SUNBURY — The Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project, which exists only to facilitate the creation of a Valley community college, is forming a committee to search for a new president.

Founder Lenaire Ahlum is stepping down as president to open the position to someone in close contact with business and government leaders.

It's what's needed at this stage, she said. She will remain on the board.

Board member John Shipman says that the search committee should have nine to 11 members.

Names suggested so far are former Shikellamy schools Superintendent Jim Hartman, industrial psychologist Carl Persing, and board members Stephen Connolley, Ahlum and Shipman. Nominations will be happily accepted, the board says.

$1 million to start

Surveys and financial analysis have proven the viability of a community college in the Valley, Ahlum said. And while the school could be located anywhere in the Valley, Sunbury has been the focus of the group's efforts because it seems the ideal location.

Sunbury is centrally located among municipalities in Union, Northumberland, Montour and Snyder counties, it is the Northumberland County seat, sits at the confluence of the two branches of the Susquehanna River, has abundant recreational opportunities and has large buildings suitable to host classrooms.

Total equipment and furnishings for 10 classrooms would run $613,000, Ahlum said, exclusive of a building's cost. That would buy two student computer classrooms, eight standard high-tech classrooms, with 30 student stations each, one high-tech conference room with 20 chairs and table, and a dedicated computer server.

The money would be part of the $1 million estimated start-up cost. One mill of property tax in Northumberland County could provide that $1 million, Ahlum said.

That doesn't necessarily mean a property tax increase, she said. It could just mean rearranging the county budget with the community college as a priority.

Last August, parent surveys showed approval of a community college initiative, Ahlum said. Surveys were commissioned by Bloomsburg University in seeking information for consideration of a branch campus, but they apply to a local initiative as well.

The surveys were conducted in the four-county region by the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development of northeast Pennsylvania.

Students' plans

Respondents overwhelmingly approved of a two-year community college.

"Because surveys were mailed directly to parents of high school students, they were able to obtain some insightful information on the plans of their children," Ahlum said. "The parents indicated their children would likely be interested in attending a public four-year university, but said cost was a factor in choosing which one."

When students were surveyed, a majority of those from all school districts in the region, except Danville, indicated preference for attending a community college in the Valley, Ahlum said.

Nontraditional students showed an overwhelming desire for a community college in the Valley as well. Respondents, the majority working and attending school part time, said they would like to go to a four-year college if one were handy, but over one-third said they would attend a community college.

In a community survey, more than 29 percent of respondents said someone in their family was going on to higher education in the next five years.

More than 45 percent of all respondents said they would like to see a two-year community college, and 78 percent said they would opt to attend or promote attending a new community college in the region if they or a member of their household pursued higher education.

Ahlum added that a community college could stimulate significant new emphasis on academic achievement in high school.

Gaps to fill

As a plus for business, a community college, Ahlum explained, could encouraging filling the gap in food and hotel industries here. It would encourage more businesses to locate here with the promise of a more educated work force pool.

She said the four-county area is ripe with natural resources and cultural offerings, but needs to fill the higher education gap for more of its citizens as a quality of life measure.

If a high quality of life can be maintained at a lower cost, she said, the area will become more desirable for families to visit and settle.

Meanwhile, the education project needs to sway a municipal sponsor to be eligible for state charter. Once chartered, the new school will draw state, federal and philanthropic funds.

SVCEP intends to petition the counties that hold this key. It will continue gathering signatures on petitions at major public events coming up: the Sunbury River Festival, the Milton Harvest Festival, Heritage Days in Warrior Run, the Watsontown townwide yard sale and Knoebels Covered Bridge Festival.

Volunteers are needed to staff tables with the petitions. Anyone interested may call Ahlum at 286-1395.

n E-mail comments to dianepetryk@dailyitem.com