Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 28, 2019 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

When it rains it pours around my social calendar. Last week, booming. This weekend — crickets. But hey, at least tonight we’re hosting friends for dinner, and then maybe I’ll get some popcorn and rest this weekend!

Meanwhile, you’ll want to check out the new Hops Vines & Spirits Tasting Room — that’s where Mulligan’s was — and don’t sleep on those meat and cheese boards made from R.G. Hummer goods. A board and the local libations of your choosing = an easy way to welcome the weekend.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Death Cab for Cutie to play in Harrisburg, marking return of major concerts to city waterfront

February 27, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Death Cab for Cutie

The Harrisburg waterfront boasts great scenery, a few historic bridges and now—Death Cab for Cutie.

Come June, the eight-time Grammy Award-nominated band will grace a stage in Riverfront Park, making the band perhaps the biggest national act to play in the park in years.

Death Cab for Cutie will perform as part of Harrisburg University’s HU Concert Series, which this year is also featuring such popular acts as The Record Company in April at Club XL and Joan Osborne in May at Whitaker Center.

“This came about because we were looking for a major name,” said Frank Schofield, HU’s director of Music & Media Services. “The band became available, and we got it done.”

Death Cab for Cutie will set up on a stage in the southern part of the park, across from UPMC Pinnacle. The June 19 concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. with one or more opening artists, according to Schofield.

All tickets for the general admission, standing-only concert are priced at $40. Gates will open at 6 p.m.

In addition to the music, patrons will have access to a beer garden and food trucks, Schofield said. He also expects downtown venues to benefit from the influx of concert-goers.

“It will be a major economic boon for the city,” he said.

According to Schofield, there’s more to come. He said that “another major upcoming show,” targeted for August, will be announced soon that will bring music back to City Island, which once hosted major touring bands.

Special parking rates will apply for the Death Cab for Cutie concert. Parking will be available both at the Market Square Garage and on City Island for $10 starting at 6 p.m. the night of the concert.

Tickets for Death Cab for Cutie will go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 2 at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information about the HU Concert Series, visit www.HUconcertseries.com.

Dozens of projects funded as Dauphin County announces 2019 gaming grants

February 27, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

This aerial view of Hamilton Health Center shows the adjacent site where contaminated soil is to be removed.

The Dauphin County commissioners today allotted $6.4 million to some 60 projects in its annual allocation of gaming funds.

Locally, Harrisburg city will receive $203,000 to upgrade its phone system and create an off-site backup storage facility for data such as crime, property, tax and codes information.

Elsewhere in Harrisburg, Hamilton Health Center will receive $115,000 to remove contaminated soil in an adjacent lot to prepare for a planned facility expansion.

“We’ve run out of exam room space, and we want to expand our medical and behavioral health services,” said Jeannine Peterson, Hamilton’s CEO.

Funding for the $6.4 million in projects comes from the county’s share of gaming revenue generated from Hollywood Casino at Penn National in East Hanover Township.

The Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board reviews project requests before sending its recommendations to the commissioners for approval. While 62 projects were funded, another 37 were denied funding.

Other notable projects in the immediate Harrisburg area that were funded include:

D&H Distributing for a new and expanded training center: $160,000
Tri-County HDC to help fund a $1.4 million project to build 12 townhomes on Adams Street in Steelton: $125,000
Steelton Borough for Phase 2 of the Skate Park and Fire Department gear and equipment: $94,394
Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg for generator purchase: $70,000
The Salvation Army for security system installation: $53,000
Camp Curtin YMCA for affordable housing construction project: $50,000
Dauphin County Library System for computer equipment: $50,000
Penbrook Borough for sewer interceptor replacement: $50,000
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Masonic Theatre for auditorium media upgrades: $47,780
Cameron Street Boxing Club for facility renovation and equipment: $35,000
Breaking the Chainz Inc. for a van: $29,411
Harrisburg University for HUE Festival security services: $25,000
Theatre Harrisburg for seating and platforms purchase: $25,000
Stephens Episcopal School for safety and security improvements: $8,230

Under state law, the county must use the grant funds for projects that help human services, improve local infrastructure, enhance transportation, address health and safety needs, assist with emergency services and further public interest initiatives.

