Welcome news for the struggling Harrisburg City School District. An accounting error actually worked in their favor. $10.8 million dollars worth. Now, the district has to decide what to do with the money. Among the ideas on the table are full day kindergarten, no tax increases for residents , and no 5% wage cut for 2014 for employees.
But tensions rose at Monday night’s school board meeting as teachers expressed where they think a chunk of that money should go, back to the them.
“ The only thing we`re asking for is , we bargained in good faith, and to restore that 5% from the people they took it from,” says Sherri Magnuson, Harrisburg Education Association President
Last year they took a 5% pay cut from July until December, and they want to see that cash back in their paychecks.
“ In my opinion we were lied to and they need to make it right they need to make it right to people who come to work every day, who stay the course, who have sacrifice so much for the children of the city of Harrisburg. And they need to do what`s right, “ says Magnuson
Chief Recovery Officer Gene Veno says they need to look at the whole picture as to where this money goes.
“ Now what we have to do is look at that $10.8 million and see how it impacts the next 5 years. They’re only looking at six months I’m looking at 60 months and we’re diligently looking at what we can do with the money,” says Veno
Veno plans on presenting the board with recommendations next week and then they’ll take a vote as to where the money will go.