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GACTC names executive director

Despite support for promoting principal, Indiana tech leader chosen

Eric Palmer

Despite a strong show of teacher support for promoting the sitting principal to executive director, the committee governing the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center decided to go another direction.

In a 12-7 vote with one absence Monday, Eric Palmer, director of Indiana County Technology Center, was selected to head the GACTC.

Palmer’s salary will be $125,000 plus benefits. A few members, Dave Francis, Ed Kreuz and Ron Johnston — all of Altoona Area School District — were against the salary.

Palmer will start at the Altoona center as soon as his current employer releases him. He succeeds Donna Miller, who is retiring. She was hired in 2015, replacing Lanny Ross, who held the position for 20 years.

The meeting started with teachers’ statements in support of appointing Principal Jason Hicks as executive director. About 16 people including teachers attended the meeting.

Both Hicks and Palmer were in the room for the decision.

The few speakers representing the crowd said Hicks would provide continuity and familiarity and a leadership style backed by the staff.

“Jason already has a handle for the issues here. He knows the students. He knows the building and the staff,” said machining instructor Joe Cowan.

The staff was sure that, if Hicks wasn’t hired, he’d move on to another opportunity elsewhere. Later in the meeting, the joint operating committee accepted Hicks’ resignation as principal. The committee is set to begin searching for a replacement.

“My heart and soul is here,” Hicks said. He addressed Palmer specifically: “Mr. Palmer, you are getting a good group of people,” he said.

Johnston thanked the teachers for their support of their principal.

“Thank you for showing your support. It took guts,” Johnston said. Johnston was among the seven members who voted against hiring Palmer.

The Joint Operating Committee is comprised of 20 members representing the respective school boards of the eight sponsoring districts.

The committee hired Ross and retired Spring Cove School District Superintendent Rodney Green to conduct the search for a new executive director.

Palmer was the recommended hire in May, chosen by an ad hoc committee of 13 JOC members and school district superintendents from the Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis school districts, said committee Chairman Robert Vonada.

However, members of the full board wanted to hear from both candidates, Vonada said.

“We did interim interviews, and we will go forward tonight,” he said before the meeting Monday.

Hicks had served as the center’s principal for the past 2.5 years and was an administrator at the Northern Cambria School District before that, said Altoona Area Superinten-dent Charles Prijatelj.

Palmer has served as executive director of the Indiana Technology Center for the past three years.

“He had the experience we were looking for at a center this size,” Prijatelj said.

Palmer said he is looking forward to getting started.

“I’m really looking forward to moving the center forward,” Palmer said after the meeting. “There’s a legacy of tremendous accomplishments here among the executive directors, staff and students at the center, and we want to continue that trend. Career and technology education is at the forefront of economic development.”

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O’Reilly is at 946-7435.

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