A complete list of grants follows:

Host & Contiguous

East Hanover Township (Public Works Building debt reduction; Culvert replacement and various roads; and Fire engine debt) – $750,000
South Hanover Township ($100,000 Municipal Complex debt reduction; $107,000 New emergency response support vehicle; $26,000 Salt Storage expansion and miscellaneous improvements; and $10,000 AACA Museum HVAC system) – $243,000
Derry Township ($250,000 Fire Station construction debt reduction; and $38,000 Senior Citizens Council of Derry Township van) – $288,000
Middle Paxton Township ($124,000 Potato Valley Road Bridge; $100,000 Blue Mountain Parkway resurfacing; and $30,000 Dauphin Area Senior Transit van) – $254,000
West Hanover Township (Houck Manor/Holiday Park public sewer extension project) – $275,000

Other Awards

Dauphin Co. Parks & Recreation Department ($75,000 Fort Hunter Station adaptive reuse; $30,000 Wildwood Lake restoration design and permitting; and $25,000 Civil War Grave care) – $130,000
Penbrook Borough (Sewer Interceptor replacement) – $50,000
Swatara Township (Police Motor Carrier Safety Administration Program conditioned upon Township creating and maintaining a permanent officer MCSAP position) – $130,347
Heroes Fund, Inc. (Phase 3 improvements and playground renovation) – $45,000
Jackson Township/ Fisherville Vol. Fire Co. (Fire Station addition construction debt) – $37,000
Pillow Borough Authority (Install two generators and Cold Spring control system) – $50,000
Millersburg Borough (Center Street flood and erosion control measures conditioned upon obtaining Dauphin Co. Infrastructure Bank loan for $183,713) – $161,121
Millersburg Area School District (Security and accessibility upgrades at schools) – $51,000
Steelton Borough/Steelton Vol. Fire Dept. ($30,000 Phase II Skate Park; $64,394.43 Fire Department personal protective gear and mobile equipment and lighting) – $94,394
Cameron Street Boxing Club (Renovate and equip new facility) – $35,000
The Salvation Army (Security system installation) – $53,000
Dauphin Co. Library System (Public and staff computer replacements) – $50,000
Keystone Service Systems, Inc. (Purchase building to provide Pre-K services conditioned upon closing on property within one year) – $30,000
Londonderry Township (Replacement of Lauffer Road Bridge) – $150,000
Harrisburg Rugby Football Club (Design and construction of rugby fields with lights) – $25,000
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania (Infrastructure improvements and security upgrades at headquarters) – $44,823
D&H Distributing (Construction of new and expanded training center) – $160,000
Washington Township (Municipal building improvements, building addition and upgrades) – $100,000
Elizabethville Area Authority (Replacement of Smith Avenue Wastewater Pump Station) – $100,000
Elizabethville Area Community Alliance (Park and pool pump, filter, electrical and other repairs and improvements) – $40,000
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 143 (HVAC system revamp and classroom materials) – $100,000
Lower Paxton Township ($110,000 Rehabilitation of Friendship Center waterslide; $22,400 Koons Memorial Park Swim Club paint project; $15,750 Penn Colonial Swim Club pump and filter housing units) – $148,150
Dauphin County General Authority (Replace irrigation system and develop new water source at Dauphin Highlands) – $120,000
Cherry Orchard Place LLC (Construction of new 49-unit affordable housing for seniors) – $200,000
Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority (Demolition and clean-up of Old Lykens School site for future development) – $140,000
Lykens Borough ($80,000 Lykens Borough replacement of water distribution system; $19,479 Liberty Hose Co. mobile radio upgrades) – $99,479
Hamilton Health Center (Land acquisition and soil remediation of adjacent property) – $115,000
The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg (Purchase generator for all-hazards emergency plan) – $70,000
Middletown Area Interfaith Housing (Commercial building repairs to generate funds to benefit youth programs and services) – $10,000
Lower Swatara Township (Debt service on bridge replacement projects and Act 537 sewage facilities plan updates) – $181,276
Tri-County HDC (Redevelopment of vacant and former blighted property) – $125,000
Susquehanna Township ($150,000 Debt service for uptown infrastructure improvements; $50,000 debt reduction on Squad 32 vehicle) – $200,000
Theatre Harrisburg (Theater seating and platforms purchase) – $25,000
Upper Paxton Township (Reconstruction and improvement of West Pearl Street conditioned upon receiving CDBG or raising full funding) – $100,000
Gratz Borough (Pump replacement and installation of generator and control system) – $36,200
Reed Township (Contribution to debt payment on aerial fire apparatus) – $40,000
Pop’s House (Reduction of debt incurred for acquisition of veterans center) – $30,000
The Vista School (Safety and security improvements) – $30,000
Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (Purchase mini-pumper for Harrisburg International Airport Fire Department) – $100,000
Middletown Volunteer Fire Department (Pumper Truck replacement project) – $125,000
Linden Centre, LLC (Curbing, paving, site utilities and storm water BMPS conditioned upon this being the last funding request for the project) – $125,000
City of Harrisburg (Redundant data center and telecommunications modernization) – $203,000
Camp Curtin YMCA (Affordable Housing construction project conditioned upon securing remaining funding within three years) – $50,000
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (Safety and security improvements) – $8,230
Berrysburg Municipal Authority (Sewage Treatment Plant system replacement and clarifier conversion) – $40,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (Conversion of IT operations) – $22,000
Capital Region Literacy Council (Purchase children’s books for reading program) – $17,875
Court Administration for Magisterial District Judges (Debt reduction on construction of new MDJ offices) – $200,000
Halifax Borough (Electrical, HVAC and accessibility renovations to Halifax Historical Society) – $50,000
Harrisburg Scottish Rite Masonic Theatre (Auditorium media upgrades) – $47,780
Harrisburg University (HUE Festival security services) – $25,000
Hummelstown Borough (Debt reduction on new municipal/public safety building) – $50,496
Loyal Order of the Moose Family Center #59 (Family Center ADA improvements) – $12,000
Oasis Community/Living Water Church (Park and playground project installation) – $30,000
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program for youth conditioned upon the funds not being contributed to salary or other personnel costs) – $15,000
Wiconisco Fire Engine Co. (Debt reduction on new fire rescue and equipment) – $40,000
Wiconisco Township (Municipal building debt reduction) – $40,000
Breaking the Chainz, Inc. (Van for community restoration centers) – $29,411
Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc. (Curriculum and software for diploma retrieval, job training/preparation program) – $20,000
American Literacy Corp. (Dauphin Co. Reading Initiative promotion) – $4,500
Life Esteem (Holistic Health Wellness Center marketing and program materials) – $3,500
Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority (Administration) – $550,000

