NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT HONORS STATE SEN. JEFF PICCOLA FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATIONHarrisburg, PA—Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola, Majority Whip of the state Senate, was today honored for his contributions to public education and community development as the recipient of the Pennsylvania Government Leader of the Year Award from the Harrisburg School District. Presenting the award at the Harrisburg Rotary Club meeting were Mayor Stephen R. Reed and schools Superintendent Dr. Gerald Kohn. The district has established an awards program, starting this school year, which will recognize public officials, educators, students and community leaders who have measurably contributed to the reform and improvement of education. In referring to the Education Reform Act adopted by the Legislature four years ago, and other educational measures which Senator Piccola has sponsored, Reed said: “At political risk, Senator Piccola has taken major steps to create an environment to induce educational improvement.” The award states: “Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola has displayed conspicuous and exceptional leadership and service to the Commonwealth and Nation that have produced landmark reform, improvement and achievement in public education, school district governance, alternative education, private sector support of educational initiatives, economic development, job creation, housing and neighborhood renewal, blighted property mitigation, historic preservation, and the creation of significant permanent cultural, educational, heritage and civic facilities.” In addition to the education reform laws, Piccola has sponsored new laws that attack blighted properties, provide tax credits for restoration of older structures, and created economic investment programs. The Mayor noted that the Senator has also been instrumental in securing various state grants and other funding for an array of city projects. “I am thankful for being the recipient of this very important award,” said Senator Piccola. “ It gives me great pride working to improve our public education system, spearhead urban renewal while preserving historic properties, and help create a better jobs climate locally and across our state. Receiving this award is an honor and an incentive to continue making our region and state a better place to work and raise a family. “The accomplishment I am most proud of is passage of the Educational Empowerment legislation, which turned the Harrisburg School District over to Mayor Reed. The result we now have is an accountable school district that is making tremendous strides. We have changed a dysfunctional school system that was not teaching our kids while bankrupting taxpayers to one that is now education city children and giving them hope when none previously existed. These reforms have made our Capital City a model for the entire state.” XXX |
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