Sussex Tech planning for September

Officials anticipate increased enrollment; new tuition plan goes into effect, By Terry-Ann Zander Sparta — As students attend summer enrichment programs, camps and family vacations, school officials at Sussex Tech are busily preparing for the start of school. July 1 marked the beginning of the new school fiscal year and plans are well under way for new staff, programs — and for the first time at the county technical school — charging tuition to area school districts that send students to the tech school. To date, 39 new incoming sophomores have been accepted while 209 freshmen are expected to attend the school in September. Admissions officials are still busy reviewing applications and fourth marking period grades from eighth-grade students who want to enroll at the tech school. By the numbers School district officials across the state are required to submit enrollment data on Oct. 15 annually. Total enrollment for the coming school year is projected to be 738 students. At the end of June 2010 school officials reported enrollment of 649 students. Thirty-eight students currently counted in the 2011 freshman class are expected to attend Sussex Tech on a shared-time basis and the balance, or 171 students, will likely attend on a full-time basis according to superintendent, Anthony Macerino. “The above numbers will fluctuate for several weeks, throughout the summer and into September,” said Macerino. The largest percentage of incoming freshmen are coming from the Wallkill Valley Regional School district, followed by High Point Regional and Vernon. “As enrollment figures begin to settle, a more accurate figure for tuition due from each district will become apparent,” said Macerino. “As we approach September, 2011 tuition bills will be sent to each sending district based on the enrollment at Tech at the time,” Macerino added. Tech will charge sending school districts $1,900 for each full-time student and approximately $950 for shared-time students. Tuition payments will be calculated by Tech’s business office and mailed to each sending district based on enrollment. Payments are due to Tech on a monthly basis, according to Macerino.

What they offer
Sussex Tech offers programs to high school students from across the county in the service, technology, visual communications, construction and transportation trades.
A breakdown of the educational “clusters” is listed below as well as the percentage of students enrolled in the program.
Service Trades: 39 percent (business management, culinary, clerical skills and cosmetology)
Technology Trades: 27 percent (allied health, engineering, CADD and electronics)
Visual Communication Trades: 15 percent (video technology, computer information, graphic design and commercial art)
Construction Trades: 12 percent (welding, building trades and electrical)
Transportation Trades: (transportation technology, landscape and design, environmental systems and auto service).