Tag Archives: Harrisburg School District

Harrisburg School District set to exit receivership, return to board control after six years

June 2, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

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.

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June News Digest

May 29, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Incumbent Mayor Williams Re-Nominated

Harrisburg voted to retain its leadership in city hall last month, as incumbent Mayor Wanda Williams narrowly claimed the Democratic nomination.

With all precincts reporting in the municipal primary, Williams won 1,725 votes, compared to 1,642 for city treasurer Dan Miller, who came in second in the field of five.

Rounding out the ballot, City Council member Lamont Jones claimed 1,092 votes, community activist Tone Cook Jr. received 312 votes and repeat candidate Lewis Butts won 90 votes.

The race came down to the wire, with the final precincts giving Williams the edge. At a victory party, Williams described herself as “elated” by her win.

“They wanted me back in office, and I’m here and I promise to do everything I can to make this city better,” she said.

Williams is heavily favored to win re-election in the November general election, as no Republicans ran in the primary. It would be her second four-year term.

The race for Harrisburg City Council was hotly contested, with 13 candidates competing for four, four-year seats.

In the end, Democratic incumbents Ausha Green, Jocelyn Rawls and Ralph Rodriguez all prevailed, with challenger and former council member Robert Lawson taking the nomination for the one open seat.

The Democratic challengers who fell short include Leslie Franklin, Lisa Glenn, Sharon Horne, Elyse Irvis, Willie Ross, Rich Sanders, Lori Saulisbury, Karl Singleton and Basir Vincent. Singleton died in March, but his name remained on the ballot. No Republicans ran in the council race.

The primary race for school board was not contested.

Democratic incumbents Roslyn Copeland, Danielle Robinson, Brian Carter and Jaime Johnsen all won nomination for four, four-year seats, while Annie Hughes was nominated for the lone two-year seat. No Republicans filed to run, meaning the incumbents are likely to win new terms in November.

For city controller, Karen Balaban was uncontested for the Democratic nomination. No Republicans competed for the seat.

Dauphin County has elections for several row offices this year.

For prothonotary, incumbent Matt Krupp of Harrisburg ran uncontested in the Republican primary, as did Harrisburg resident Antonio Carreno in the Democratic primary. They’ll compete in the general election.

The clerk of courts primary was competitive, with Tina Nixon defeating Timothy Pianka, both of Harrisburg, for the Democratic nomination. John McDonald won the Republican nomination running uncontested.

For county coroner, long-time incumbent Graham Hetrick took the Republican nomination running uncontested, as did John Harris Jr. for the Democratic nomination.

The primary results are considered preliminary until certified by the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections. The general election is slated for Nov. 4.

School District Weighs Tax Hike

Harrisburg property owners may see a tax increase in the coming year, as the school district seeks to make up for lost funds.

Harrisburg School District officials proposed a 2025-26 budget last month, while weighing a property tax increase that, they say, is needed to balance a budget impacted by the post-COVID-funding fiscal cliff.

Chief Financial Officer Dr. Marcia Stokes presented a proposed $211.8 million budget, a $5 million decrease from the 2024-25 budget, along with a 2% property tax hike.

The proposal would raise the tax rate from 30.78 to 31.4 mills. Even though the tax would increase, Stokes said that homeowners who qualify for the state’s Homestead Exemption would likely see a decrease on their bill, due to increased relief funds and fewer program participants.

Stokes explained that a tax increase is needed to combat less projected local revenue, due to a drop in taxable properties in the city, as well as less projected federal revenue.

School board directors questioned what would happen if they decided not to raise taxes. Stokes said that the district would likely have to make budget cuts and that the school district would face challenges in the long run, as it needs to begin raising taxes to maintain a healthy, balanced budget.

“From my professional standpoint, small incremental increases are the way to go, because they are predictable for our homeowners,” Stokes said. “They are something that’s slowly building the revenue stream that we have to maintain.”

However, district receiver Dr. Lori Suski wasn’t in complete agreement with Stokes about the tax hike—she believes they may need to raise taxes even more.

Most concerning for Suski, the district has petitioned the state to end its court-appointed receivership, a state oversight program that the district has been in for almost six years. In June, a Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas judge is slated to decide whether Harrisburg is ready to exit and regain local control or remain in the program for another three years.

As part of a potential exit, Harrisburg would be required to follow its Amended Recovery Plan, which details goals and objectives to help the district become financially and educationally stable. Part of that plan includes a need to raise revenue through local sources.

According to an outside financial advisory firm, Public Financial Management (PFM), the district needs to raise its property taxes by 4.81% this year to satisfy the Amended Recovery Plan and to balance the budget. Suski said that she is worried that, if the district doesn’t follow that guidance, it could be placed back under state control.

“We need to look at the long-term goal, and the long-term goal is we’ve worked very hard to exit,” she said.

Currently, Suski said that she expects the court to decide on a possible exit from receivership on June 17. The district is slated to adopt its budget on June 24. So, if the district is granted an exit, the board needs to decide if it strictly will follow the Amended Recovery Plan. If not, Suski said that she believes the state could put Harrisburg back into receivership, as it is required to monitor the district for five years after an exit.

“It’s like rolling the dice. You don’t know what you’re going to get,” Suski said. “I can’t imagine that they would throw you back in, but I don’t know.”

She also pointed out that the difference in the impact on the average taxpayer, if the board approved the 4% hike over the 2%, would be less than $100.

“I would hate to see all the work that has gone on in this district over the last few years to be down the tubes for just over $80,” she said. “I’m not trying to diminish the impact on the taxpayer. But we also need to remember that local control means local effort, local investment in our school district.”

Harrisburg Finances Deemed Stable

Harrisburg’s finances are “stable,” but the city faces considerable challenges moving forward, according to a recent report from a state-appointed financial board.

Last month, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) submitted its annual report to the commonwealth, offering a generally positive view of the city’s finances, but noting several concerns and, especially, urging the city to move ahead aggressively on developing an economic development plan.

“In the report, the ICA finds that the City of Harrisburg’s financial condition is currently stable, with progress toward many individual objectives,” according to the ICA, tasked since 2018 in helping to oversee Harrisburg’s financial progress. “The report, though, continues to advocate for a more comprehensive approach to economic redevelopment, as well as work toward reentering the credit marketplace.”

The report emphasizes three issues of note.

First, it “encourages” the city to work with other stakeholders, including businesses, residents, developers and neighborhood groups, to “adopt and implement a wide-ranging economic development strategy.”

