CLEARFIELD – Students at the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center scored their highest mark yet on this year’s National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) exams, Executive Director Lois Richards announced at Monday night’s Joint Operating Committee meeting.
Eighty-seven percent of the students who completed the occupational competency assessment, which compares to the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exam, passed it. Further, 81 percent scored high enough to earn a skills certificate from NOCTI.
Last year, the students’ NOCTI scores increased by 12 percent from 2009, while 72 percent performed well enough to earn their Pennsylvania Skills Certificate. Overall, 85 percent of students passed the NOCTI assessment at some level in 2010, according to prior GantDaily reports.
On Monday night, Richards told the committee she’d spoken with representatives from other vocational schools. “I was curious to see how their NOCTI scores went, and I haven’t found any to touch our (students’) scores yet. I’m just so proud.”
The committee also said farewell to Assistant Director William Carbone after 32.5 years of service at the CCCTC. He thanked the committee and the staff at the school for a “great run” and acknowledged the future remains bright for them.
Committee chairman Rodney Kitko of the Moshannon Valley Area School District told Carbone the CCCTC was fortunate to have him as part of its staff for so many years. “And, we thank you for the commitment that you had to this school and its students,” Kitko said.
The JOC tabled hiring a new assistant director during its regular voting meeting.
The committee also wished Superintendent of Record Cheryl Pataky well on her retirement. Michael Panek, superintendent for the West Branch Area School District, was approved to fill the committee position vacated by Pataky for the remainder of 2011.