RethinkErie

News Archives

02/27/10

The Erie Times-News featured a follow-up article on the Feb. 26 REthink Erie informational meeting with Erie School District and Erie County leaders.  Click here to read the full story. More.

02/26/10

The Erie Times-News featured an article on the Erie School District's desire to learn more about community college plans and what's needed to implement them.  Click here to read the full story. More.

02/07/10

The Erie Times-News Agenda 2010 stresses that "our region's future success depends on cooperation, collaboration" and highlights the community college as a way to reinvest in Erie.  It's true.  Our region has acute work-force needs and an eroding tax base combined with an increased demand for social services – all of which would benefit and improve from a low-cost and accessible postsecondary and job-focused option.  Click here to read the article. More.

01/29/10

William Jeffress, executive director of the Booker T. Washington Center in Erie, called on leaders to continue supporting a community college for the region in a January 29 column in the Erie Times-News.  Click here to read the full article. More.

01/26/10

Mary Bula, member of the REthink Erie leadership team, conducted an interview with "Community Issues" on WEFR-FM 88.1 (Family Radio) this month to discuss the REthink Erie initiative.  Click here to listen to the full interview (14 min, 5 seconds) online. More.

01/15/10

The Erie Times-News published a January 15 "Our View" op-ed calling the table games legislation directing two percent for the establishment of a community college "brilliant."  According to the newspaper, Erie has a "fresh chance to create a community college, with enough money to pay for it and sufficient time to do it right." More.

01/12/10

A brief update on the REthink Erie project from Dr. Judy Miller, project coordinator. More.

01/08/10

Erie Times-News reporter Kevin Flowers detailed the impact of table games legislation on the region's community college effort and REthink's next steps in a January 8 story.  Click here to read the full story. More.

01/07/10

Both the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives have passed table games legislation which directs 2% of local table games revenue to establish and maintain a community college in our area. Early estimates are that the 2% will generate approximately $1.5 million. More.

10/16/09

The Pennsylvania Senate passed an amended bill last week that would use a proposed 2 percent local share from gross table games revenue to establish and maintain a community college in Erie County.  The bill now moves to the state House.  Erie Times-News reporter John Guerriero detailed the legislation in an article published Friday, October 16. More.

09/20/09

PARADE Magazine published a Q&A with J. Noah Brown, president and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees, on Sept. 20 titled, "Can Education Boost The Economy?"  Mr. Brown points out that community colleges are uniquely focused on workforce needs, so they can respond and get people trained.  Click here to read the Q&A. More.

09/01/09

The REthink Erie project team has released its latest update on the prospective community college initiative with information on local sponsors, service area, research, governance, facilities, programs, enrollment, timetable and financing.  Click here to download Inside REthink. More.

07/22/09

On July 22, the Erie Times-News wrote an editorial detailing recent national news coverage of President Barack Obama's community college initiatives to improve America's competitiveness and the region's opportunity to create "a model program, nimble enough for the changing job market and committed to helping students graduate and succeed."  Click here to read the full text of the editorial. More.

07/20/09

The July 20 edition of TIME Magazine features a story on community colleges from journalist, Laura Fitzpatrick. The article emphasizes that community colleges are especially suited to helping students adapt to a changing labor market and able to partner with local businesses in response to industry needs, getting students in and out and ready to work — fast.  Click here to read the full article. More.

07/17/09

New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote an editorial titled "No Size Fits All" on July 17 in which he says the President's community college plan is designed to go right at the nation's education and workforce challenges — exactly the same reasons REthink Erie was formed. Click here to read the article. More.

07/14/09

Wall Street Journal writer Robert Tomsho detailed President Obama's plan to invest $12 billion in the nation's community colleges in a July 14 article. President Obama's plan answers one of the most frequently-asked REthink Erie questions: Why would we invest in a community college now?  Obama has called education key to the nation working its way out of the recession and competing more effectively internationally.  Click here to read the full text of the article. More.

06/24/09

Mary Bula, vice president of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, contributed a column to the Erie Times-News on June 24, pointing out that businesses are suffering, people are struggling, and citizens are footing the bill through taxes and much-needed charitable contributions.  REthink Erie learned that our community's needs are ones that are traditionally met by community colleges. More.

06/23/09

On June 23, the Erie-Times News published an editorial stressing that "taking more time to complete the application and build community consensus is smart" because it "gives all of us the opportunity to educate ourselves about the benefits of a [community college] that works everywhere else." More.

06/19/09

Inside REthink summarizes some of the key areas that need to be addressed by a community college application. As work progresses, Inside REthink will be updated to reflect where we are and what we are REthinking. More.

06/03/09

Michael Batchelor, president of the Erie Community Foundation, contributed a column to the Erie Times-News on June 3, in which he calls all of us to work together and develop solutions to reverse the region's negative demographic and educational attainment trends. "It is no longer an option to do nothing," he says.  To read Mr. Batchelor's column, please click here. More.

05/27/09

The Erie Times-News published an editorial on May 27 encouraging residents to to keep an open mind about the community college and to think about the potential benefits of such an investment in education here.  Click here to read the article. More.

05/18/09

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the REthink Erie community college effort. More.

05/15/09

Click here to view the REthink Erie PowerPoint presentation More.

05/07/09

Steve Bishop of Pittsfield, PA wrote to the editor of the Erie Times-News to encourage taxpayers to view the community college as an investment.  Click here to read Mr. Bishop's letter. More.

04/03/09

On April 3, 2009, Erie County Council member, Joe Giles, announced that the REthink Erie leadership team decided to develop an application to the State Board of Education for a potential community college.  Click here to read the text of Mr. Giles' public comments. More.