Allocation increase eyed for GACTC

Proposed budget calls for 2.87% hike from school districts that participate

The eight school districts that jointly sponsor the Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center could see a 2.87% increase in their allocations for the proposed 2023-24 budget, according to a presentation by Executive Director Eric Palmer.

The overall increase in the eight districts' allocations would be about $185,560 more than last year for a total of $6.6 million.

That total would be split between the districts based on the average number of students they have sent to the GACTC over the last three years, Palmer said Thursday. Since 2020, Altoona has sent on average 443 students to the GACTC per year; Bellwood-Antis 59; Claysburg-Kimmel 51; Glendale 39; Hollidaysburg 186; Spring Cove 84; Tyrone 64; and Williamsburg 56.

The proposed budget shows Altoona Area paying about $2.9 million; Bellwood-Antis, $418,678; Claysburg-Kimmel, $330,483; Glendale, $255,594; Hollidaysburg, $1.3 million; Spring Cove, $576,442; Tyrone, $430,943; and Williamsburg, $383,697.

"We hit about 1,100 students this year, which was a nice number for us as we're looking at our enrollment in the upcoming year," Palmer said.

"We're seeing very strong trends in our enrollments," Palmer said. "We have worked over the past few years to right size our programs and to work on our capacities."

The five-story, 250,000-square-foot facility houses "25 unique programs as of now and an active post-secondary department," Palmer said.

"Rather than be as concerned about how many programs we have, be concerned that our programs are all quality, and that we're utilizing capacity in those programs," Palmer said.

The budget also projects an increase in state Career and Technical Education subsidy of $90,000.

"That number comes through a state formula based on how many schools there are and the attendance numbers," Palmer said. "So we can never put a hard number on that. It's driven by not only what we do, but what other schools do."

During the presentation, Palmer pointed out two areas of concern for the GACTC, with the first being retaining staff. He said that the school is coming in under budget this year due to turnover.

In January, the GACTC Joint Operating Committee voted to cut its interior decorating and finishing program at the end of the 2022-23 school year after being unable to fill an instructor position.

"We do continue to compete with the marketplace for those positions," Palmer said. "And we've come in, you know, with that being a big challenge for us."

The second area of concern is a decline in post-secondary enrollment, he said, as more trade employers are willing to train hirees on-site rather than requiring them to go to a technical center.

As a result, post-secondary education will contribute $100,000 of "profit" to balance the budget -- down from $200,000 the current year, Palmer said.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.