Pittsburgh Public Schools closures opposed by local coalition

A coalition of eight organizations is urging Pittsburgh Public Schools board members to vote against a plan to close nine schools, which will be reconsidered next week after being rejected in November. The proposed facilities utilization plan has sparked years of debate, and the groups opposing it — parent-teacher associations, advocacy groups, and others — have sent a letter to the district’s board of directors, urging them to vote no. The organizations, which have not always agreed on the best path forward, argue that the plan lacks sufficient details to address the needs of marginalized students and communities. Mike Cummins, a parent and member of the district’s Community Schools Steering Committee, expressed concerns about the plan’s impact. “The primary objections I think would circle around not having enough very detailed planning for how to handle transitions for students with IEPs, English language learners, teachers, and marginalized students like Black or Brown students or socioeconomically disadvantaged students,” Cummins said. Gene Walker, president of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board, responded to the concerns raised in the letter.“We’ve heard what they’ve had to say. We’ve responded in many ways with many of the changes to the plan over time. But the idea that we can continue to wait until something makes everyone happy just doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Walker said.Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelThe plan proposes closing the Student Achievement Center, Schiller 6-8, Manchester PreK-8, Fulton PreK-5, Miller PreK-5, and Woolslair PreK-5 at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Pittsburgh Friendship, which houses Montessori, would also close, forcing Montessori to relocate. Spring Hill PreK-5 and Pittsburgh Morrow would close at the end of the 2028-29 school year following the completion of the Northview PreK-5 renovation project. Cummins questioned whether the projected savings justify the disruptions caused by the closures. “Superintendent Walters said that their projected savings are $8 million a year, and that is a big number to average people. But in a $732 million-a-year school district, it’s 1.09% of the budget,” Cummins said. “They’re asking to disrupt a third of the district, move people, charter buildings and communities that are anchors to communities, not have good plans for the most marginalized people with IEPs, things like that, for a 1% savings.” Walker said the plan could save millions in operational and capital costs. “It’s still a lot of money, and we can do a lot with an additional $6 to $8 million in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars in capital cost that we can now reallocate to different buildings,” Walker said. The board previously voted against the plan in November, citing unanswered questions. The coalition opposing the plan acknowledged the need for school closures but argued that the current proposal is flawed and lacks sufficient details to ensure a smooth transition. Board members are scheduled to vote on the facilities utilization plan Wednesday night.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

PITTSBURGH —

A coalition of eight organizations is urging Pittsburgh Public Schools board members to vote against a plan to close nine schools, which will be reconsidered next week after being rejected in November.

The proposed facilities utilization plan has sparked years of debate, and the groups opposing it — parent-teacher associations, advocacy groups, and others — have sent a letter to the district’s board of directors, urging them to vote no. The organizations, which have not always agreed on the best path forward, argue that the plan lacks sufficient details to address the needs of marginalized students and communities.

Mike Cummins, a parent and member of the district’s Community Schools Steering Committee, expressed concerns about the plan’s impact.

“The primary objections I think would circle around not having enough very detailed planning for how to handle transitions for students with IEPs, English language learners, teachers, and marginalized students like Black or Brown students or socioeconomically disadvantaged students,” Cummins said.

Gene Walker, president of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board, responded to the concerns raised in the letter.

“We’ve heard what they’ve had to say. We’ve responded in many ways with many of the changes to the plan over time. But the idea that we can continue to wait until something makes everyone happy just doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Walker said.

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The plan proposes closing the Student Achievement Center, Schiller 6-8, Manchester PreK-8, Fulton PreK-5, Miller PreK-5, and Woolslair PreK-5 at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Pittsburgh Friendship, which houses Montessori, would also close, forcing Montessori to relocate. Spring Hill PreK-5 and Pittsburgh Morrow would close at the end of the 2028-29 school year following the completion of the Northview PreK-5 renovation project.

Cummins questioned whether the projected savings justify the disruptions caused by the closures.

“Superintendent Walters said that their projected savings are $8 million a year, and that is a big number to average people. But in a $732 million-a-year school district, it’s 1.09% of the budget,” Cummins said. “They’re asking to disrupt a third of the district, move people, charter buildings and communities that are anchors to communities, not have good plans for the most marginalized people with IEPs, things like that, for a 1% savings.”

Walker said the plan could save millions in operational and capital costs.

“It’s still a lot of money, and we can do a lot with an additional $6 to $8 million in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars in capital cost that we can now reallocate to different buildings,” Walker said.

The board previously voted against the plan in November, citing unanswered questions. The coalition opposing the plan acknowledged the need for school closures but argued that the current proposal is flawed and lacks sufficient details to ensure a smooth transition.

Board members are scheduled to vote on the facilities utilization plan Wednesday night.

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