Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center board approves purchase of textbooks

Facility expecting 1,100-student enrollment in fall

The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center joint operating committee unanimously approved purchasing new textbooks for the 2026-27 school year at a total of $16,000.

During Tuesday night's board meeting, business manager Danielle Mehalick said textbooks for the automotive diesel technology program will cost $5,616, collision repair & refinishing technology will cost $4,154, dental assistant will cost $3,006 and HVAC/R heating and cooling essentials will cost $4,304.

The online curriculum for the automotive diesel technology program will cost $3,299, the HVAC/R heating and cooling essentials will cost $4,725 and the logistics and supply chain management will cost $1,575, totaling $9,600.

According to Principal Lindsay Miksich, teachers identify a need for textbooks during the spring and collaborate with their occupational advisory committee about the need for desired textbooks.

Administrators will also look at multiple textbook samples, checking for readability and other factors, she said. After receiving quotes and feedback from staff and the community, the OAC-approved textbooks come to the JOC board for final approval.

"Lindsay's done a really nice job with implementing the verification process of the textbook where that wasn't in place before," Executive Director Nicole Zernick said.

The textbooks' newness relies on the program because some books are new due to maintaining accreditation statuses or being high school student-friendly, she said.

Mehalick said the current textbook licenses are expiring, as they were previously able to purchase five and six-year textbook licenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the district is looking at textbook licenses on a case-by-case basis with the teacher review process, Zernick said.

GACTC enrollment

In other business, about 1,100 students are planning to enroll at the GACTC for the fall semester, according to Zernick.

While applications are still open, Assistant Principal Chelsea Gibbons said many programs, including electrical, HVAC, carpentry, cosmetology and dental, have already closed due to a healthy wait list.

"They have really good retention rates, and there are students who will finish the whole program," she said,

Zernick said that all post-secondary programs are doing well. Applications are due Aug. 1.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.