“Such a plan would help significantly with the city’s vitality and preventing future downturns in the local economy,” according to the ICA.

The ICA, in its report, states that the city is the preferable entity to lead such an effort and that, in fact, the city administration has begun to put together a working group to develop a plan.

Secondly, on a related note, an economic development plan would help address the negative impact of the post-pandemic local economy, as many state and other office workers now work remotely. These impacts include higher commercial vacancy rates, reduced property taxes, less parking revenue and lower income from worker taxes.

Thirdly, the ICA remains “concerned” that the city maintain adequate fund balances both in its general fund and its neighborhood services (sanitation) fund. For years, the ICA has urged the city to improve its collection of sanitation fees, which it repeats in its current report.

The ICA stated all three of these issues as “areas of concern” in last year’s report, as well.

In the current report, the ICA notes that city is on “the cusp” of exiting from Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed municipalities. However, it’s been prevented from doing so because of ongoing, unresolved litigation involving the city’s former incinerator, which it sold in 2013 as part of the recovery plan from its financial crisis.

Once the longstanding litigation is resolved, the city would be able to quickly exit Act 47, an important step to be able to re-access the credit markets, which it’s been unable to do since entering the program about 15 years ago.

Home Sales, Prices Higher

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both moved higher in April, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, 501 homes sold versus 496 in April 2024, while the median sales price rose to $289,900 from $255,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 253 houses changed hands compared to 227 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price increased to $264,261 from $230,000, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 205 home sales, a drop from 227 the prior April, as the median sales price rose to $315,000 from $287,600, according to the GHAR report.

In Perry County, 34 houses sold in April, a decrease of one from the prior year, as the median sales price grew to $292,450 from $230,000, stated GHAR.

The pace of sales slowed in April, as “average days on market” rose to 33 days from 26 days in April 2024, said the report.

So Noted

Hannah Ison last month was named the executive director of the Brewers of Pennsylvania, a statewide trade organization for brewers. Ison has served as the head of brewing operations for Harrisburg-based Zeroday Brewing Co.

Jon C. Stuckey has been named interim president of Messiah University, replacing Kim Phipps, who is slated to retire at the end of this month. Stuckey will serve until a permanent president is appointed, according to the university.

Plants + Pints raised $7,000 for Downtown Daily Bread, a Harrisburg shelter. The check was presented in Strawberry Square, which hosted the day-long festival in April featuring vegetable-based products and local craft beer.

Sycamore Homes last month cut the ribbon on a 23-unit affordable apartment complex at 1400 Sycamore St. in Harrisburg. The $4.8 million project began construction in October 2022 as a partnership of the Latino Connection Foundation and Fernandez Realty Affordable Homes.

William (Bill) Habacivch, a former executive director of Veteran’s Outreach of Pennsylvania, has passed away. Habacivch helped establish the recently opened Veteran’s Grove community in south Harrisburg, also serving as long-time director of the business department at Central Penn College.

Changing Hands

Benton St., 606: G. & C. Hetes to C. Dailey, $145,000

Berryhill St., 1623: A. Pichardo to Unique Homes Group LLC, $145,000

Boas St., 104: R. Wambach to D. Shemory, $225,000

Boas St., 414: Berlin Group LLC to S. & G. Davis, $275,000

Brookwood St., 2117: E. Davis to Puzzle Properties LLC, $75,000

Brookwood St., 2424: R. Patterson to Blessed Investments LLC, $111,033

Brookwood St., 2432: D. Crawford to G and W Rentals LLC, $115,000

Brookwood St., 2445: B. & C. Roach to M. Kernizan, $126,000

Calder St., 215: M. Woolley & L. Evans to VNS LLC, $125,000

Chestnut St., 1200: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,858

Chestnut St., 1202: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,857

Chestnut St., 1204: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,857

Chestnut St., 1206: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,857

Chestnut St., 1208: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,857

Chestnut St., 1909: R. Goldberg to Vantage Estate LLC, $140,000

Chestnut St., 1919: K. Brown to GW Rentals LLC, $80,000

Chestnut St., 2116: R. Pattillo to G. & T. Casner, $305,000

Derry St., 2145: R&K Realty Group LP to L. Tiburcio, $180,000

Derry St., 2233: D. & J. DePastino to Soul House LLC, $91,928

Division St., 423: Archie Group LLC to Upscale Properties LLC, $100,000

Emerald St., 232: D&F Realty Holdings LP to Chavdar Jade LLC, $290,000

Emerald St., 627: M. Braxton to Alpha Royal Lounge LLC, $87,000

Evergreen St., 26, 28: 101 S. 17th Street LLC to Penn Me Properties LLC, $112,857

Geary St., 622: D. Peralta to A. Mauricio & Y. Trinidad, $55,000

Green St., 805: J. Cowden & K. Edwards to A. Fontaine, $285,000

Green St., 1207: Arc Realty & Property Management LLC to J. Brenize, $212,500

Hanover St., 1318: B. Rodriguez to E. Forney, $108,000

Harris St., 204: T. Burke to J. & M. Cameron, $259,900

Holly St., 1830: J. Montiel & A. Salgado to R. Vidal, $171,000

Howard St., 1347: Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC to Amazings Rentals LLC, $256,000

Hummel St., 410: M. Hernandez to R. Gutierrez & A. Ortiz, $50,000

Hunter St., 1715: Side by Side 365 LLC to A. Caceres, $149,000

Kelker St., 632: D. Villalona to M. Jobczynski, $143,000

Logan St., 1730: B. & W. Bechtel to C. Fox, $243,000

Mercer St., 2472: K. Dodson to S. Rubinstein & H. Choi, $133,000

Mulberry St., 1160: E. Gonzalez & M. Castro to F. Luciano & D. Canario, $50,000

Mulberry St., 1809: D. & M. Patrick to D. Boyer, $149,900

Mulberry St., 1916: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to BAJ Holdings LLC, $90,000

