Westmoreland Community College Could Lose Accreditation

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward has proposed a plan that could end the controversy surrounding Westmoreland County Community College and two of the county's commissioners. Currently, the county commissioners appoint all of the school's trustees. The president of the community college has claimed the commissioners are using that power to politically influence the school. The two commissioners, Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso, denied that, and say the school president is trying to win more power over the school. This unrest has put the college at risk of losing its accreditation. The commissioners must present a plan to reorganize the board by September first, or risk the college losing its accreditation. Ward's plan would give the power of appointment mostly to various authorities rather than the commissioners.