CHAMBERSBURG – Penn State Mont Alto should be defended, not closed, said state Rep. Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) on the latest episode of the podcast “Mike on the Mic”, with Mike Ross, president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation.
Reichard said his perspective as a seventh generation resident of the area informs his strong support for the Penn State Mont Alto campus as it faces a decision by Penn State University to close several campuses across the state.
Reichard noted he was born and raised in Waynesboro and is deeply connected with Franklin County’s agricultural community, with a family that has been farming in the area since the 1700s. A self-proclaimed “history nerd,” Reichard became interested in politics at the age of 13. He now uses his extensive background in state and local government to focus on the needs of Franklin County, specifically interested in agricultural and educational opportunities.
Reichard asserted that he wants to nurture bi-partisan support for development in the area, finding common ground to meet the needs and concerns of his constituents.
Reichard recalled that his own brother attended Penn State Mont Alto, graduating with a forestry degree from the campus’ historic state forest academy founded in 1903. Following the decision to close the Mont Alto campus, the future of this historic educational institution is still unknown. Reichard raised the question of what effect this decision will have on the greater Franklin County area, pointing out the university administration and board of trustees “failed to take into account some key details of the campus as an asset to the area.
“I can’t support investing in Penn State if they don’t want to invest in us,” Reichard said. The representative opened up about his hope to collaborate with Penn State and support Pennsylvania’s educational opportunities but has been discouraged by the institution’s disregard for the well-being of his constituents. Reichard noted there was little to no prior conversation with local legislators regarding the decision to close the campus, or what that would mean for students, as well as the area’s development.
Reichard also said that when the state forest academy was originally joined with Penn State, a provision was made that the academy should be given to the supervision of the state if the two diverged. This provision, if acknowledged, is a source of hope for the historic and impactful forestry program at Penn State Mont Alto. Reichard said that he is “hopeful for a positive resolution”, whether that means fighting to keep the entire campus open, or simply continuing the state forest academy through a partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
