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PRINGLE — The annual reorganization meeting of the West Side Career & Technology Center joint operating committee last week brought more than a few new faces to the board.
Newly elected committee Chairperson Moderno “Butch” Rossi lost no time in restructuring the board’s meeting times. He also promised to restart efforts to renew Wyoming Valley West’s participation in the committee.
Rossi, who represents the Lake-Lehman School District, changed the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting time from 6 p.m. to 6:30, with a non-public executive session held immediately before the 6:30 combined work session/ voting meeting.
Previously, the board held a work session beginning at 6 p.m., went into non-public executive session and then returned to a public voting meeting at the conclusion of the executive session, a schedule that made it difficult for audience members to attend and take part.
Rossi said the new schedule makes more sense and will make it easier for the public to participate.
The board will continue to meet on the fourth Monday of each month except for April, November and December, when meetings will be on the third Thursday.
Rossi said one of his first actions as committee chairperson will be to schedule meetings with representatives from Wyoming Valley West. The district, which sends the largest number of students to the tech school, walked away from the tech school board several years ago in a dispute over representation.
WVW students have continued to attend the tech school, but the district pays tuition for each student and has no representation on the tech school operating committee.
“I want to get them back in the fold and get things stabilized. We all want to work together for the good of the kids,” Rossi said.
The reorganization meeting also saw the appointment of Catherine Wega from Dallas School District as first vice president and Gerald Conger from Northwest Area elected as second vice president.
New board members were also welcomed, including Karen Kyle from Dallas School District and Dave Alberigi from Wyoming Area.
What’s next
The JOC next meets Jan. 24, 6:30 p.m. in the school library.