Connellsville Area Career and Technology Center

Connellsville Area Career and Technology Center
Address
720 Locust Street Extension Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Fayette County 15425 United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1972
Opened	1972
School board	9 locally elected board members
School district	Connellsville Area School District
Superintendent	Mr Philip Martell, Superintendent (contract January 28, 2016 to January 28, 2021)[1] Salary $122,000 in 2016[2] Daniel Lujetic, Superintendent (May 2012 to June 2015) $117,100 salary, $45,165 health and retirement benefits and $1,099 professional memberships[3][4] interIm super - Dr. Tammy Stern 2011[5] David Goodin, Superintendent (2008-2010) $109,850 salary, plus $36,697 health and retirement benefits, $3,557 for professional group memberships[6]
Administrator	Mr. Bruce I. Jaynes, Acting Director (2016) Mr Kevin J O'Donnell, Former Director Vocational Education Linda J Murphy, Former Director Vocational Education salary $95,589 (2013) [7][8]
Principal	Bruce I. Jaynes $71,736 (2013)[9]
Staff	5
Faculty	25 (2016)
Grades	9-12
Age	16 years old to 21 years old
Number of students	279 pupils (2015)[10] 250 pupils (2014)[11] 240 pupils (2013)[12] 428 pupils (2010)[13]
• Grade 9	91 (2010)
• Grade 10	9 (2015), 6 (2012), 97 (2010)
• Grade 11	114 (2015), 101 (2012), 96 (2010)
• Grade 12	155 (2015), 130 (2012), 144 (2010)
Language	English
Campus type	Vocational-Technical School
Color(s)	Royal Blue and White
Team name	Falcons
Newspaper	Falconeer
Yearbook	Aerie
Feeder schools	Connellsville Area Junior High School, Connellsville Area Senior High School
Website	http://www.casdfalcons.org/Domain/725

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center is a comprehensive Vocational-Technical School, in the Connellsville Area School District. The School is located above the Connellsville Area Senior High School.CACTC serves grades 11-12 Full-Time with core curriculum classes held at the school. Sophomore students attend part-time, while attending the Connellsville Area Senior High School for the core curriculum. The school is run by the Connellsville Area School District. In 2015, enrollment was reported as 279 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 70.6% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to the family meeting the federal federal poverty level. Additionally, 30% of pupils received special education services, while none of the pupils were identified as gifted.^[14] The school employed 25 teachers.^[15] Per the PA Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[16]

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2013, the school reported an enrollment of 250 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 158 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2013, the School employed 27 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 9:1.^[17] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[18]

In February 2016, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale raised significant concerns that the costs of operating its own career and technical school is bankrupting the school district.^[19] Between 2008 and 2014, Connellsville Area School Board transferred $20.5 million from the fund balance to the Career Technical Center, and amassed another $28.8 million for debt service, some of it for the center.^[20]

In May 2014, the District hired a Director for the career and technology center (CTC) from outside of the District. In July 2015, after eight months with the District, as Director of the CTC, he was made Acting Superintendent. In November 2015, this Acting Superintendent resigned with an effective date of December 31, 2015.

Campus History

The school opened in 1972 as North Fayette Area Vocational-Technical School, Connellsville along with Frazier School District, managed the school as students from both schools attended either morning or afternoon sessions until 2001, when Frazier severed ties from the school, citing a lengthy distance between NFAVTS and their school campus, however, the students were able to complete their studies at North Fayette until they graduated. Students still attended half day sessions until 2007, when it was created into a single secondary school of the Connellsville Area School District and named its current name. In 2008, a $15 Million Renovation and Addition of the structure took place, adding a Gymnasium, Cafeteria, and a few more program areas.

Programs

CACTC offers Programs to choose from including:

• Automotive Collision Technology Repair
• Automotive Mechanics Technology
• Carpentry
• Computer Networking
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts/Bakery
• Electrical Occupations
• Electronic Technology
• Health Occupations
• HVAC
• Marketing/Management
• Masonry
• Protective Services
• Welding/Metal Fabrication

Graduation rate

In 2015, Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center graduation rate 67.20%.^[21]

• 2014 - 69.27%^[22]
• 2013 - 45.56%^[23]
• 2012 - 51.80%^[24]
• 2011 - 81.97%^[25]