North St., 1822: R. Burgos & JFDIECIOCHO22 LLC to R. Vazquez, $130,000

North St., 1838: T. Bauserman & J. Hoskins to Breneman Properties LLC, $91,000

North St., 2014: C. Brooks to Famous Achiever LLC, $98,000

N. 2nd St., 404: A. Weinstock to Family Tires V LLC, $435,000

N. 2nd St., 1833: Glanzair Properties LLC to Elite Remodeling Realty LLC, $99,000

N. 2nd St., 1915: Apple Tree Community Development Company to Capital Acres LLC, $322,500

N. 2nd St., 2215: R. Hall to A. & A. Ferguson, $415,000

N. 3rd St., 904: Ramsden & Ramsden LLC to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $390,000

N. 3rd St., 1419: Midtown Development LLC to Heinly Homes LLC, $320,000

N. 3rd St., 3007: V. McCray to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $100,000

N. 4th St., 1719: J. Blymier & C. Fox to C. Corrado, $240,000

N. 4th St., 2611: J. Runion to MDR Homes LLC, $97,000

N. 5th St., 2652: Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to J. Holmes, $170,000

N. 5th St., 3135: G&W Rentals LLC to J. Vega, $275,000

N. 6th St., 1716 & 1718: 3N Consulting Services LLC to 1720 N 6th St PA LLC, $85,000

N. 6th St., 1720: 3N Consulting Services LLC to 1720 N 6th St PA LLC, $85,000

N. 7th St., 2624: S. Reid to Kapp Property LLC, $113,000

N. 14th St., 1201: R. Burgos & Doceuno LLC to Bedon Flooring LLC, $105,000

N. 14th St., 1203: R. Burgos & Frdoce03 to Bedon Flooring LLC, $105,000

N. 15th St., 18: Sunnyside RE Enterprise LLC to E. Esh, $190,000

N. 17th St., 56: F. Gomez to My Majesty LLC, $87,000

N. 18th St., 902: S. Marshall & J. Colbertson to W. Renesca, $190,000

N. 18th St., 916: M. Castro to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $88,000

N. Front St., 1101: S. Krevsky to D. Aldous, $260,000

Park St., 1631: E. Torres to Goods Creekside Properties LLC, $80,000

Paxton St., 1700: N. Akhter to Paxton Mart Co., $765,000

Penn St., 2333: Adonis Real Estate LLC to M. & C. Fleming, $155,000

Penwood Rd., 3116: A. Hollinger & E. Shellhamer to G. Haffner, $175,000

Penwood Rd., 3214: R. & S. Holloman to I. Trost, $195,000

Radnor St., 618: M. Temba and C. & J. Liu to D. Glick, $125,000

Radnor St., 672: Rivas Property Investments LLC to N. Chisolm, $155,000

Randolph St., 1614: R. Augustin to L. Chavez & L. Morales, $91,000

Reel St., 2414: J. Ford to C. Woods, $75,000

Regina St., 1810: R. Bedon to A. Perez, $170,000

Reily St., 215: Calders Street Development LLC to Velocity Capital Group LLC, $290,000

Rumson Dr., 2842: R. & D. Bratina to Sunnyside RE Enterprise LLC, $171,000

Rumson Dr., 2983: C. Caraballo to E. Jimenez, $174,000

Showers St., 612: J. Forry to F. & D. Vaughn, $230,000

S. 17th St., 523: Philadelphia Macaroni Co. to Couscous Co. LLC, $4,250,000

S. 18th St., 157: B. Vincent to Blue Trust Investments LLC, $60,000

S. 19th St., 28: M. Slabonik to VTF Dylle Properties LLC, $130,000

S. 29th St., 708: Culcay Remodeling Guagua LLC to C. Lozano, $195,000

S. Cameron St., 1325: M. Khan to J. Finefrock, $52,000

State St., 1414: A. & M. Collins to Aybar Bonilla Investment LLC, $224,900

State St., 1508: Vernon St Apartments LLC to JG Family Trust, $236,000

Susquehanna St., 1336: Green Scapes Investments LLC to E. & R. Clammer, $440,000

Susquehanna St., 2005: D. Witmer to H. Martinez, $230,000

Sylvan Terr., 125: Triple S Real Estate LLC to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $290,000

Verbeke St., 1613: R. Sanchez to A. & D. Bolinger, $220,000

Vernon St., 1348: D. Boyle to Unique Homes Group LLC, $75,000

Vernon St., 1435: Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC to O. & A. Ogunfowora, $159,000

Vine St., 113: C. Friedel to S. & M. McGarvey, $151,000

Walnut St., 1732: A. Lovo to A. Bouhach, $83,000

Wiconisco St., 420: Sky Resort Investments LLC to H. & A. Fisher, $585,000

Wiconisco St., 529: Taylor Made Bizzness LLC to C&C Homes LLC, $80,000

Woodlawn St., 2312 & 2317 Luce St.: Zieger Son Inc. and Zieger & Sons Inc. to 2300 Woodlawn Street LLC, $1,115,000

Harrisburg property sales, April 2025, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

May 16, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Mayor Wanda Williams, along with other local officials and artists, announced the details about Artsfest.

It has been another full week of news here in Harrisburg and we are happy to cover it, delivering valuable information to our readers. If you want to support our work, we would love to have you as a Friend of TheBurg. If you’re playing catch up on the news this week, look no further than our list, below.

Artsfest will return to Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park for Memorial Day weekend, our online story reported. The city said that there will be over 200 artists, 25 food trucks and live music, as well as kids’ activities.

Bob’s Art Blog shares information on several upcoming art shows and festivals and previews 3^rd in the Burg festivities.

The Broad Street Market announced that it was awarded a $500,000 grant from the commonwealth, our online story reported. The money will support upgrades and repairs to the market’s stone building.

Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill is under new ownership as husband-and-wife duo Caleb Watters and Alexandra Shover have taken over, our magazine story reported. The couple also owns Valley Bistro in Enola and The Hershey Pantry in Hershey.

Division Street may be getting some safety upgrades in the coming years, our online story reported. Harrisburg is asking the public for feedback on several proposed design options.

Downtown Harrisburg has struggled to bounce back following the pandemic. However, restaurateurs and club owners have a vision to revive the 2^nd Street corridor, our magazine story reported.

Harrisburg School District announced its proposed 2025-26 budget that would include a property tax raise, our online story reported. The district shared that it would need to consider raising taxes to meet budget needs and to potentially exit state receivership.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area increased, as well as prices, since last April to this past month, our online story reported.

Moviate Underground Film Festival will return to Harrisburg from May 15 through 18, our online story reported. Over 60 films will hit the screens at Midtown Cinema during the weekend.

Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup includes everything you need to know for spending a fun weekend in the city. Find her list of events, here.

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Harrisburg School District proposes budget; weighs potential tax hike while facing “fiscal cliff,” receivership decision

May 14, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

A previous school board meeting

Harrisburg property owners may see a tax increase in the coming year, as the school district seeks to make up for lost funds.

