ABC27 WHTM State-appointed receiver meets with Harrisburg School Board

State-appointed receiver meets with Harrisburg School Board

The state-appointed receiver assigned to Harrisburg will be presenting his recovery plan in just under two weeks.

David Unkovic in the meantime has been listening to residents, community leaders and city officials. He talked Monday night with members of the Harrisburg School Board and some parents in the district, which is also deeply in debt.

Unkovic acknowledged that he has no authority to do anything with the school, but he also admitted that the city and the school district are closely connected.

"It is important to keep in mind what the school district situation is and make sure that you're not doing something for the city which is bad for the school district or vice-versa," Unkovic said.

School board member Wayne Henry said his goal for inviting Unkovic to the meeting was to make sure that the receiver has the district in mind when he tries to pull the city out of financial distress.

It sounds like Henry is satisfied in that regard.

"Some of the answers that he gave showed that he was concerned with the district," Henry said. "That's all I'm asking for, is that he is concerned about the well-being of the school district."

Henry also talked of the uphill battle the district will face this year in crafting its next budget.

"We have a $6 million deficit from last year," he said. "So that's something that we really have to work with and I look forward to the challenge and we will make it. We will make it."