Harrisburg’s financial recovery board meets for first time to organize, set priorities.

February 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

The state-created Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority met for the first time today in Harrisburg city hall.

Harrisburg took the next small step forward in its long fiscal recovery process today, as the state board tasked with overseeing a five-year financial plan met for the first time.

The five-member Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) held an organizational meeting in city hall, articulating its broad goals and appointing member David Schankweiler as chairman.

“I know we take our charge very seriously,” said Schankweiler, former CEO of Journal Multimedia, following the unanimous appointment.

Nonprofit consultant Audry Carter was appointed vice chair, and Tina Nixon, an executive with UPMC Pinnacle, was appointed secretary/treasurer. The authority’s other two members are Harrisburg attorney Kathy Speaker MacNett and Ralph Vartan, CEO of real estate company Vartan Group.

According to Schankweiler, the authority’s first job is to hire a part-time executive director. In addition to this position, the authority’s $100,000 annual budget must pay for legal assistance, an annual audit and website design, he said.

The state legislature created the ICA last year as part of legislation to allow Harrisburg to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed municipalities, yet retain certain elevated taxation levels for five years.

Now that it’s met for the first time, the ICA and the city have 90 days to adopt an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement and a five-year financial recovery plan. After this, the city can petition the state to exit Act 47, which should happen by this summer, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

Papenfuse and other city officials attended today’s meeting, which was marked by supportive words from both sides.

“You did an excellent job of getting the city out of a dire situation from a few years ago,” Schankweiler told Papenfuse. “We look forward to working with you and your staff over the coming months.”

Papenfuse thanked the ICA members for committing time to work on the volunteer board and for acting as liaisons between the city and the legislature. He added that he didn’t anticipate any major problems going forward, as the city already expects to have balanced budgets for the five-year life of the authority.

“We are in a solid and sustainable place for the near future,” said Papenfuse. “So, we have some time to work through the long-term strategies.”

Early in the meeting, authority members introduced themselves, with each stating their dedication to the city’s welfare and progress. By terms of the legislation, ICA members had to either live in or own a business in the city—and some qualified on both counts.

“I live in the city, I work in the city, I worship in the city,” said Speaker MacNett, an attorney and managing member with the Harrisburg-based Skarlatos-Zonarich law firm. “I love this city.”

ICA members agreed to meet the fourth Tuesday of each month, scheduling their next meeting for March 26.

Taste of PA: New downtown concept to feature PA beer, wines, spirits, food.

February 26, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

In downtown Harrisburg, Mulligan’s is being reborn as a new tasting room.