Harrisburg School District officials proposed a 2025-26 budget on Tuesday, while weighing a property tax raise that, they say, is needed to balance a budget impacted by the post-COVID-funding fiscal cliff.

Chief Financial Officer Dr. Marcia Stokes presented a proposed $211.8 million budget, a $5 million decrease from the 2024-25 budget, along with a 2% property tax hike.

The proposal would raise the tax mill rate from 30.78 to 31.4 mills, the first in a series of incremental tax raises that Stokes said the district should make over the coming years.

Even though the tax would increase, Stokes said that homeowners who qualify for the state’s Homestead Exemption would likely see a decrease on their bill, due to increased relief funds and fewer program participants.

Stokes explained that a tax increase is needed to combat less projected local revenue, due to a drop in taxable properties in the city, as well as less projected federal revenue, due to the end of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that brought the district millions of dollars in the years following the pandemic.

School board directors questioned what would happen if they decided not to raise taxes at all. Stokes said that the district would likely have to make budget cuts and that the school district would face challenges in the long run, as it needs to begin raising taxes to maintain a healthy, balanced budget.

“From my professional standpoint, small incremental increases are the way to go, because they are predictable for our homeowners. They are something that’s slowly building the revenue stream that we have to maintain,” Stokes said.

However, district receiver Dr. Lori Suski wasn’t in complete agreement with Stokes about the tax hike—she believes they may need to raise taxes at an even higher percentage.

Most concerning for Suski, the district has petitioned the state to end its court-appointed receivership, an oversight program for distressed districts. The district has been under the state’s watch and control for almost six years. In June, a Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas judge is slated to decide whether or not Harrisburg is ready to exit and regain local control or remain in the program for another three years.

According to an outside financial advisory firm, Public Financial Management (PFM), the district needs to raise its property taxes by 4.81% this year to satisfy the Amended Recovery Plan and to balance the budget. PFM put this recommendation, along with recommended future year tax hikes, in a presentation to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) about the district’s potential receivership exit.

Suski said that she is worried that, if the district doesn’t follow that guidance, they could be placed back under state control.

“We need to look at the long-term goal, and the long-term goal is we’ve worked very hard to exit,” she said.

Currently, Suski said that she expects the court to make a decision on a possible exit from receivership on June 17. The district is slated to adopt its budget on June 24. So, if the district is granted an exit, the board needs to decide if it strictly will follow the Amended Recovery Plan or not. If not, Suski said that she believes the state could seek to put Harrisburg back into receivership, as it is required to monitor the district for five years after an exit.

“It’s like rolling the dice. You don’t know what you’re going to get,” Suski said. “I can’t imagine that they would throw you back in, but I don’t know.”

She also pointed out that the difference in the impact on the average taxpayer, if the board approved the 4% hike over the 2%, would be less than $100.

Under receivership, the receiver has the sole authority and vote on every matter except for taxes. The Harrisburg School Board’s only power is to levy taxes. So, whether or not the district remains in receivership, the board will make the decision on taxes.

Stokes’ proposed 2% raise makes some assumptions on state revenue that she believes the district will receive, she said. She explained her lower tax increase proposal as counting on those funding sources to balance the budget—an assumption that PFM did not make in its assessment, and that Suski said could be risky.

Most years, the district is left to finalize its budget before the commonwealth adopts its budget, which frequently happens late. That leaves Stokes and the administration to make educated guesses on how much state funding it can expect to include in its budget.

This year, Stokes believes that Harrisburg will get extra money through Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed significant increase in funds to the Ready to Learn Block Grant. In her calculations, Stokes estimated that the district would get $3.7 million, half of what Shapiro proposed for them in his budget, to be conservative. She also made the estimation that the district would receive the full amount of other state funding that it typically receives annually.

“This is our estimate based on the information we have here today,” Stokes said. “I would expect changes to happen because hopefully we’ll know what our federal revenues are. Hopefully, we’ll have a better idea of what’s going on down the street from the negotiation standpoint to say, ‘how much of our subsidy can we really rely on?'”

However, Suski expressed that even that estimate might not be conservative enough and cautioned the board on not following PFM’s advice for the higher tax raise, afraid that if they don’t, they may not satisfy the recovery plan.

Suski noted that no district in the state has successfully left receivership yet, and so what happens after an exit, including whether or not the district could be forced to re-enter, remains murky.

During public comment, the City of Harrisburg’s Interim Director of Building and Housing Development Gloria Martin Roberts shared concern over Suski’s tax hike proposal, saying that she believes it would negatively impact the city’s low-income residents.

“$100 may seem insignificant, but it’s significant to a whole lot of us,” she said.

The decision on whether or not to raise taxes, and by how much, will likely impact the $211.8 million budget. The budget’s most significant expenditures include salaries and benefits, instructional costs, debt payments and millions of dollars in payments to charter schools.

The proposed budget will be made available for public review before a final vote in June.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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May News Digest

April 29, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Uptown Apartment Project Proposed

A former Harrisburg hospital complex may be adaptively reused for apartments, according to a newly released proposal.

At a community meeting last month, a developer announced plans to construct housing and retail at the former Polyclinic Hospital in Uptown Harrisburg.

In March 2024, Pennmark Harrisburg Holdings, an affiliate of Montgomery County-based Pennmark Management Co., purchased the sprawling campus, located on N. 3rd Street. The property stretches over six acres from Polyclinic Avenue to Wiconisco Street and consists of three buildings totaling over 271,000 square feet.

Originally home to the Polyclinic Hospital, the property sold in 2004 to Penn Center Harrisburg, which utilized it as office space until selling it to Pennmark two decades later.

Now, Pennmark is proposing a $45 million project that would include renovating all three buildings and constructing 250 to 300 apartment units and retail shops.

“We saw this as a really good opportunity,” said Greg Hallquist, director of Pennmark. “We love the city of Harrisburg.”

At the community meeting, Hallquist shared that the project would work in three phases. First, developers would renovate the vacant building closest to Wiconisco Street, which historically housed nurses’ residences, to create about 100 apartments.

In a second phase, the company would renovate the former hospital building closest to Polyclinic Avenue, creating another 150 apartments, along with retail and amenities, such as a gym, for tenants. Hallquist proposed commercial space along N. 4th Street, including a grocery store, coffee shop and restaurant. Currently, the building houses a few offices, such as the state Department of Drug and Alcohol.

