Candidates talk equity

Final forum held before election for city school board

The third and final city school board candidate forum explored a wide range of topics that frequently returned to the importance of equity and leadership.

It was the first forum specific to the Pittsburgh Public Schools board race that brought out all eight candidates. Three of the five seats on this year’s May 16 primary ballot are contested. Ghadah Makoshi is running against District 5’s Terry Kennedy. Veronica Edwards is challenging incumbent Carolyn Klug in District 9. Sala Udin and James Myers Jr. are competing for the soon-to-be vacant seat in District 3.

Conrad Burns, who entered the race in District 7, missed the deadline to withdraw but has said he won’t campaign or participate in any candidate forums. Incumbents Cindy Falls in District 7 and Sylvia Wilson in District 1 are running unopposed.

The first two forums attracted, respectively, five and seven candidates.

Sponsored by the Vote School Board First coalition, headed by education advocacy group A+ Schools, the event was moderated by Pittsburgh Brashear High School senior Jahonna Lipscomb and sophomore Leon Blair and included questions directed at specific districts within the school system.

One prompt centered on how to provide support, resources and opportunities to students at Pittsburgh Millones 6-12. The Hill District school, also known as University Prep, is one of the district’s lowest-achieving schools.

After a large fight there in February 2016 that resulted in a handful of injuries — and that likely contributed to a loss of more than 160 students this year — Mr. Udin told reporters U-Prep was more “preparatory for the penitentiary.” He softened his critique in the fall, saying a task force he was part of completed its work.

“I think one of the most important things is the building leadership; the principal and what the principal brings to the staff as an instructional leader is very

important,” Mr. Udin, a former city councilor, said at the forum, adding that the district should give teachers adequate support.

Mr. Myers, who coaches AAU basketball with UPrep principal Christopher Horne, indicated a desire to collaborate with nearby organizations, including Manchester Bidwell Corp. and the Citizen Science Lab, and noted his work at his employer, Urban Innovation21, matching students with internships.

A few candidates offered more specifics this time around when asked what steps they would take to make the district’s teaching staff and leadership more diverse. Ms. Makoshi proposed guaranteeing a position to district students who go through the teaching magnet at Brashear and earn a college degree. Mr. Myers suggested an incentive such as student loan recovery to attract teachers of color.

“I think you have to keep students engaged in the education process as much as possible. There are some cultural competency issues when teachers do not reflect the population.”

Ms. Makoshi, the founder of Pittsburgh Baby Equipment Rentals LLC, called for more “culturally appropriate” professional development for teachers that should continue throughout their careers.

“We’re expecting our teachers to do more and more with less and less support. We need to be investing in our schools and giving teachers what they need.”

Asked about steps to reduce suspensions, Ms. Kennedy noted efforts already underway: The student conduct code is likely to be amended soon to create four infraction levels instead of three, and the board will likely vote to end suspensions for students in kindergarten to second grade.

She called for a return to mediators in every building and a district-wide expansion of restorative practices, a disciplinary approach in which students get to the root of the problem and stay in school.

Ms. Makoshi said mindfulness meditation, smaller class sizes and more counselors and social workers would help.

Asked whether they would support arming school police officers, candidates generally said they were against the concept, which is supported by the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

A written question from an audience member asked what board members would do to ensure parents with young children are aware of early-education options.

“We need to communicate better,” talk to parents “wherever you would find people congregating naturally” and create a link on the district homepage, Ms. Kennedy said.

Mr. Myers re-emphasized the need for a parent resource center in every school. Mr. Udin called for a “revolution ... in how we do parent engagement.”