Pennsylvania’s move to put a receiver in charge of the York school district ended Wednesday when a Commonwealth Court judge vacated a Dec. 26 ruling that appointed a receiver—at the request of the previous administration—to run the financially and academically troubled school system.
The order by President Judge Dan Pellegrini ended nearly five months of appeals by the school district, teachers and others to fight a ruling by York County Common Pleas President Judge Stephen P. Linebaugh, who approved the state’s request last year to appoint David Meckley as receiver of the district. As receiver, Meckley had expansive powers over the district, except the ones to levy taxes, the York Daily Record reports.
Wednesday’s order also ends nearly a year of uncertainty in the community over whether the schools will be turned into charter schools, a proposal that was part of the recovery plan for the district that Meckley was in the process of implementing.
Before he was elected, Gov. Tom Wolf stated his opposition to the charter conversion. And his administration, along with the teachers’ union and the district, asked a judge last month to end the state’s receivership request.
Wednesday’s order ends the receivership request and all associated appeals.
Meckley resigned from his post on March 13, saying that he could not proceed with his plans because they were opposed by Gov. Wolf. Since Meckley’s resignation, Gov. Wolf has appointed a former Lancaster County superintendent to take Meckley’s place as the district’s chief recovery officer.
The replacement, Carol Saylor, and Mayor Kim Bracey are co-chairs of a committee that will explore ways to deal with the district’s problems.