LISBON — The new technology lab at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center cost $19,000 less than originally anticipated.

During this month’s regular CCCTC board of education meeting the board approved a change order from J. Herbert Construction Company Inc. for the project.

According to the order submitted by the company the construction project had a contingency of $50,000 estimated for the new IT Emerging Careers renovation project at the school on state Route 45 but only spent just over $30,000 of the actual contingency funds.

As a result, the remaining money that was encumbered for the construction project was approved by the board to become unencumbered funds.

The new technology lab project began at the end of the 2023-24 school year and was funded from the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program.

The CCCTC was awarded the $1.45 million grant in March of last year.

Some of those funds were also put toward purchasing equipment for the criminal justice program, according to previous reports

The lab became fully functional in October of 2024.

Also during the recent meeting, the board heard from instructors of the Automotive programs who discussed what was taught in their programs during both first and second semester of the junior year and the senior year.

They also shared some success stories from their programs and noted the great working relationship the students have with local businesses as well as major corporations such as Ford.

CCCTC Public Relations Co-Coordinator Elizabeth Wright said the presentation was very informative and enjoyable and the instructors also answered questions from the board.

It was also announced during the meeting that board members T.K. Hiscox and Brian Moore are being awarded with the STAR award at the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) spring conference.

The STAR is awarded to board members who display service, training, aptitude, and recognition.

The OSBA is also recognizing board member Larry Duko as a veteran board member, Wright said.

It was also announced during the meeting that three students advanced out of the SkillsUSA regional competition and will be competing at the state SkillsUSA competition on March 18-19.

Those students are Arlo Bell of Crestview in Related Technical Math, Hannah Moffett of Columbiana in Prepared Speech, and Alex Rawson of United in Welding.

Student Riley Owens was also recognized as the January Attendance Student of the Month.

She and 119 of her classmates had zero absences or tardies during the month of January, Wright said.

The next meeting was set for 7p.m. March 18.