It’s been said that that technology has turned us all into seekers of novelty.

If that’s true, a new concept in downtown Harrisburg should benefit from our constant desire for something new.

On Thursday, long-time Harrisburg club and restaurant owner Ron Kamionka plans to debut Hops, Vines & Spirits Tasting Room in the former home of Mulligan’s Courtyard & Café on N. 2nd Street.

The plan, said Kamionka, is to feature a rotating menu of beer, wine, spirits and food from Pennsylvania producers.

“We’re really excited for the opportunity to showcase Pennsylvania products—whether it’s a craft brewery or a local butcher shop or cheese maker—right in downtown Harrisburg,” Kamionka said.

Kamionka said that he expects to host two PA breweries, two wineries and one distillery per month.

The debut lineup this weekend includes beer from St. Boniface Brewing Co. (Ephrata), beer and cider from Wyndridge Farm (Dallastown), wine from Broad Mountain Vineyard (Halifax) and Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery (Wrightsville) and spirits from Tattered Flag Brewery & Distillery (Middletown).

Patrons will be able to order by the glass or for takeout, with a bottle shop on premises. Flights will also be available to allow customers to sample small quantities of both drink and food.

Kamionka plans to feature numerous Harrisburg-area craft food producers, including products from Knead Pizza, Urban Churn ice cream, Anna Rose Bakery and 717 Tacos.

The venue also will feature special events throughout the month, including live music and guided tasting nights, Kamionka said.

The tasting room concept increasingly has caught on statewide as Pennsylvania has liberalized its liquor laws, especially for products made in-state.

Just last week, sip@soma debuted on the 100-block of S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg, with plans to feature a rotating series of PA breweries and wineries. In contrast, the Harristown-sponsored venture plans to be more event-focused, opening during 3rd in the Burg evenings and during special events, such as Harrisburg Beer Week, and requiring reservations to attend.

At Hops, Vines & Spirits, each producer will have its own dedicated bar, where patrons can learn in detail about the offerings from the brewery, vineyard or distillery.

“We have a unique opportunity to share the stories of all of these producers with our guests, and we’re eager to host a full slate of events to complement the vendors,” Kamionka said.

Hops, Vines & Spirits Tasting Room is located at 17 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.hvstastingroom.com.

Pop-Up Pour: sip@soma debuts to share PA craft beverages with Harrisburg.

February 22, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

The exterior of sip@soma on S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg

Don’t go to the beer. Let the beer come to you.

That’s the idea behind a new business that’s bringing in ales and stouts and sours from throughout craft brewery-rich Pennsylvania right to downtown Harrisburg. So, now, local beer-lovers can taste and sample and purchase without needing to venture all the way out to Erie or Easton or Philly.

sip@soma debuted last night with a soft opening at its storefront on S. 3^rd Street, featuring a dozen taps from Free Will Brewing Co.

What are the chances you’ll ever get to Free Will’s home brewery in Perkasie, Pa., a borough in Bucks County? Probably pretty small, but, thanks to sip@soma, you don’t have to.

“It’s so exciting to have these great producers from all over the commonwealth set up right here in downtown Harrisburg,” said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which is sponsoring the enterprise. “Pennsylvania is known for its great craft beer, and now you’ll be able to sample many of them from the tap right here.”

But it’s not just beer. sip@soma also plans to bring in Pennsylvania wines and spirits, all for limited engagements.

Right now, sip@soma is planning monthly events to coincide with 3rd in the Burg, Harrisburg’s arts and community celebration that takes place every third Friday of the month. In fact, Free Will Brewing will make a return visit for the March 15 3rd in the Burg. In addition, numerous events are planned for the 2019 Harrisburg Beer Week, which will run April 26 to May 5.

sip@soma’s snug tasting room features a small bar, 12 taps and just 20 seats, designed so that attendees can have an intimate experience, often with a chance to meet the brewer, vintner or distiller, Jones said.

A beer is poured at sip@soma.

Due to the limited seating, attendees must make reservations via free tickets.

Jones said that, besides introducing locals to these craft producers, it’s a chance for the brewers, vintners and distillers to get to know Harrisburg. His hope is that, once exposed to the Harrisburg market, they might be interested in a permanent spot in the city.

“We’re excited to introduce brewers and producers from around the state to the SoMa district—and vice versa,” said Sara Bozich, well-known local nightlife writer and CEO of Sara Bozich, an experiential marketing company, who is working with Harristown on sip@soma.

