Lebanon school board weighs leaving Career & Technology Center

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Costs, curriculum, and enough slots for students seeking a vocational education have led Lebanon School District to explore the pros and cons of withdrawing from the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) and taking its career and technology education in-house.

The LCCTC serves high school students from the city schools and Lebanon County’s five other school systems. It was organized as the Lebanon Area Vocational-Technical School in 1964 to provide technical training to high school students and adults.

Plans are underway for the first ever major renovation or expansion of the LCCTC facility in South Lebanon Township, which opened in 1968. In June, the city school board declined to sign revised articles of agreement for the LCCTC, citing concerns over how much it would have to contribute to the project’s debt repayments under a formula favored by the other districts.

At the Aug. 17 school board meeting, district superintendent Dr. Nicole Malinoski presented a detailed explanation of the feasibility of internal career and technology education for city students.

In a nutshell, Malinoski told the board that city schools may be able to educate more career and technical education (CTE) students internally, possibly jumping from the current 260 slots available at LCCTC to as many as 600 slots in-house, and better tailor the curriculum to the demands of district students.

“When we look at our graduation data, almost 60% of our graduates are entering the workforce,” Malinoski said. “One thing to keep in mind as we discuss this is that 65% of our students are accepted into the CTC, but that also leaves 35% of our students who do not get into the CTC. So what are we doing with that 35% that don’t get into the CTC?”

Malinoski added that the most popular LCCTC courses among Lebanon students haven’t always aligned with the most popular courses demanded overall by students from all six participating school districts. Going to in-house CTE would give the district more control over course offerings.

Visual presented by Lebanon School District superintendent Dr. Nicole Malinoski at Aug. 17 school board meeting. “STEB” refers to the LCCTC debt sharing formula rejected by the district. (Lebanon School District)

Malinoski said district administrators had recently toured State College Area High School, which has its own career and technology program, and that a visit to another in-house CTE district is planned.

The superintendent said that an in-house CTE program would likely include building on the district’s property at 1400 Chestnut St., the site of the former Lebanon Catholic School, bought by the district in 2025 for $5.25 million.

Malinoski suggested that the board reach a decision on staying or leaving by the end of 2026 at the latest.

Turning to the renovation and construction project at the Lebanon Intermediate School and adjacent Alumni Stadium, the board heard from Andre Martin of construction manager Fidevia, who reported that the project is substantially complete, with only a few finishing touches yet to be made before the start of classes at the intermediate school on Aug. 25.

“I’m happy to report that it’s a sprint to the finish line, but we’re going to get there,” Martin said. “We’re paving today (Aug. 17) and the next three days we’ll be paving. … We’re going to hand it over for full occupancy and end use.”

Odds and ends yet to be completed, according to Martin, included some gymnasium, HVAC, and landscaping work.

The board approved what should be the final stadium renovation change order for $359,506, to pay for concrete bleacher repairs that were not uncovered until late in the project.

The board rounded out its August business agenda by approving a number of equipment and technology purchases, curriculum changes, and property maintenance projects, plus a change to how bids to refinance bonds issued in 2019 will be solicited.

First day schedules in Lebanon School District

Junior high and intermediate school students will have staggered start dates this year to help students become familiar with their building and staff.

FIRST DAY SCHEDULES:

Lebanon Elementary Schools: Monday, Aug. 24 – all students*

6th grade, Lebanon Intermediate School: Monday, Aug. 24

5th grade, Lebanon Intermediate School: Tuesday, Aug. 25

All students, Lebanon Intermediate School: Wednesday, Aug. 26

7th grade, Lebanon Junior High: Monday, Aug. 24

8th grade, Lebanon Junior High: Tuesday, Aug. 25

All students, Lebanon Junior High: Wednesday, Aug. 26

9th grade, Lebanon High School: Monday, Aug. 24

All students, Lebanon High School: Tuesday, Aug. 25

* Half days for K4 & K5 through Thursday, Sept. 3

SCHOOL TIMES:

K4: 9:10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Elementary: 9:10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Intermediate School: 8:25 a.m. – 3:05 p.m.

Junior High: 8:30 a.m. – 3:10 p.m.

High School: 7:45 a.m. – 2:35 p.m.

September public meetings of the Lebanon school board will take place on Monday, Sept. 14 (committee of the whole planning meeting) and Monday, Sept. 21 (business meeting). Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the board conference room at Lebanon High School, 1000 S. 8th St., Lebanon.

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Lebanon school board weighs leaving Career & Technology Center

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