HARRISBURG, Pa. – The State Education Department announced Friday that Harrisburg School District Chief Recovery Officer, Gene Veno, has resigned. Veno was appointed to the position in 2012 to help the financially distressed school district avoid bankruptcy. The district was struggling and had cut teaching staff and closed school buildings prior to the appointment.
Veno in short ordered developed a five year plan calling for tax increases, wage cuts and pay freezes to help put the school district on the road to financial recovery. The district finished it's last two fiscal years with a budget surplus. However his plan failed to improve the district's academic record. Citing his failure to raise academic achievement across the entire school district, last April Mayor Eric Papenfuse called for Veno to be replaced.
In an interview with FOX43, Veno says although his recovery plan has two more years to completion he is leaving the job because it was time.
"The district is in a good financial position." I'm hopeful that labor management harmony will continue in this district because it's all about the children."
Veno's resignation is effective June 30. The Education Department says it will now begin the process to select a new Chief Recovery Officer.