During events, customers can purchase beverages by the glass and packaged products to go. Vendors will use their state-provided exposition permits to sell in the space.

sip@soma will not sell food, but neighboring restaurants Bricco and El Sol will offer guests a small delivery menu.

Jones said that he hopes that sip@soma also will expose more people to the SoMa neighborhood and help create a critical mass of small shops in the newly restored storefronts along S. 3rd, Market and Chestnut streets.

“We believe this new tasting room will continue to create leasing opportunities for new boutiques and small businesses to occupy some of the available 1st-floor retail spaces in SoMa,” Jones said.

sip@soma is located at 13 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg. The next event is planned for March 15. For event updates and details, visit www.sarabozich.com and www.somaharrisburg.com.

Hot & Cold: 2nd Annual Ice & Fire Festival slides into Harrisburg.

February 21, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Devan Drabik of ExploreHBG speaks at today’s press conference announcing the 2nd annual Ice & Fire Festival in downtown Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg area found itself encased in ice this morning, seemingly the perfect day to announce the city’s second annual winter festival.

The appropriately named “Ice & Fire Festival” will feature a host of seasonal activities, including illuminated ice sculptures, a 33-foot ice slide, an ice-skating rink, an artist market and live musical performances, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

“I’m excited that our newest festival is entering its second year,” Papenfuse said. “It should be a great day in downtown Harrisburg.”

The festival, which takes place March 2 beginning at 1 p.m., will culminate in the late afternoon and early evening with fire jugglers, fire dancing and a concert by the local rock band, the Luv Gods.

There also will be food trucks, an enclosed sitting area, acoustic music, local performance groups, glass blowing workshops, a fire pit lounge with s’mores and more activities along 2nd Street from Market to Pine streets.

A “reverse” food truck will be on site to accept food donations, Papenfuse said. A few blocks ways, the HBG Flea will set up shop in Strawberry Square.

The $50,000 event is paid for exclusively through sponsorships, without the use of any taxpayer money, Papenfuse said.

Attendees have several parking options, according to the mayor.

The city will offer free parking on City Island on the day of the festival, and Park Harrisburg is offering a flat rate of $10 to park in the Market Square Garage from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Also, festival-goers can get four free hours of street parking downtown through the ParkMobile app by using the code “LUVHBG.” Street parking in most of downtown is free after 5 p.m.

Those driving through downtown may encounter some delays. One lane of 2^nd Street in the heart of downtown will be closed starting on Friday. The area of the festival, 2^nd Street from Market to Pine streets and several adjacent side streets, will be closed to all traffic on Saturday.

Appropriately, the long-term forecast calls for a return of winter temperatures for the first week of March.

“Make sure you bring your coats,” said Devan Drabik, the director of ExploreHBG, a festival sponsor and promoter. “It’ll be a little cold.”

The 2^nd annual Ice & Fire Festival will take place Saturday, March 2, 1 to 9 p.m., between Market and Pine streets in downtown Harrisburg. For more information, including a map of all events, visit www.harrisburgpa.gov/iceandfire.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 21, 2019 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

I’m super stoked about a special preview event we have tonight (if you’re a member of our #CheersHBG group, you already know — and next week, we’ll officially launch). Tomorrow, we’re going to visit Shy Bear Brewing in nearby Lewistown by day. By night, it’s TheBurg’s 10th-anniversary party! I consider myself an honorary Burg member (maybe that’s even where you’re reading this!).

The rest of the weekend is unstructured, but that’s OK as we head into a busy last week of February.

Note: Our Pop-Up Happy Hour for this month was rescheduled to Feb. 27 — Hope you can join us!

What are you doing this weekend?

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Harrisburg school board rejects STEAM Academy charter school application

February 20, 2019 | by Mary Imgrund

The Midtown 2 building at N. 3rd and Reily streets in Harrisburg

The Harrisburg school board has overwhelmingly rejected an application for a new charter school.

By a vote of 7-0, the board on Tuesday night turned down the proposed PA STEAM Academy, which hoped to open this fall in the Midtown 2 (Evangelical Press) building at the corner of N. 3^rd and Reily streets.

“I think we need to make sure that people understand that it doesn’t matter who sits on the [proposed charter school] board,” said Harrisburg school board President Danielle Robinson. “It doesn’t matter who’s backing you. It doesn’t matter who’s behind you. We are not just going to hand over our children to you.”

That decision marked a sudden turn in the mood at the meeting, which was attended by dozens of teachers upset over the board’s recent rejection of a pay increase for veteran teachers. This time, they were on the board’s side.

