Erie County’s prolonged fight for a community college is about to get even longer.
In an appeal filed Friday with the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is challenging the state Board of Education’s July 8 decision to approve the county’s community college application.
Scarnati has long claimed that a community college would duplicate services and educational offerings already offered by the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, the creation of which Scarnati played an integral role, and would unnecessarily burden local taxpayers.
Erie County Councilman Carl Anderson, who was part of a Community College Committee, called it “ego-driven.”
“The people of Erie County, united together as a strong voice, have made their case for our community college and although (the appeal is) not surprising, it is disappointing,” Anderson said. “We will have to spend unnecessary funds to defend (the community college) in an ego-driven court battle.
“There is no question our approval will be upheld and reaffirmed, exposing this maneuver by the senator for what it is — empty and senseless,” he said.
The Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s Board of Trustees notified Dahlkemper last month that it would not appeal the Board of Education’s decision.
Appeals had to be filed within 30 days of the Board of Education’s July 8 vote.
In 2017, after several years of community debate and failed attempts, Erie County Council by a 4-2 vote agreed to sponsor a community college. Dahlkemper filed the county’s application with the state at the end of June that year, but it went nowhere for nearly three years.
Dahlkemper’s administration, fearing Erie County would end up without any form of affordable, two-year education for residents who would otherwise be unable to attend college, even explored a partnership with the NPRC during negotiations through the first eight months of 2019. When County Council scrapped a draft memorandum of agreement and offered its own proposal, the NPRC’s Board of Trustees discontinued talks and proceeded to form an Erie County advisory committee to expand its offerings in Erie County. Dahlkemper and County Council renewed their push for a standalone community college.
It appeared the board was headed for a decision at its November 2019 meeting. Instead, it opted to call an evidentiary hearing, which was delayed from its original March date by the coronavirus pandemic.
The board voted 10-5 to approve the application last month. Erie County Council and Dahlkemper have until Sept. 8 to seat a board of trustees.
