Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center’s joint operating committee voted Monday to furlough seven professional employees due to a substantial budget shortfall.
The furloughs will take effect on June 30. All the affected employees worked within the center’s day care program, which will end at the conclusion of the school year.
“We’re unable to maintain it due to the finances that have been associated with that program,” said Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Brian Costello.
Costello said the day care program generates between $26,000 and $29,000 and costs about $400,000 to run. He estimated that ending it would save about $369,000, helping bridge last year’s $1.2 million deficit.
He said that it’s important to fund shops, tools, and resources students need to compete in modern skilled trades careers.
“The day care was something that really didn’t affect our students. The day care was something that was an added benefit for faculty and staff,” he said, noting that running the day care program diverted resources away from student needs.
“Therefore, that’s why we just couldn’t continue with that program moving forward,” Costello said.
Costello said the employees will be furloughed “until the CTC would be able to financially sustain a program like that.”
He estimated that about a dozen children are enrolled in the day care, but could not confirm whether any CTC students are using its child care services.
He said the employees approved for furlough were notified last week that the joint operating committee would vote Monday on whether to approve their furloughs.
He encouraged the affected employees who are properly certified to apply to openings at Wilkes-Barre Area School District and surrounding schools.
“We’d hope that we’d be able to hire them moving forward,” Costello said.
There are no plans for additional furloughs or layoffs, officials said.
New administrative director
The board approved Robert Makaravage as the new administrative director.
“It’s a bit bittersweet because there were employees furloughed today,” Makaravage said about his appointment. “That’s not a thing that any of us wanted.”
“However, moving forward, I am excited to work with the JOC, with the administration at the career and technical center, and the staff, to build on the positive programs that already are in place here, and hopefully take those to the next level in a fiscally responsible manner,” he said.
Makaravage has 14 years of experience in central administration at Wilkes-Barre Area School District and is the assistant to the superintendent of instruction.
He was formerly the director of special education and helped to run and develop the district’s cyber program.
“I think Dr. Makaravage will do a great job,” Costello said. “He has a great vision for what CTC should be and where it needs to go, and I think he’s the right person to carry that vision forward.”
Makaravage will serve as acting administrative director until July 20. He will then serve as administrative director from July 21 to April 19, 2027. Costello said he will receive a $50,000 stipend for one year in the position.
His appointment follows the acceptance of Administrative Director Anthony Guariglia’s retirement letter last month. Guariglia will officially retire on July 22.