Academics

2015 School Performance Profile

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center achieved 55.7 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. The PDE reported that 33% of the School’s students were on grade level in reading/literature. In Algebra 1, 35.7% of students showed on grade level skills at the end of the course. In Biology I, 24% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. In Industry Standards-Based Competency Assessments - 81% were rated Competent or Advanced.^[26] Statewide, 53 percent of schools with an eleventh grade achieved an academic score of 70 or better. Five percent of the 2,033 schools with 11th grade were scored at 90 and above; 20 percent were scored between 80 and 89; 28 percent between 70 and 79; 25 percent between 60 and 69 and 22 percent below 60. The Keystone Exam results showed: 73 percent of students statewide scored at grade-level in English, 64 percent in Algebra I and 59 percent in biology.^[27][28]

2014 School Performance Profile

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center achieved 58.1 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 43.8% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 20.5% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 205% demonstrated on grade level science understanding at the end of the course. In Industry Standards-Based Competency Assessments - 82% were rated Competent or Advanced.^[29] Statewide, the percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in Algebra I increased to 39.7% to 40.1%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in reading/literature declined to 52.5%. The percentage of high school students who scored proficient and advanced in biology improved from 39.7% to 41.4%.^[30]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,134 of 2,947 Pennsylvania public schools (72 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher.^[31] Fifty-three percent of schools statewide received lower SPP scores compared with last year's, while 46 percent improved. A handful were unchanged.^[32][33]

Compared with 2013, the percentage of schools that earned below 60 declined by nearly 1 percent per Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq. She reported that this is an indication that student achievement is improving as school resources are being used better.^[34]

2013 School Performance Profile

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center achieved 52.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature, 32.95% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 21.84% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 12.9% showed on grade level science understanding. In Industry Standards Based Competency Assessments - 80.9% were rated Competent or Advanced.^[35] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.^[36]

AYP History

In 2012, Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center declined further to Corrective Action II 1st Year Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to chronic low student achievement.^[37]

• 2011 - declined to Corrective Action I AYP status due to low student achievement.^[38]
• 2010 - declined to School Improvement 1 AYP status due to lagging student achievement.^[39] The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.^[40] The School was eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants, which the school must apply for each year.^[41]
• 2009 - Warning AYP status.^[42]

PSSA results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[43]

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the applicable course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.^[44]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 21% on grade level, (51% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[45]
• 2011 - 20% (52% below basic). State - 69.1%^[46]
• 2010 - 23% (59% below basic). State - 66%^[47]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 13% on grade level (66% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[48]
• 2011 - 20% (60% below basic). State - 60.3%^[49]
• 2010 - 13% (72% below basic). State - 59%^[50]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 10% on grade level (44% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[51]
• 2011 - 15% (40% below basic). State - 40%^[52]
• 2010 - 5% (53.7% below basic). State - 39%

Wellness policy

Connellsville Area School Board established a district-wide Student Wellness Policy in 2006.^[53] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.^[54]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[55] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.^[56] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.^[57]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.^[58] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.^[59] The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandates that Districts raise their full pay lunch prices every year until the price of non-subsidized lunches equals the amount the federal government reimburses schools for free meals. That subsidy in 2013-2014 was $2.93. In 2015, federal reimbursement rates were: $3.07 per meal for students who are income-eligible for free lunches and $2.67 for those who qualify for a reduced price. School lunch participation nationally dropped from 31.6 million students in 2012 to 30.4 million in 2014, according to the federal Department of Agriculture. Pennsylvania statistics show school lunch participation dropped by 86,950 students in the same two years, from 1,127,444 in 2012 to 1,040,494 in 2014.^[60]

In 2014, President Barack Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.^[61][62]

The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.^[63][64]

Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. A nurse is available in the building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and the Pennsylvania Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.^[65][66][67] The nurse monitors each child's weight.^[68]

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health distributed to each Pennsylvania high school the overdose antidote drug naloxone in a nasal spray. School nurses were also provided with educational materials and training developed by the National Association of School Nurses.^[69] The cost was covered by a grant from a private foundation.^[70]

Adult Education

The CACTC offers daytime education to adults and evening programs. The school also offers free GED assistance.^[71]

Extra-Curricular Activities

CACTC has many clubs pertaining to the curriculum, students however, have the opportunity to participate in Athletics at Connellsville Area Senior High School.

References

• Connellsville Area Career and Technology Center
• US Department of Ed Page
• CACTC to have open House - Connellsville Daily Courier (02.15.10)

Coordinates: 40°01′17″N 79°34′25″W / 40.02135°N 79.57350°W / 40.02135; -79.57350