Vote postponed on ‘community schools’

2 board members express concerns

It’s likely to be another month before the board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools votes on which district building or buildings it will designate as “community schools.”

School directors didn’t take up the matter as planned Tuesday after it was withdrawn from the agenda late in the afternoon. A district spokeswoman said the committee reviewing the applications from schools vying for the title wanted more time to consider the pitches.

But before the latest development, the agenda still had not identified which school or schools could be chosen as district buildings that house social service and other programs for students and the neighborhood, a model lauded by superintendent Anthony Hamlet and the board majority.

Two school board members expressed concern hours before the meeting that they still had received virtually no information about which school or schools could be selected.

“I am concerned because it has not been shared with us, but they expect us to vote tonight. And how do I know if I’ll have questions until I hear the name of the schools, and will they be able to answer my questions?” District 5 school board member Terry Kennedy, who is running for re-election, said before the item was withdrawn.

“There are still unanswered questions about how many schools would be involved, the number of additional staff that would be needed at each school, and how much this will cost the district,” added District 4 board member Lynda Wrenn, who also made her comments before the issue was removed from the agenda. “I’m not against community schools, but I need to see this information and have time to review it before I can vote on this.”

The board agenda item on the community schools left the school or schools blank and referred to them as “TBD” before it was withdrawn. The district didn’t have a list of proposed community schools when a reporter inquired Tuesday afternoon.

A 26-member committee made up of foundation, government, union and community representatives received 21 applications from schools. That committee reviewed the applications and was to recommend which school or schools deserved the designation.

PPS had asked the schools seeking the title to provide information on absenteeism, suspensions, students with disabilities, percentage of students who are Englishlanguage learners and existing partners that provide services at the school. The application also will consider “how violence, poverty and health conditions in the community where the school is located might affect students and their families.”

In the district’s “designated” community schools, an on-site employee will coordinate programs and services provided through community organizations based on the school’s needs. In later phases of the program, “full service” community schools will serve as social service hubs for the neighborhood and offer services such as adult education and medical and dental care. The district has also said it will incorporate some aspects of community schools in all of its buildings, such as expanding nurse services.