Scranton School Board appoints Dr. Aaron Keating as superintendent starting April 1

The Scranton School District Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Aaron Keating as the district’s superintendent, with a contract term beginning April 1, 2024, and an initial annual salary of $170,000.

President Ty Holmes introduced the resolution, saying the board conducted a nationwide search and settled on what he called "a leader of this community and this district". The resolution states the appointment term ends Dec. 31, 2028, and that the superintendent must qualify with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education and take the oath of office as required.

Board members described a lengthy search process that included community focus groups, town halls and interviews. Multiple speakers emphasized the importance of selecting a candidate with experience advocating for urban districts and working with teachers and support staff. One board speaker said the process "considered community feedback, which was a first for such a process," and another thanked the search contractor Templeton Advantage for leading the effort.

The motion to appoint Dr. Keating was seconded and carried by roll call; the result announced in the meeting was recorded as "8 affirmative, 1 abstention, 1 negative." The board transcript contains the roll‑call exchange that produced the announced tally.

Following the vote, Dr. Keating spoke to the board and community. She thanked the Old Forge community where she previously served, pledged to be "visible, approachable, and fair," and said she would "work together as a staff to continue to build these partnerships with community resources" to remove barriers to student learning.

The appointment concludes the board’s months‑long search. Board members said next steps include executing the formal contract and beginning initial first‑year objectives to build momentum for district priorities.