proposed market‑value adjustment for some administrative salaries using a regional compensation study across neighboring career and technical centers.
Levingood identified grant awards and fundraising that will fund equipment and safety upgrades: an $85,000 competitive equipment grant to buy a robotic welder, earlier automotive upgrades funded by a roughly $50,000 grant, and a recent $450,000 award earmarked for access control and other safety improvements. He also said proceeds from a center auction are being used to buy a replacement school van; existing vans date to model years 2002–2010.
Levingood closed by reviewing the five‑year enrollment and budget history and by noting cost pressures in supplies and equipment. Board members at the meeting thanked him and encouraged community members to visit the center or read materials online.
Speakers at the presentation emphasized that the budget and program items remain subject to district review; the Western Center’s final allocations will be incorporated into each sending district’s budget process.
