Lenape Tech Reviewing Part-Time Tuition

by Jonathan Weaver

Some students from four local school districts that attend Lenape Tech in Manor Township may have different tuition costs in the future.

At the request of school district superintendents from Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Freeport and Leechburg, Joint Operating Committee members last night were given three part-time tuition options: full tuition for juniors and seniors (regardless of part-time or full-time status) and no cost for sophomores, 75 percent tuition cost for part-time students versus the full-cost for full-time students or current tuition figures.

Administrative Director Karen Brock simplified the discussion.

“Basically what the discussion centers around is how much of the full-time tuition should a part-time student be charged,” Brock said. “Technical education costs more than academic education – if the student’s only here for technical education, should it be more than the 50 percent. This was never discussed when we starting having part-time students.”

School superintendents also discussed tuition costs last week, superintendent of record Chris DeVivo (of Armstrong School District) said, but no tuition rate recommendation was made. Superintendents requested the information so districts have it when preparing 2017-18 budgets in December.

Armstrong School District Representative Tim Scaife and Freeport Area School District Representative Dan Lucovich asked if there was a way to calculate academic class costs versus technical class costs.

Part-time sophomores and juniors are enrolled in a social studies course in addition to their two technical skill courses, whereas seniors are enrolled in three technical skill courses.

“That would be fair for everybody,” Scaife said.

The latest half-day program was instituted about five years ago.

In November, Brock hopes to be able to vote on a funding formula after school directors review the options with the rest of their elected officials.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education lists more than 80 career and technology centers in the state – including Northern Westmoreland Career and Technical School in Monroeville which only offers part-time classes – and a dozen postsecondary vocational schools throughout the state.

There are 18 full-time comprehensive technical schools in the state.