Chris Celmer speaks at a news conference announcing him as Harrisburg School District's new acting superintendent on Thursday, December 19, 2019.
Rachel McDevitt / WITF
Harrisburg School District to start 2020 with new acting superintendent
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Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania
Rachel McDevitt / WITF
Chris Celmer speaks at a news conference announcing him as Harrisburg School District's new acting superintendent on Thursday, December 19, 2019.
(Harrisburg) — The Harrisburg School District will start next year with a new acting superintendent.
When the district came under state receivership in June, one of the of the court-appointed receiver’s first moves was to dismiss top members of the administration and bring in a new team.
Chris Celmer joined as assistant acting superintendent. He was promoted to the top job this week.
He came from Reading School District, where he is credited with helping rescue the district from financial collapse.
Celmer said the first six months of the turn-around effort in Harrisburg were focused mainly on finances.
“But now it’s about how do we change a system that will ultimately be sustainable for the students and the community in Harrisburg School District,” Celmer said. “That’s our challenge, and it’s a significant challenge, but it’s one the team is ready to take on.”
In the new year, Celmer said he will be focused on completing an updated recovery plan for the district and a comprehensive plan that is due to the state Department of Education by April.
“The prior plans were more finance and operational focused,” he said. “This plan that’s being worked on really will be comprehensive on how you build an effective school district that can produce high academic results.”
He said he’ll also be spending more time in school buildings, as his team works on improving the curricula and learning environments throughout the district.
Celmer replaces John George, who is also the executive director of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit.
George plans to retire from public education next year.
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