The voices of children, parents, and education activists echoed outside of the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration building on the eve of a critical school board vote. The rally on Tuesday was held ahead of a public hearing on the proposed Future-Ready Facilities Plan. The group urged the PPS Board of Directors to vote against the proposal at their meeting on Wednesday. If passed, the plan would lead to the closure of nine schools. “Our schools mean a lot, like they’re the community, and it’s just disappointing that they’re going to do this,” said Nina Louise Dagavarian, a third-grader at Woolslair. From students like Dagavarian, to parents like Shannon Striner – the plan sparked concerns for families across the district. Striner is the mom of a third-grader at Fulton who has an Individualized Education Program. She said she is terrified her daughter will regress as a result of the closure. “Fulton is so much more than a building. It’s a community. It’s really, truly special and it took us so long to find a school that really got her,” Striner told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa. While most of the nearly 100 public speakers opposed the plan, a few people stepped up to voice their support. “Pittsburgh Public Schools has fewer students than it did years ago. Yet, we continue operating too many buildings, including schools that are significantly underutilized,” Holly Williams said.In a letter sent out Tuesday, School Board President Gene Walker cited low enrollment as a reason why the closures are being considered. “It’s not a plan. A plan gives details, it has community engagements, bring our stakeholders to the table,” said PPS parent Jala Rucker. “And we haven’t had a chair to sit at the table.”The legislative meeting on Wednesday will begin at 6:30 p.m.

PITTSBURGH —

The voices of children, parents, and education activists echoed outside of the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration building on the eve of a critical school board vote.

The rally on Tuesday was held ahead of a public hearing on the proposed Future-Ready Facilities Plan.

The group urged the PPS Board of Directors to vote against the proposal at their meeting on Wednesday. If passed, the plan would lead to the closure of nine schools.

“Our schools mean a lot, like they’re the community, and it’s just disappointing that they’re going to do this,” said Nina Louise Dagavarian, a third-grader at Woolslair.

From students like Dagavarian, to parents like Shannon Striner – the plan sparked concerns for families across the district.

Striner is the mom of a third-grader at Fulton who has an Individualized Education Program. She said she is terrified her daughter will regress as a result of the closure.

“Fulton is so much more than a building. It’s a community. It’s really, truly special and it took us so long to find a school that really got her,” Striner told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa.

While most of the nearly 100 public speakers opposed the plan, a few people stepped up to voice their support.

“Pittsburgh Public Schools has fewer students than it did years ago. Yet, we continue operating too many buildings, including schools that are significantly underutilized,” Holly Williams said.

In a letter sent out Tuesday, School Board President Gene Walker cited low enrollment as a reason why the closures are being considered.

“It’s not a plan. A plan gives details, it has community engagements, bring our stakeholders to the table,” said PPS parent Jala Rucker. “And we haven’t had a chair to sit at the table.”

The legislative meeting on Wednesday will begin at 6:30 p.m.