Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus
The Harrisburg School District is set to regain local control this month.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced on Monday that, effective June 17, the district will exit state receivership, imposed six years ago to provide oversight and direction for the then-distressed district.
Harrisburg has been under state oversight since June 2019, when a Dauphin County judge determined that PDE would take over the district. Dr. Janet Samuels was then appointed as the receiver for the district, with Dr. Lori Suski taking her place in 2022, after Samuels resigned. Under receivership, the school board only has the power to levy taxes. The receiver has the sole vote on all other matters.
At the three-year mark, in June 2022, when the receivership was set to expire, the court extended receivership for another three years, until June 2025. At that time, district officials and board members were in favor of remaining under state control, as they made progress toward financial and academic goals.
Now, six years in, the district will move back to board control, with elected board members voting on district matters.
PDE Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe made the decision to end Harrisburg’s receivership, which was announced on Monday. Initially, Suski and district officials expected a county judge to rule on the matter in mid-June. However, they were recently made aware that the education secretary makes the decision whether or not to petition for an extension of receivership, Suski told TheBurg. PDE will not file a petition in the court.
Rowe will join Sen. Patty Kim, Rep. Dave Madsen (D-104), and district officials to announce the exit at a press conference on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Recently, the district shared its proposed 2025-26 budget, which includes a 2% property tax hike. The district is slated to adopt its budget on June 24, at which time receivership will be over, and the board will be tasked with voting on the budget and tax levy.
At a previous board meeting, Suski said that she was in favor of an even higher tax increase of 4% to meet the district’s Amended Recovery Plan. However, several board members and district officials expressed concern over the burden that would impose on taxpayers. Still, Suski said that a lower increase may not satisfy the recovery plan and could leave the district vulnerable to PDE forcing them to re-enter receivership.
The ultimate decision on taxes will be up to the board directors.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
