Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) yesterday appointed Harry Mathias as the Chief Recovery Officer at Steelton-Highspire School District, which was placed in Financial Recovery by PDE on March 15, 2025.
“By placing the Steelton-Highspire School District in financial recovery, we will be able to provide additional support to the community and help them address their unique challenges, restore financial stability, and provide their students with a sustainable, high-quality education,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “I look forward to working with district leaders, community advocates and the Chief Recovery Officer to develop a plan that empowers Steelton-Highspire to serve the needs of its students and community for many years to come.”
Harry Mathias is the owner of Mathias Educational Leadership Consulting LLC, where he performs educational program studies, charter school review, training for new superintendents, curriculum directors and school boards; a former adjunct instructor for Graduate Programs in Educational Administration at Delaware Valley University; and Superintendent of Schools at Central Columbia School District. Prior to that, Mathias served as a Curriculum Coordinator; a high school math and computer education teacher; and an independent educational consultant in the areas of assessment development and data-driven schools.
“I am pleased to be working with the administration, Board, staff, students and community at Steelton-Highspire School District,” said Chief Recovery Officer Harry Mathias. “I am also honored to serve the Secretary of Education and her team to help fulfill their mission in serving Pennsylvania school students.”
The Chief Recovery Officer works with PDE to create a financial recovery plan to lead the District into financial solvency and position it for academic success. As part of the financial recovery process, PDE will provide training and technical assistance to the district while ensuring the delivery of effective educational services to all students.
"The Steelton-Highspire School District acknowledges the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s decision to move our district from Financial Watch to Financial Recovery, and we view this as an opportunity to establish long-term financial stability and enhance the quality of education for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Mick Iskric, Jr.“We look forward to working closely with Chief Recovery Officer Harry Mathias and leveraging his expertise to develop a comprehensive financial recovery plan that will place our district on a path to fiscal solvency and academic success. With the support of PDE, we are committed to making strategic decisions that ensure the continued delivery of effective educational services to our students and the Steelton-Highspire community.”
Governor Josh Shapiro is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania’s public schools have the funding and technical assistance they need to provide a world-class education to the Commonwealth’s 1.7 million learners. His proposed 2025-26 budget requests a $75 million increase for public K-12 schools and a $526 million increase for the Ready To Learn Block Grant, as well as a $40 million increase for special education.
The 2025-26 budget also establishes a statewide cyber tuition rate of $8,000 per student per year to more closely align tuition with the actual costs of providing an online education, which is expected to save school districts an estimated $378 million annually. Currently, Steelton-Highspire School District spends $5.5 million annually on cyber charter and brick-and-mortar charter tuition.