Community members packed into Tuesday night’s board meeting to support assistant superintendent Mariosl Craig (back left)
A Harrisburg school district top official will serve in her role for another school year, following a failed board vote to reopen her position.
The Harrisburg school board fell one vote short (4-4) of passing a measure to reopen after roughly an hour of public comment, voicing support for district assistant superintendent Marisol Craig. Many commenters were district employees, parents, and past and current students.
A vote on Craig’s contract was prompted by state law because she is three months out from its June 30 expiration. The assistant superintendent position is commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and elected by the board.
“Like any elected official, at the end of the term of the election, your position is finished,” explained district solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik. “You have no continuing rights to a position at the conclusion of the term of engagement by the board, because you’re elected.”
With Craig’s contract expiring, the district had two options: to extend her post or move to consider others for the position.
The school administration recommended the latter to the board.
Board member Brian Carter, who voted yes to considering others, said the recommendation came from Superintendent Benjamin Henry, who started at the district in November 2024.
During Henry’s first year, the administration found in a performance review that Craig “did not meet” one of her role’s five objectives.
According to the district’s website, the objective was to collect and analyze student data surrounding academic achievement, attendance, graduation, and student behavior in line with Henry’s “entry plan” for his first 100 days at the district.
She “partially met” three other objectives of her role—which dealt with student services, hybrid and virtual learning operations and supporting an amended recovery plan—and “met” her objective to visit all district schools on a regular schedule.
Without clarifying the scope of the work, Craig said at the meeting that she was “forced to do work that other people couldn’t do.” She added she has asked several times for her position and work to be restructured.
Harrisburg resident Claude Phipps speaks on behalf of Marisol Craig (back left)
“I’ve asked for guidance,” she said. “I’ve asked for support.”
Craig has served the district as an employee for 22 years. She began as the district’s assistant superintendent in 2022.
During her time in the role, leadership above her has been turbulent. Craig pointed out she has worked for three bosses in her four years.
“I really haven’t had stability as a new assistant superintendent,” she said.
Craig worked under former superintendent Eric Turman from 2022 to 2024. After Turman resigned, she worked briefly under acting superintendent (current chief financial officer) Marcia Stokes before Henry was hired to lead the district.
“I don’t know anybody that can just step into a new role and be perfect at it,” Craig said.
Former state receiver Lori Suski, who appointed Craig, said the official “met” or “partially met” her goals during the 2022-2023 school year and “met” performance goals for the 2023-2024 school year.
Because the board’s vote tied, Craig’s contract will extend until the end of the next school year. Unless the board moves to extend her a three-to-five-year term before its expiration, it will end at that time.
Craig would have been eligible to apply with the district to be considered for the assistant superintendent role against other applicants, if the vote to reopen the position would have passed.
Sultanik noted that the administration will present a broader reorganization plan for the school administration later this spring and that they had been considering an option not to use an assistant superintendent at the district moving forward.
During discussion, several board members expressed concern about how the vote was handled.
Board Vice President Autumn Anderson said she didn’t think the district should have pursued this vote before plans for the restructure had been established.
“That should have happened prior to making a decision like this, so that we don’t have administrators living in limbo of what the next step might look like for them,” she said.
Anderson, who voted yes to reopening the contract, added to the superintendent that her vote was to support the superintendent in being able to choose his leadership team.
Danielle Robinson, a no vote, echoed this.
“I’ve been here a very long time,” she said, “This process was not done well.”
Of the 19 members of the public who praised Craig’s commitment to students and schools during public comment, many emphasized that Craig was the only Latina on the district’s senior administration team. They said she was an important role model for the district’s students, 45% of whom are Hispanic.
Community members holding signs at the meeting
Gina Vazquez, a district parent, told the board it makes a difference to have an administrator like Craig, who can speak Spanish with kids.
Others agreed.
“She can reach in and talk to people and get to understand their issues are. And that’s a plus for the school district,” added Harrisburg resident Claude Phipps.
Gloria Vazquez Merrick, executive director of Latino Hispanic American Community Center (LHACC), said Craig has been a constant for the district, “looking out for the Latino community.”
The principal of Steele Elementary, Frances Echevarria, added that she felt seen when Craig pronounced her last name correctly.
Jadiel Ayuso, 17-year-old senior at John Harris, offered a student perspective.
The Puerto Rican business and industry program participant, who takes AP classes, said Craig helped secure funds for a debate program hosted by the National Hispanic Institute that changed his life.
“I wouldn’t be chasing half of the things I chase—the accolades, the achievements, the strengths of being a student, of being a scholar. I wouldn’t be chasing education as a whole if it wasn’t for that program,” he said.
Board member Terricia Radcliff, absent from the meeting, did not participate in the 4-4 vote.
The Harrisburg School Board listens to public comment
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