In the third phase, Pennmark would renovate the middle building, formerly office space, as offices for staff.

All apartments would be market-rate and include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, Hallquist said.

The project still must go through the city’s approval process before it can begin.

Hallquist hopes to break ground on the project in the fall and said that he expects phase one to take around a year and phase two to take 18 months to complete.

Eden Village Gets Go-Ahead

A local group’s plans to build housing for the homeless can move forward.

Eden Village of Harrisburg is slated to bring tiny homes to South Harrisburg, having received City Council approval.

“I love the project,” said council member Jocelyn Rawls. “This is one of our most vulnerable populations, so to give them housing, like you said, that’s step one.”

The project was proposed by a group of area residents who have partnered with Missouri-based Eden Village to bring 32 tiny homes and a community center to 1103 S. Front St.

The community will be built near the PennDOT building near Veteran’s Grove, a tiny house community for veterans, and Tunnel to Towers, another housing facility for veterans slated for construction.

Eden Village plans to build 400-square-foot units that include a bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen. Units will offer long-term housing.

Additionally, Eden Village will provide access to other resource providers to address issues such as mental health and substance abuse.

“If we can get them into a house, we can work on everything else,” said Robert Lawson, an Eden Village board member. “So, if we start with the house that’s affordable and that’s safe, we can take care of all of those other issues.”

People will need to apply to be considered for a home in Eden Village and are expected to pay $300 in rent each month.

Council member Crystal Davis expressed concern over the rent, saying that she believes some unhoused people won’t be able to afford it.

However, Khary Lane, board president of Eden Village, said that many unhoused people receive disability and Social Security benefits and have access to housing vouchers. Despite her concern, Davis, along with all other council members, voted in favor of the project.

Police Plan Halted

A plan to bring police officers into Harrisburg schools has been halted.

At a board meeting last month, the Harrisburg School District announced that it would hold off on a previous plan to establish a school police department, as it prepares to potentially exit state receivership.

“This is not a retreat from our commitment to safety,” Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry said. “Instead, it is a calculated decision to ensure we can responsibly fund such an initiative over a sustainable five-year period.”

In November, district receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved a safety plan that included hiring four police officers and creating a police station at the Harrisburg High School-John Harris campus, following a significant increase in violent incidents.

However, last month, district officials said that they would back off that plan for now, as they need to be cautious with their finances, as the district could exit state receivership in the coming months.

Suski said that she is making the recommendation to exit receivership and is working on the petition to the state Department of Education. The district is “on a trajectory” to argue for exiting, she said. The receivership is set to expire on June 17.

Riverboat Plans June Launch

The Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat will hit the water this year following an extended hiatus, according to its operator.

The distinctive red-and-white paddlewheel boat is expected to launch in mid-June once repairs are complete, stated the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society.

The Pride missed the entire 2024 sailing season due to renovations that were more extensive than first thought. It has been in operation, plying the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, since 1988.

Dr. Catherine Bene, president of the Riverboat Society, stated that the board has been actively pursuing grants to support much-needed renovations and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to fulfill all operating requirements.

The society is planning a “Keep Our Paddles Turning” benefit concert to support the renovation efforts. The May 31 concert, at the Forum in Harrisburg, will feature five rock musicians, including Tommy Conwell from Tommy Conwell and the Rumblers, Quinton Jones, Daryl Davis and Leroy Hawkes.

The VIP reception is from 5 to 6 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are available at www.hbgriverboat.org.

Once the riverboat launches, patrons can expect both public cruises and themed parties, including a bourbon night, costume themes, family/children events, worship services, live music and more, according to the society.

Bene added that boat-riders will see significant improvements this year, including brand-new carpet, drapes and chairs, in addition to structural improvements.

Home Sales, Prices Steady

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices were largely flat in March compared to the prior year, according to the latest market report on previously owned houses.

For the three-county region, 442 homes sold, a drop from 466 home sales in March 2024, as the median sales price inched up to $275,300 from $272,750, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, 237 houses sold versus 226 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price dipped to $240,000 from $245,000, GHAR stated.

Cumberland County had 179 home sales, a decrease from 213 in March 2024, as the median sales price was almost unchanged at $322,250, GHAR said.

In Perry County, 19 houses exchanged hands versus 28 a year ago, as the median sales price slid to $234,500 compared to $245,000 the prior March, according to GHAR.

The pace of home sales was relatively steady, as “average days on market” totaled 32 days in March versus 33 days the year before, GHAR stated in its report.

So Noted

Capital City Music Hall anticipates a mid-summer opening in the downtown Harrisburg location that formerly housed the Federal Taphouse. Owner Justin Browning told TheBurg that he plans to book a wide range of acts across many different musical genres for the open, two-story space at 234 N. 2nd St.

Cheranda “Cherri” Parks-Taylor last month was named the new manager of the Broad Street Market. Harrisburg’s historic market has been without a full-time manager for over a year, with market board members taking on many of the manager’s duties in the interim.

Cody Balmer of Penbrook was charged last month with attempted murder and arson following an early-morning fire at the PA Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were asleep when Balmer allegedly broke into a portion of the mansion and set it ablaze. No one was injured in the fire, but the building’s south side suffered extensive damage.

David Fitzkee has been named the new executive director of the Caring Cupboard, a Palmyra-based nonprofit that provides food and other essential services to those in need. Fitzkee brings nearly 20 years in nonprofit management to the position, according to the organization.

Denim Coffee last month opened its second Harrisburg location in the atrium kiosk in Strawberry Square. The location was previously occupied by Little Amps Coffee Roasters, which closed in December. Denim also operates a shop at Walnut and N. 4th streets and is planning another for Market Square, which is expected to open this summer.

HACC passed a 2025-26 budget last month that will raise tuition for most students by $22 per credit to $288.50 a credit. The tuition hike is part of the $124 million budget approved by the college’s board of trustees. According to HACC, trustees needed to increase tuition to offset a projected $275,000 deficit.

Sandy and Gary Lockerman last month were named as Ned Smith Center “Visionaries.” The long-time volunteers were chosen for the annual award due to their longstanding support for the center and its vision.

Sonya McKnight last month was convicted of attempted homicide in the shooting of her former boyfriend, who survived being shot in the head as he slept. McKnight, a suspended Harrisburg magisterial district judge, was convicted on one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault, decided after less than two hours of jury deliberation.

