Talk of plans to launch a new community college in Erie County have surfaced. Not to be confused with Erie Community College located in New York, the Board of Education held a meeting  on Tuesday, October 10, to discuss the matter. The Board of Education is responsible for the decision of opening new community colleges across Pennsylvania.

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Public hearings are not a requirement for the board’s decision process, although board representative A. Lee Williams is noted stating, “We want to make sure we don’t rush to judgment in either direction, and having this hearing is something we all thought was important.” Erie County Council approved the county’s sponsorship of a community college in June of 2017.

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According to GoErie, nearly 100 residents showed up to the meeting with hopes of expressing their opinions on the matter. 47 people signed up in advance to speak at the meeting. Individuals were only given the opportunity to share their thoughts if they secured a spot beforehand. Each person was held to a five minute time restraint.

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Several speakers expressed their concerns, opposing the decision. Tim Ferguson, 64, in an interview following the meeting explained, “The only thing that's a sure deal will be county taxes, county taxes are high enough already.” The main argument against the decision seemed to be cost, followed closely by the fact that nearby colleges and trade schools offer similar courses. One concern brought up by meeting attendees affiliated with the Rural Regional College was possible increased competition for students and funding. Funding for the 14 community colleges located across Pennsylvania is a combination of state and local dollars, as well as student tuition. State and local funding is roughly equal in distribution among community colleges across Pennsylvania, while approximately 47 percent of schools’ revenue is tuition. Student competition is mainly reliant on location, cost and programs offered, which all differ for each school.

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At his Millcreek Township business, highly skilled workers are required to run special machines, said business owner Jim Willats to reporters on Tuesday. Willats feels the search for these workers can be made easier if a community college was established in Erie County.

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As explained by Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, “[County] residents deserve the type of option a community college represents, one which would help Erie build a skilled workforce and provide a more affordable educational option for many area residents than the region’s four-year colleges and for-profit trade schools.” Dahlkemper is confident the financial projections for the school will not be an issue that county taxpayers would have to worry about.

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In 1963, Act 484, The Community College Act, established community colleges in Pennsylvania. Community colleges are considered unique institutions in Pennsylvania due to the reliance of local support. As a result, many community colleges are able to have a positive response to the educational needs of the surrounding area. Many community colleges provide diverse programs which can help prepare students for a transfer to a four-year institution. Furthermore, “these institutions have expanded educational opportunities for individuals from all walks of life and have contributed significantly to the economic, social and cultural development of their area” explained the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

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The proposal of plans to open a new community college in Erie County have local residents stirred up. While some are against the proposal, there are many who feel that a new community college may be very beneficial to the area. Whether the Board of Education goes through with the plan or chooses to discard it, Erie is still home to multiple colleges and universities which are able to bring people from all over the U.S. and beyond to Erie.