Before the vote, numerous teachers and residents urged the board to vote “no” on the application.

“Why is this even on the agenda?” said Michele Rolko, vice president of the teacher’s union, the Harrisburg Education Association. “You should be voting this down.”

The audience cheered and chanted, “Vote it down.”

In November, a high-powered group, led by former state Secretary of Education Carolyn Dumaresq, proposed the PA STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Academy. The charter school, with an initial enrollment of 120 students, hoped to open this fall for grades K-2, adding a grade of instruction each year and eventually becoming a K-8 school.

The school planned to take over more space at Midtown 2 as HACC left. HACC’s 15-year lease on the building expires in 2022, and the college plans to start moving programs out as early as this year.

In recent months, PA STEAM Academy board members have appeared before the school board three times to make their case. In December, they made their initial presentation and returned in January and February to answer questions.

The PA STEAM Academy now can appeal the decision to the Pennsylvania Charter School Appeal Board, a body that Dumaresq once headed as former education secretary. She has said previously that the school’s board of directors indeed would appeal if denied.

After voting 7-0 against the application, the Harrisburg school board voted 7-0 to approve the adjudication in support of the denial.

Harrisburg has a long history of denying charter school applications, with some board members saying that charter schools take students and funds away from the struggling public school system. In fact, that sentiment was echoed at the meeting.

“Don’t continue to drain money out of the district. [Charter schools] are like a placebo, they’re not going to work,” said one resident. “We need to fix the schools that are already here. Another charter school is not going to fix the current graduation rate.”

Robinson asserted that the board has stood firm against a proliferation of charter schools during her tenure.

“In my time here, we’ve had roughly nine charter school applications that have come through this board, and, as far as I know, only two have gone through,” she said.

Harrisburg teachers crowd school board meeting to protest pay for veteran teachers

February 20, 2019 | by Mary Imgrund

The Harrisburg school district’s Lincoln administration building on State Street

A sea of teachers dressed in red and carried homemade signs at a Harrisburg school board meeting on Tuesday night, protesting what they perceive as unfair pay.

Hundreds of teachers flanked the standing-room-only gymnasium and wore “Red for Ed,” demanding to know why the school board denied a grievance settlement last week that would have raised the pay of veteran teachers.

In response, the district claimed that the pay raises would be prohibitively expensive for the struggling district, saying, in a prepared statement, that “the settlement costs would run into the millions of dollars because of its continuing impact on salary costs in the district.”

At the heart of this fight is a set of intersecting problems: the Harrisburg school district’s budget issues, complaints of low pay and high teacher turnover rate. Veteran teachers demand that their pay reflect the time they’ve invested in Harrisburg schools, but the district asserts that veteran teachers are already being paid competitive wages.

“The more veteran the teacher is at Harrisburg, the more competitively they are paid under the negotiated salary schedule,” the statement read, drawing uproarious boos from the crowd. “The board also believes that if the [Harrisburg Education] association was so concerned about the turnover problem in the district, it would have recommended that this be addressed in our ongoing labor contract negotiations where the teachers have refused to make a salary proposal after 14 months of negotiations.”

“We haven’t refused anything,” Barksdale responded. “We have to settle this before we agree on anything.”

When asked if she was surprised by the large teacher turnout, Barksdale gave an emphatic, “no.”

“I’m not surprised at all,” she said, saying that teachers are fed up and want to know why their agreement wasn’t upheld.

The events culminating in last night’s display began in August when the Harrisburg Education Association filed a grievance against the board, claiming that veteran teachers were underpaid.

In it, they stated that the district had hired new teachers at rates higher than veteran teachers with equivalent experience, violating their contract. In January, the union reached a verbal agreement to raise the salaries of some of the lowest paid veteran teachers, but the board voted down that contract last week.

Teachers now are left wondering if their grievance will ever be resolved. In the meantime, the school district continues to suffer persistent vacancies and reliance on long-term substitute teachers to fill in.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, resident Douglas Thompson-Leader read a statement from Noel Gsell, a first-grade teacher who recently left the school district. In the statement, she said that, when she started teaching in the district, she was “ready to change the world,” but left after feeling abandoned by the district with little training or support for her classroom.

“The administration made me feel… that it was my fault for not being able to control my classroom,” she said, “Harrisburg school district, it’s your fault for not providing a safe space for our kids. It’s your fault that our students aren’t getting the help they need, and it’s your fault that I left and other good teachers continue to leave.”

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