BLOOMINGDALE — Updates on grants and programming were shared with the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education on Tuesday as they inch closer to an Ohio Training Center designation.

Jim Hilton, adult education director and grant writer, gave the board an overview of happenings with a presentation at the most recent session. Hilton, who has served in his role for the past year, said he has submitted 12 total grants with more than $38,182 being awarded and two applications still pending notification. Funding obtained included a $34,352 Bureau of Workers Compensation Safety and Security grant for safety bollards outside the building and a floor scrubber; a $2,500 Bergholz Community Foundation grant for burn kits; a $1,330 SkillsUSA Ohio Event Transportation grant to cover costs for attending related activities; and a Salad Bars to Schools Grant provided by the Chef Ann Foundation for the Salad Bar for School Nutrition Program, which will add a new salad bar for the 2026-27 school year.

Hilton added that he was awaiting word on a $22,000 Grow Ohio grant to fund a potential greenhouse for cross-curricular use and a $5,000 Collision Repair Education Foundation award for paint drying equipment to support the auto body collision program. More applications were in process, including an Ohio Energy Efficiency grant to add LED lights throughout the building. That grant would range between $100,000 to $200,000 and he was seeking some further information prior to the Oct. 31 submission deadline. Another is a Safety Intervention Grant through Ohio BWC which could purchase a scissor lift for the power mechanics and electrical trade programs. It is a 3-to-1 matching grant and would provide up to $40,000. Hilton said he was awaiting a final quote from a vendor and an additional piece of machinery will likely be added to aid the carpentry program.

He said about $5,647 remained on the previous state safety and security grant while the remaining 32 state-level grants did not apply to the JVS. Hilton added that no federal funds were currently available but he will continue to research more opportunities.

“I do check regularly and subscribe to federal and state databases,” he said. “We’re always looking out for ways to not only fund equipment but also curriculum. I’m also going to a conference to find grants amid the changing landscape and to get more tools to support the school.”

Additionally, he addressed the expansion of adult education to provide certificated programs, including the new certified nurse assistant course that is now underway. Three students are being instructed by Josann Richards in the present health technologies lab with health tech instructor Tammy Sismondo acting as program coordinator.

However, plans for a phlebotomy program did not proceed because of no enrollment, which he attributed to the $1,000 participation cost. About four people showed interest in applying but reconsidered because they could not pay the fee, but he was seeking ways to help students afford it. Hilton plans to offer CNA and phlebotomy again during the spring term beginning in January and will market the classes to build registration. Those efforts will take place from October through December, while more potential offerings included a welding class. He also hoped to create two summer sessions with evening and full-day classes on Monday to Thursday for CNA and phlebotomy as well as a licensed practical nurse program around the Fall of 2026.

“I’m so proud of this,” said board Vice President Ron Smyth. “Is there something we can do to make more people aware? We need to grab people’s attention and get the word out so people know.”

Discussion continued and board member Lee Gillison asked where CNA’s would work. Sismondo, who was on hand for the session, responded that having certification gave them an edge in the workforce and her own health tech students have found work at area hospitals and nursing homes.

“I can’t get them trained fast enough because WVU Medicine Weirton Medical Center and Trinity Health System scoop them up,” she said. “You can go to any nursing home. You have the freedom to go everywhere you want. I have three senior students who work in the nursing homes and it’s really rewarding to them. It seems like it’s a good fit.”

The addition of certificated adult education courses would also put the JVS in line to become an OTC, which would enable the site to provide training courses and prepare people for careers in a capacity beyond the vocational school concept.

“Our goal is to establish an OTC on campus,” Hilton said.

The process is still in its infancy, but he has set the wheels in motion. So far, he attended mandatory training for Council on Occupational Accreditation in Atlanta in April and began the STNA program this summer. The JVS next must apply for candidacy status with the COE accreditor and must have more students enrolled in programs.

“We need to show evidence of at least 10 students enrolled in our program and at least one student who has graduated from our ‘longest program.’ This will be fulfilled with the students who complete the STNA program in November,” he continued.

The application process could tentatively occur in next spring or summer and would be followed by a COE candidacy visit and determination, after which the JVS could apply for OTC status. Hilton plans to attend a training in Salt Lake City in the spring, after which the site visit would occur. He said the JVS must be a candidate for six months before attaining accreditation.

“There is potential for some limited state funding and the COE accreditation process is typically 24 months following a candidacy status designation, which could be either the fall of 2026 to dall of 2028.”

If all goes according to plan, the site would receive a COE accreditation visit and determination, followed by the accreditation and full OTC status. He said the latter would yield state funding and opportunities for adult ed students to access Title IV financial aid assistance.

Smyth asked what other classes were being considered and Superintendent Ted Gorman noted Fire 1 and Fire 2/EMS were being eyed. Board member Toni Dondzila asked if something could be done in the current heavy equipment operation lab. Gorman said according to the COE official, whatever the school provides during the daytime could be utilized in the evening. The board has designs on expanding not only programs, but the physical structure and met with three architectural firms during the past school year to obtain preliminary ideas. Among the groups were SHP of Latrobe, Pa., McKinley Architects and Engineering of Wheeling, and Strollo Architects Inc. of Youngstown.