Local officials reacted Wednesday to the news of potential closures of Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton branch campuses.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners are sending a letter to Penn State, saying closing the Schuylkill Campus of Penn State University would not be a good idea.

Commissioners said after their Wednesday meeting they are urging that the Schuylkill Campus in Schuylkill Haven — built on land the commissioners gave the university — stay open, because unlike metropolitan areas, there are no other schools with four-year degree opportunities close by.

“The enrollment has been continuously going up,” said Commissioner Chairman Larry Padora. “It is a thriving campus.”

Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington, who served on the Penn State board from 2009-2015, said he has a better idea.

“There was a proposal to consolidate the Beaver, Shenango and Fayette campuses, and create a Penn Tech West,” Hetherington said. “Those campuses have had a declining population for 15 years.”

In the letter, the commissioners pointed out the enrollment increase.

“It is hard to imagine this campus may be chosen for closure as it’s the only campus that has seen increased enrollment in the last five years,” the letter reads. “The Schuylkill Campus is vital to the future of Schuylkill County.”

The letter also points out the investment the community has made in the campus, several million by the Morgan Foundation and a $100,000 scholarship in memory of Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier specifically for students in the nursing program at the campus.

“There has been investment in the nursing program and the chemical engineering program,” Padora said.

State Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and state Reps. Jamie Barton (R-124), JoAnne Stehr (R-107), Tim Twardzik (R-123), Jamie Walsh (R-117), and Dane Watro (R-116) issued a joint statement condemning Penn State’s new plan that could close Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton.

Argall posted a survey on his website asking people for their opinions.

“Our local delegation to the Pennsylvania General Assembly — me, PA State Rep. Jamie Barton, PA State Rep. JoAnne Stehr, PA State Rep. Tim Twardzik, PA State Rep. Jamie Walsh, and PA State Rep. Dane Watro — are all united in opposition to closing our local Penn State campuses,” Argall said.

“If this happened, it would jeopardize local jobs, harm the regional economy, and make it harder to earn a college degree in northeast Pennsylvania.”

“Both Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton are part of the fabric of our region. These campuses teach career-defining skills to many people who otherwise may not have access to higher education and connect them with local, in-demand jobs. They host countless events that bring our communities together and provide stable, family-sustaining wages to hundreds of our friends and neighbors,” the delegation said in the statement.

“There is no plan to close these campuses we would accept. The opportunities they bring to Schuylkill County, Luzerne County, and beyond are life changing. Shuttering them would be a devastating loss for our region. We look forward to presenting our joint opposition directly and often to Penn State’s leadership.”

Marta Gouger contributed to this report.