The chief recovery officer of the Duquesne City School District has requested an extension to his Dec. 16 deadline for creating a financial recovery plan for the district.

Paul Long said Monday that he filed for the extension on Fridayand is waiting to hear from state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis if it will be granted and what the new deadline may be.

Mr. Long was named the chief recovery officer for the Duquesne district on Nov. 16 by Mr. Tomalis. Under the financial recovery legislation he was given 30 days to create an advisory committee, hold four public meetings and compose a financial recovery plan. At last Tuesday's meeting of the Duquesne school board, Mr. Long said the holidays were making it difficult to accomplish the work in the 30-day period.

Duquesne is one of four districts in the state currently targeted by the financial recovery legislation. The others are Chester Upland, Harrisburg and York.