Peter Barsz to remain as State Receiver with goal of returning District back to school board control

MEDIA, Pa. (July 10, 2019) – Honorable Judge Barry C. Dozor reappointed Peter Barsz, partner at Barsz Gowie Amon & Fultz, as Chester Upland School District’s Receiver for a third term, with the receivership lasting three years from June 2019 through June 2022.

The decision to continue with Barsz as the receiver is one set to help the District return control to the elected school board. Judge Dozor indicated that consistency is important in this endeavor and changing hands would only serve as a disadvantage to the District at this juncture.

“I am so pleased to continue the receivership of the Chester Upland School District as it takes steps to regain local control,” said Barsz. “My goal has always been, and will continue to be, to work with the CUSD administration, elected board, teachers, parents and students to help them continue to improve our district and make it one that everyone can be proud to support. Our immediate task is the preparation of an amended recovery plan that will provide school district sustainability.”

During his three years with the Chester Upland School District, Barsz has worked with the board and administrative team and succeeded in eliminating a multi-million dollar deficit; approved living wage contracts for teachers and support staff, after they worked without contracts and applicable raises for the prior three years, and hired Superintendent Juan Baughn, who has continued to move the district forward in a positive direction scholastically and academically.

“We are extremely proud of the work that Peter is doing and will continue to do for the Chester Upland School District. At Barsz Gowie Amon & Fultz, we believe that serving the communities that we work in is our duty, and there is no nobler cause than prioritizing students and their education,” said Managing Partner Bill Gowie.

Barsz will focus his continuing efforts on ensuring the District is in good financial standing, as previously mentioned, creating and enacting a new amended recovery plan, and working with the elected school board to set the District up for future success.

Acting on a Petition filed by the Secretary of Education, Barsz was appointed Receiver by President Judge Chad Kenney in June 2016. His original term lasted one year. He was reappointed Receiver in June 2017 for a two-year term. The Secretary of Education declared Chester Upland School District to be in financial recovery status in 2012. 

About Chester Upland School District

Chester Upland School District is a K-12 school district in Delaware County which serves students in the city of Chester, the borough of Upland, and Chester Township. The district consists of three elementary schools, a middle school, and two high schools. The district is focused on improving fiscal and academic challenges. For more information, visit http://www.chesteruplandsd.org

About Barsz Gowie Amon & Fultz

Barsz Gowie Amon & Fultz provides a full range of audit, accounting, tax, business planning and management consulting services. In 2017, two accounting firms in Delaware County teamed up to become Barsz Gowie Amon & Fultz. With offices in Media and Chadds Ford, the firm stretches from Delaware County well into Chester County, Lancaster County, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and south to Delaware and D.C. and beyond. For more information, visit www.barszgowie.com.