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Board hears updates on VOTEC relocation, new vocational programs and regional IU internet bid
Summary
Board members received reports about a planned VOTEC expansion to a factory site with eight programs (with room for one more), a new Northampton Community College liaison to the district, Colonial Academy building-trades projects, and a regional internet bid expected to halve current costs while increasing bandwidth.
Board members received several updates on vocational and regional education initiatives during the Dec. 16 meeting that could affect program space and shared services across the Colonial Intermediate Unit region.
Mrs. Schenkel, a board member who reported on the Bethlehem Area VOTEC (vocational-technical education center), said the VOTEC toured a factory site on Dec. 4 and administrators presented plans to locate programs on the south side factory location. "There's gonna be 8 programs that are gonna be set up there at the factory on the south side," Mrs. Schenkel said, and she listed the planned programs as second welding, an introduction to sports-medicine careers, culinary arts, mental and behavioral health, two health careers, aviation mechanics, and electronics technology. She said there is room to add at least one more program on the second floor and that moving programs to the factory location could reduce renovation costs to about half of what similar work at the main campus would cost.
Mrs. Schenkel said the relocation would free space on the main campus and could expedite timelines for some projects; she also said administrators are working through logistics and that next VOTEC board meetings and displays of drawings will be available to interested board members.
Dr. Beck Pooley reported on Northampton Community College: the district now has a new liaison, Karen Ajeni, the college's chief human-resources officer, who has been assigned as the college's senior administrator to attend monthly district board meetings when available.
Dr. Shively, reporting for the Colonial Intermediate Unit, summarized highlights from the IU's Dec. 11 meeting, including demonstrations by Colonial Academy building-trades students of community projects, capital-project updates (including a likely roof replacement for the Colonial Academy), and a regional internet bid that staff expect to offer increased bandwidth at roughly half the current price.
Board members noted the cost savings and program-expansion potential but did not take formal action on the items during the meeting. Next meetings noted in the reports include a VOTEC meeting on Jan. 7 and a Colonial IU meeting on Jan. 22.
