RethinkErie

Erie School District looks at sponsoring community college

Erie School District looks at sponsoring community college
Sponsor needed to move forward
By VALERIE MYERS
valerie.myers@timesnews.com

Add the Erie School District to the list of those thinking of sponsoring a new community college.

Erie school directors and administrators will meet with Rethink Erie and county leaders today to learn more about community college plans and what's needed to implement them.

Rethink Erie is a collaboration of business, economic development, government and philanthropic interests charged by the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership with evaluating the need for a community college.

"There's no doubt that our students would benefit from a community college and that the Erie School District could house it," schools Superintendent Jim Barker said. "We want to see if it's feasible for the school district to sponsor the community college or to collaborate with the county and other school districts to sponsor it."

By state law, a county, a local school district or some combination of schools and counties must sponsor the formal application for a community college. Sponsorship includes a commitment to fund the community college's operating costs.

Those costs for Erie County would be reduced by gambling revenue from casino table games at Presque Isle Downs & Casino that's expected to raise $1.5 million to $2 million annually for the proposed community college.

The costs could be further reduced if they're shared through a joint sponsorship with the county or other school districts, Barker said.

"The question is whether major funding for the community college from gaming, tuition and other sources will make it feasible for the Erie School District to become a sponsor without an additional burden on taxpayers," Barker said.

Students unable to afford tuition at a traditional four-year college would benefit most from a community college, Barker said. Community college tuition typically is about $2,500 to $3,500 annually, compared with more than $15,000 for a traditional four-year public college.

"A community college would give inner city, high-poverty youth access to a two-year college for significantly less dollars and hopefully help them transition to a four-year college and a good career," he said.

It could also serve students who complete high school requirements early.

Pennsylvania and seven other states will pilot a National Center on Education and the Economy program in fall 2011 to allow students who pass a series of special exams to graduate as early as the end of their sophomore year and enroll in community college.

"Without a community college, a limited number of Erie students will be able to participate in that program," Barker said.

Erie school officials began taking a serious look at community college needs and potential costs at the request of Director Gary Horton earlier this month.

"We've had some discussion of opening a S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and math) high school at Central. That idea and the idea of a community college might meet," Horton said.

There is room for the proposed community college at Central Career and Technical School, Barker said. Hamilton School, currently occupied by the Perseus House Charter School of Excellence, could be another option -- along with other nondistrict sites.

Erie County Executive Barry Grossman welcomed school officials' interest in potentially working with the county on the proposed community college.

"Right now, we're only at the preliminary stage of looking for partners besides the county that might want to share the burden of hosting the college. The Erie School District is certainly one, and we're happy to have them aboard and willing to look at this," Grossman said. "We're going to look at other participants, as well."

Rethink Erie is assessing what facility and equipment requirements accompany a community college. It is also trying to estimate anticipated gambling revenues and calculating what economic returns a community college might bring, said Mary Bula, a member of Rethink Erie.

Findings will be included in an economic impact study and business plan now expected to be completed by the end of March.

"We're at the point now where we hope by the end of the year to have the application done and accepted," Grossman said.

Barker, who will retire from the Erie School District in June, said he has no interest in any job with the proposed community college.

"My interest in this is how we can increase the educational attainment of our students and Erie residents to help them get out of poverty and into good jobs," Barker said.

Original:
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010302269961