TheBurg won 22 awards in the 2025 Advertising Contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. The honors included the Sweepstakes Award for best performance in its category, the third year in a row TheBurg has won this top award.

Tunnel to Towers last month broke ground on an affordable housing complex for veterans in south Harrisburg. The New York-based nonprofit plans to construct a 64-unit apartment building and 20 small “comfort homes” along the Susquehanna River, near the PennDOT building.

Changing Hands

Apricot St., 1729: D. Bernard to BAH Equities LLC, $76,666

Apricot St., 1731: D. Bernard to BAH Equities LLC, $76,666

Apricot St., 1733: D. Bernard to 1733 Apricot St LLC, $76,666

Balm St., 30: JOG Investments LLC to 30 Balm St LLC, $73,000

Balm St., 113 & 115: B. Yanes to BSM HSH LLC, $50,000

Bellevue Rd., 1815: M. Hines to Numbee Realty LLC, $80,000

Bellevue Rd., 1946: BCR-2 Properties LLC to L. Santana, $170,000

Benton St., 704: V. Okuneye to Stately Renovations LLC, $118,000

Berryhill St., 1319: J. Stoncius to S. Graybill, $90,000

Berryhill St., 1403: A. Johnson to Leonards Real Estate LLC, $124,000

Berryhill St., 2228: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to New Ventures Investments LLC, $102,500

Berryhill St., 2247: Normans Realty Services Inc. to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $95,000

Berryhill St., 2360: H. Nguyen & H. Tran to W. Yap, $117,000

Boas St., 1614: M. Morgan to M. & R. Espinal, $275,000

Boas St., 1713: Ebersole & McCorkel REI LLC to Sunrise River Investments Inc., $70,000

Brookwood St., 1938: Sunrise River Investments Inc. to G. Tirado, $143,000

Camp St., 635: 635 Camp St LLC to T. Kea, $130,000

Carnation St., 1613: A. Pachero to Numbee Realty LLC, $85,500

Chestnut St., 2021: Normans Realty Services Inc. to Three Stevens & Lou LLC, $160,000

Chestnut St., 2037: Q. Demiri to F. Molina, $150,000

Croyden Rd., 2832: PHH Mortgage Corp. to W. Acevedo, $102,000

Derry St., 1248: E. Kelly & M. Alarcon to J&A One Realty LLC, $101,000

Derry St., 2705: T. Kim to E. Beiler, $125,000

Forster St., 1713: K. Gonzalez to L. Rodriguez, $192,000

Green St., 1621: Empower Estate Properties LLC to B. & W. Bechtel, $256,000

Green St., 2230: Y. & R. Corniell to M. & A. Dundore, $165,000

Harris St., 235: T. Kline to D. Edwards, $235,240

Herr St., 2027: J. & J. Greene to T. Bajwa & S. Tehseen, $220,000

Holly St., 1944: J. & B. Readinger to S. Rubinstein & H. Choi, $150,000

Jefferson St., 2434: L. Henry to Alvarez Investment Properties LLC, $102,000

Jefferson St., 2436: L. Henry to Alvarez Investment Properties LLC, $93,000

Kensington St., 2033: JHC Property Investments to T. Ngo, $120,000

Kensington St., 2147: J. Gaidos to Wright Restoration Properties LLC, $105,000

Lexington St., 2528: M. & A. Reuveni to B. Jarkow, $125,000

Lexington St., 2614: G&W Rentals LLC to C. Jones, $114,900

Lexington St., 2629: G. Neff to Echo Propco I LLC, $90,000

Market St., 1504: E. Saenz & M. Rodriguez to 1504 Market Street LLC, $105,000

Mercer St., 2458: K. Hallman to Y. Lozada, $138,000

Moore St., 2122A: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to Penn RM Properties LLC, $77,000

Mulberry St., 1807: R. Bobb to G. Perrier, $166,000

Mulberry St., 1943: L. Dunbar to T. Hardison, $80,000

Nagle St., 121: P. Donohoe & J. Augustine to M. Marie, $245,000

North St., 216: R. Lamberson to J. Beck, $145,000

North St., 231, 233, 235: Murphy & Laus Real Estate LLC to RNM Group, $670,000

N. 2nd St., 1910: Gaudenzia Foundation to Sarah Jane Bentley Holdings LLC, $250,000

N. 2nd St., 3109: C. Hand & Michele M. Manning Trust to R. Sprout, $129,000

N. 3rd St., 1122: Heartshine to Scholars Inc., $60,000

N. 3rd St., 1205: S. & D. Rooney to D. Kulp, $235,000

N. 3rd St., 1323: 1307 Assoc LP to Kingkey Realty LLC, $1,405,000

N. 3rd St., 1905: M. Luckett to C. Lewis, $70,512

N. 3rd St., 3300: Robbins House Associates c/o Richard Reynolds to Vaughn Terrace LLC, $1,550,000

N. 4th St., 1326: A Murphy Investment Inc. to DKH Homes LLC, $88,000

N. 4th St., 2603: Top Cash Paid LLC to T. Anderson, $97,000

N. 4th St., 2635: Pennymac Loan Services LLC to Beta One LLC, $98,200

N. 5th St., 1619: R. Par to K. Plasencia, $220,000

N. 5th St., 2701: V. & C. House to Ross Properties 717 LLC, $176,500

N. 5th St., 3136: A. Burno to W. Reyes, $200,000

N. 5th St., 3205: J. Rodriguez & I. Ramos to T. Belizaire, $252,000

N. 6th St., 1725: R. Stoughton to E. Stoute, $150,000

N. 6th St., 2523: R&K Realty Group LP to Turner Associates Inc., $125,500

N. 7th St., 2217: P. & S. Goldberg to YMCM LLC, $120,000

N. 14th St., 1313: P. Brisneo to P. & E. Briseno, $132,132

N. 15th St., 2: D&F Realty Holdings LP to Aaysha Convenience Store LLC, $100,000

N. 15th St., 1337: 1337 North 15th LLC to S. Herrera, $130,000

N. 17th St., 1105: T. Poole to A. Burman, $165,000

N. 19th St., 33: D. Pittman to S. & L. Lapp, $160,000

N. 19th St., 49: 49 N 19th Street LLC to S. Geiger, $140,000

N. Cameron St., 1745: 12th Indiana Associates to 1745 SPE LLC, $1,505,000

N. Front St., 1525, Unit 508: R. Shenoy to J. Sharpe & R. Redulla, $208,000

N. Front St., 2609: A. Hartzler to Microwaved Success Investments LLC, $500,000

Park St., 1847: Val de Vie Estate Investments LLC to D. Doughty, $158,000

Park St., 1919: 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC to L. & C. Leon, $60,000

