ITEC closing draws nearer

It's the beginning of the end for the Industrial Technical Education Center in Ridgway.

A powdered metal die setting program at ITEC will end next week and a new program will not start. The teacher, Jack Kelly, will lose his job at that time.

The other sections of the school will stay open through the end of August. Beyond that, the future of the job training center is in doubt.

In December, the Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission executive board voted 10-2 to close the school and sell it. Cameron County Commissioner Tony Moscato and Elk County Commissioner Christine Gavazzi dissented.

Later, Northcentral was able to allocate $200,000 to keep the center funded through August. Had ITEC closed earlier, Northcentral would have been liable for providing funding for the 27 students currently enrolled to continue their education elsewhere.

The executive board has been debating what to do with ITEC for about a year as the financial condition has continued to deteriorate.

ITEC began in 1986 as the Regional Skill Center with one machinist program. In 1989, powdered metal was in demand with die setting. In 1997, the school submitted for accreditation and became ITEC. It moved into the current building in 1998 and has added welding and electronics programs as well as licensed practical nurse training.

Northcentral is still trying to sell the school, working through Maxwell Consulting, which will be paid a fee contingent upon the sale of ITEC. The building is appraised at about $3 million. Three or more potential buyers have expressed interest, including the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.