Erie County Community College plan hearing set for June 10 & 11


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:
Melissa J. Dixon
mdixon@eriecountypa.gov
814-812-0089

Erie, PA – County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, Director of Administration Gary N. Lee, Empower Erie and the Erie County Community College Committee invite the public to witness the Erie County Community College plan hearing via Zoom technology Wednesday, June 10, and Thursday, June 11.

On June 30, 2017, Dahlkemper’s administration sent the application for the Erie County Community College to the Board of Education.

Dahlkemper, members of the community college committee, and Erie County business owners provided testimony Oct. 29, 2019, before the special committee in Harrisburg to demonstrate the need for a community college in Erie County.

The three special committee members of the State Board of Education who were present at the Oct. 29 hearing then recommended to the full board Nov. 13, 2019, to move to a public hearing.

On Nov. 14, 2019, the board voted 8 to 6 to move to an evidentiary hearing to take place in Erie County in March 2020 – which then was postponed because of COVID-19.

The hearing will now take place virtually, June 10 and 11. The public can view the hearing schedule, the list of participants and Zoom meeting information provided by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

“We continue to fight for equity in Erie County,” Dahlkemper said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed the inequity here locally and highlights the longstanding need for attainable and affordable community college education. Enough is enough. Give Erie County residents what they deserve so our community can thrive and be competitive in the global marketplace.”

For more information, including a full timeline of the application, visit Community College Announcement.

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