Peffer St., 219: D. Wendt & S. Shultz to K. Liddick, $222,500

Peffer St., 276: R. & M. Wickham to S. Daniels, $225,000

Penn St., 2131: J. Martinez to A. Rasheed, $95,000

Penn St., 2238: D. Stuart & J. Nuciglio to S. Lapp, $125,000

Radnor St., 625: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to New Ventures Investments LLC, $100,000

Reel St., 2628: G. Monroe to Sunnyside RE Enterprises LLC, $130,000

Reel St., 2719: E. Tilahun to Sunnyside RE Enterprise LLC, $129,900

Regina St., 1440: CTD Group to W. Guevara, $95,000

Regina St., 1606: Y. Tejada to R. & C. Vargas, $100,000

Regina St., 1718 & 2461 Reel St.: Community Investment & Development LLC and HBG Rental Group LLC to HBG Rental Group LLC, $168,000

Schuylkill St., 419: R. Hess & City Limits Realty to J. Escoto, $165,000

S. 14th St., 336: US Bank Trust & Selene Finance LP to D. Reyes, $60,850

S. 15th St., 29: W. White to Sunnyside RE Enterprises LLC, $125,000

S. 16th St., 322: Iron Dome Legal Advocacy Group LLC to S. Revolorio, $84,000

S. 17th St., 314: GCA & BN Real Estate Holdings LLC to E. Rodriguez, $350,000

S. 19th St., 12: J. Serrano to D. & V. Craig, $183,900

S. 19th St., 1117: F. Payero to M. Torres, $194,000

S. 21st St., 918: M. Gonzalez to L. Tarraga, $165,000

S. 21st St., 957: Normans Realty Services Inc. to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $80,000

S. Summit St., 29: Ingle Services LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $75,000

S. Summit St., 31: Ingle Services LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $65,000

Susquehanna St., 1618: M. Bekelja to A. & A. Murray, $245,000

Susquehanna St., 2206: N. Grant to R. Murray, $78,000

Swatara St., 1224: Falcao Group Consulting & Service Corp. Inc. to PR&J Properties LLC, $65,000

Swatara St., 2005: J. Torres to S. Mejia & W. Guzman, $175,000

Sycamore St., 1809: Jhon Leo Home Renovations LLC to C. Abikarram, $215,000

Taylor Blvd., 50: J. Collins to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $90,000

Thompson St., 1419: Bridger Investments LLC to K&M Home Investment LLC, $55,000

Zarker St., 1412: Community Investment & Development LLC to Zarker Rental Group LLC, $84,000

Zarker St., 1823: L. Neely to J. Reynolds, $60,000

Harrisburg property sales, March 2025, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

April 11, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Officials broke ground this week on the new “Tunnel to Towers” development for homeless veterans.

The weather may have been cool this week, but the local news was hot. If you missed any of our coverage, we have it all listed and linked below in our weekly news summary.

Broad Street Market has a new market manager following a lengthy search. The market board approved the hiring of Cheranda “Cherri” Parks-Taylor for the post, says our online article.

Capital City Music Hall is expected to open its doors in mid-summer, reports our music writer. The new venue in downtown Harrisburg replaces a centrally located restaurant and tap room.

Dauphin County Commission Chair Justin Douglas called on fellow commissioner George Hartwick to resign his seat, following a DUI charge. Our online story reprinted his public statement.

Harrisburg School District has reversed a plan to establish a full-time police department. According to our online story, the move comes as the district expects to exit a years-long receivership.

MG Mercantile is “retail theater,” according to our arts writer. In his magazine story, he outlines why you should take a trip to Mt. Gretna to experience the eclectic store.

Pride of the Susquehanna expects to hit the water in June. According to our online story, the iconic riverboat missed all of last year’s sailing season due to repair issues.

Sara Bozich has your party plan for the weekend. Check out her weekly summary of what’s going on around town.

Sonya McKnight, a Harrisburg judge, was convicted last week of attempted homicide. The out-of-town jury reached a verdict quickly following a two-day trial, our reporting found.

Tariffs threaten to harm local businesses, according to our recent news feature. Many local retailers import goods, even ones you might not expect.

Tunnel to Towers broke ground last week on a new residential complex for homeless veterans. The south Harrisburg development is one of three such facilities planned for the area, our reporting stated.

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Harrisburg School District holds off on hiring police, as officials seek to exit receivership

April 11, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg High School-John Harris Campus

A plan to bring police officers into Harrisburg schools has been halted.

At a board meeting this week, the Harrisburg School District announced that it would hold off on a previous plan to establish a school police department, as it prepares to potentially exit state receivership.

However, on Tuesday, district officials said that they would back down on that plan for now, as they need to be cautious with spending money, as the district could exit state receivership in the coming months.

Suski said that she is making the recommendation to exit receivership and is working on writing the petition to the state Department of Education. The district is “on a trajectory” to argue for exiting, she said. The receivership is set to expire on June 17.

“Part of the decision to move forward, it’s a fiscal decision,” Suski said. “And if the district is possibly looking at exiting receivership, or is desiring to exit receivership, we won’t know for sure until June. We will not be permitted to enter into any new initiatives for a period of five years.”

Suski said that, with that in mind, she doesn’t foresee policing coming up for discussion for at least five years.

Instead, Henry said that the district will continue to work with its safety monitors, the Harrisburg Police Bureau and with community members to improve safety in the schools.

“The safety and well-being of each of our students remains my top priority and we will continue to implement measures that ensure every child feels safe and secure in our schools,” he said.

For more information, visit the Harrisburg School District’s website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

March 28, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harmony Towers on N. 2nd Street in Harrisburg

Happy Friday, Burg readers! Our April issue of the magazine just dropped, so make sure you grab a copy. In the meantime, stay up-to-date with our recent news reporting, below.

April’s issue of the magazine features stories of spring—growth, gardening and new beginnings. In his publisher’s note, Lawrance Binda encourages readers to make the most of the warm weather, get out in the city and shop local.

Acting classes allow youth to build confidence, make friends and learn new skills. In our magazine story, learn about several local theaters’ class offerings.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA’s “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” is one of its biggest fundraisers each year. In our magazine story, read about the importance of the event and the impact that the work of BBBS has on area youth.

Eden Village can now begin construction on its tiny home village for the unhoused, our online story reported. Harrisburg City Council this week approved the project planned for South Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg chapter of the national nonprofit, USA Dance, has offered lessons to the community for decades. In our magazine story, read about the organization’s offerings and the benefits of dance.

Harmony Towers in Harrisburg has dealt with hot water issues for the past several months, the city said this week, our online story reported. Harrisburg officials said that they would ramp up code enforcement at the property to try to address the problems.

Open Stage’s production of “I’m Proud of You” tells the beloved story of “Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood.” The show touches on themes of building friendships and sharing feelings, says our reviewer.

Sara Bozich’s Weekend Roundup includes ways to eat, shop and have fun around Harrisburg this weekend.

Sieta Achampong, Harrisburg High School-SciTech Campus principal, was removed from her post by the school district, our online story reported. District officials said that she was removed because her certifications were not active. Achampong shared her thoughts on the news, as well.

“Walk with a Doc” allows community members to learn from and chat with local healthcare professionals, our magazine story reported. The program is part of Dauphin County Parks & Rec’s “Parks Rx” series.

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Harrisburg removes SciTech principal from position citing lapsed credentials; she responds

March 26, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

A past Harrisburg School board meeting.

The Harrisburg School District has removed a principal from her position, after finding her certifications inactive.

District receiver Dr. Lori Suski at a board meeting on Tuesday approved the removal of Dr. Sieta Achampong from her role as principal of Harrisburg High School—SciTech Campus, after finding her administrative certification to be invalid.

According to a recent statement released by Superintendent Benjamin Henry, Achampong did not have up-to-date certifications that are required under the Pennsylvania School Code, rendering her ineligible to be a principal.

“First, I want to again state that we are very grateful for Dr. Achampong’s leadership and work with students at SciTech and in the district,” Henry said in a statement. “As a school district in state receivership, the Harrisburg School District has a significant duty to ensure accountability and compliance – from employees and students, in our operational procedures, and in the management of our schools and school system.”

The district, with Achampong’s consent, has moved her to a position as an English teacher at Harrisburg High School—John Harris Campus. Henry said Achampong is certified to hold a teaching role.

Dr. Siéta Achampong. Photo from 2020.

Achampong issued her own statement responding to the district this week, stating that she accepted the teaching position, having not been given “any other viable options.”

However, she took issue with some of the statements that the district made surrounding her failure to complete necessary continuing education requirements, as well as their reasoning for demoting her.

Achampong noted that she was working towards updating her certification requirements up until she received a breast cancer diagnosis. She said that she provided her medical records to the district to show that the timing aligned, but they were “uninterested.”

“Battling stage 3 breast cancer is not an easy feat,” Achampong said. “There were many days when my body hurt so badly from treatments that I was restricted to my bed. As you can imagine, my focus became keeping my health insurance, being there for my family, and coming back home to restore myself for the next day.”

However, Achampong said that she does “accept responsibility for not being fully aware of where my certifications stood” and doesn’t put “complete blame” on the district.

The district shared that Achampong had eight years to complete the certification requirements, a timeframe that had been extended three times from the typical five-year time period. Henry also said that, over the past year, Achampong had been notified several times by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) about her status, but had not notified the district.

In her statement, Achampong disputed the district’s claims, saying that she did have a conversation with a district human resources official who told her that if she needed additional training hours, it wouldn’t be until the end of the 2025 school year. She also said that she was not notified several times by PDE.

Ultimately, Henry said, it is the responsibility of administrators to maintain active certification. Henry said that the district may face fines due to Achampong having worked under an inactive certificate.

Henry also said that community members have questioned why Achampong wasn’t issued an emergency certification from PDE. He said that that is an option, but it is reserved for situations where no other certified principal is available. Achampong contested that, saying the district has made exemptions in the past.

The community was also concerned that her demotion had to do with her health status, Henry noted.

“Our decision to offer Dr. Achampong a position as a teacher had nothing to do with health issues,” he said. “While we are sympathetic to any health crisis an employee faces, we must be accountable for following the law.”

However, Achampong claims that her health was mentioned numerous times in conversations with district officials.

“I understand that not every decision will be popular or will be one that is embraced by our community,” Henry said. “However, I hope you will trust that I am committed to moving our district forward, ensuring accountability, and making decisions that I believe are in the best interest of our school system as a whole.”

For more information about the Harrisburg School District, visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 17, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

MLK365 board members and local officials at a press conference at Marshall Math Science Academy.

Looks like a deep freeze is headed to Harrisburg in the coming days—making it the perfect time to stay warm at home and catch up on your Burg reading, below.

An apartment project planned for N. Front Street got the green light from City Council this week, our online story reported. Also at its meeting, council heard from the director of the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center who was frustrated that the organization hasn’t received city funding.

The Central PA MLK Day of Service will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, our online story reported. There are dozens of volunteer projects in the region to get involved in.

Gather the Guitars will use music to raise funds for Harrisburg nonprofit Gather the Spirit for Justice, our online story reported. The Abbey Bar will host the event this weekend.

Harrisburg announced that the USDA Wildlife Service would be at Italian Lake sampling wild ducks and geese for avian influenza this past Thursday. The city issued the advisory to warn people that they may hear loud noises during the process, our online story reported.

The Harrisburg School District will reconsider a previous decision to terminate a lease agreement with Wildheart Ministries for use of a district farm property. District officials said that they were made aware of information that may change their minds, our online story reported.

Home sales and prices both rose in December, our online story reported. For the three-county area, 560 houses sold compared to 492 in December 2023, while the median sales price rose to $280,000 from $259,275.

Kingdom Fit in Lemoyne opened in 2022 as a project by owner Harry King to unite people despite differences. In our magazine story, read about the gym’s offerings and programs.

Lemons make the perfect cooking ingredient to brighten the winter. Find our recipe for limoncello pasta, here.

Mayor Wanda Williams and Treasurer Dan Miller argued on Tuesday over the city’s method of collecting trash fees, our online story reported. Miller has proposed initiating annual billing to cut down on delinquent bills, while Williams disagrees.

Realtor.com ranked Harrisburg the top market for first-time homebuyers in 2025, our online story reported. The report cited affordable sales listings, short commute times and a strong local economy, among other factors.

Sara Bozich has a list of all of this weekend’s happenings in the Harrisburg area, here.

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