Pittsburgh’s school superintendent believes the district is more prepared than ever to begin the school year, amid a sweeping reconfiguration plan that will take place the following school year.
“We were extremely conscious this year because we understand there are two priorities happening, but one has to coexist with the other,” Superintendent Wayne Walters said during a Tuesday school board meeting. “Although we’re preparing for the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, it is imperative we have a high quality school year as well.”
It will be the final year for a handful of schools and buildings. The Future-Ready Facilities Plan, approved by the board in May, closes nine school buildings and 12 schools, reconfigures others and phases out nearly all elementary-level magnet programs.
The first day of school is Aug. 24 for all grades except kindergarten. Kindergarten’s first day is Aug. 27.
The district will also hold its #PittsburghForPPS event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Acrisure Stadium. The event provides school supplies and resources before the start of school.
What’s new this year?
All district schools will implement a cellphone ban this year, said Monica Lamar, assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. Schools will share their policies to families before the first day. Forty-five schools have already used a ban.
“Our goal is simple — increase student engagement, minimize distraction (and) maximize instructional time,” Lamar said.
All middle schools will implement a team system where students and staff are divided into groups, in an effort to build stronger relationships and a sense of belonging, said Melissa Pearlman, assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. Ten middle schools participated in the program last year.
“This creates a stronger sense of connection and belonging particularly during those critical middle school years,” Pearlman said.
The district plans a new automotive technology curriculum accounting for hybrid vehicles, will add a new AP Pre-Calculus course and expand the STEAM curriculum for elementary students, said Shawn McNeil, chief academic officer. Kindergarten through third grade classroom libraries will include the “Rising Voices: Honoring the Richness of Black Stories” literary collection, McNeil said.
“This initiative represents an investment in strengthening early literacy through high-quality, culturally relevant texts that both reflect the experiences of our students and introduce them to diverse voices, perspectives and histories,” McNeil said.
Pittsburgh Public will expand its full-time emotional support satellite model, Bridges Academy, said Patti Camper, assistant superintendent for the program for students with exceptionalities. K-2 services will be held at Weil, 3-5 at King, 6-8 at Carmalt and 9-12 at Perry and UPrep. Greenway will be a standalone site for students grades 6-12.
Camper said 39% of secondary students in the Bridges program accessed general education classes.
“This increased interaction with non-disabled peers highlights one of the key advantages of the satellite model,” she said.
The district is still working through its covid compensatory services. Those services are the mandated makeup instruction and therapy hours owed to students with Individualized Education Programs or 504 plans who did not receive services during school closures from the pandemic.
To date, the district has delivered more than 75,000 hours of services with 561 students currently engaged, Camper said. Services have been completed for 231 students.
As the summer ends, more than 30% of all awarded service hours have either been completed or expired, Camper said. The district will continue offering services this school year and into next summer.
Buildings, technology and grounds
In technology, the district developed a centralized platform for counselors and administrators to view student information and to coordinate support services, said Mark Stuckey, chief technology officer.
The Home Access Center online portal has also been updated so students and families can view report cards for both the current and previous school year, Stuckey said. Previously, families could only view the current report card.
When asked how many families used the online platform, Stuckey called the numbers “low” but that the system didn’t accurately count a family if only one parent logged in. Staff will identify families that have not logged in and will reach out to them, Stuckey said.
Chief Operating Officer Michael McNamara said the district is overseeing 116 contracts for design, construction and professional services.
Notably, the opening of the pool at Obama Academy has been delayed, but will still be available for swimming season, McNamara said. A flood restoration project at Greenfield is underway, and several emergency generator projects at buildings are delayed, but none of which will impact the opening of school, he said.
A state grant covered HVAC projects, which are complete at Weil, Clayton, Concord and King, McNamara said. Projects are beginning at Arsenal, CAPA, Greenway, Grandview and Mifflin. Remaining work will take place at Carrick and Westinghouse.
Where do things stand with the Future-Ready Facilities Plan?
Superintendent Walters said the district will mail postcards to all families reminding them of the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, and updates to the district’s Find My School tool and plan webpage. The platform will show a student’s school assignment for this year and next year.
The plan has faced strong pushback, with parents concerned about student disruption, implementation and transparency from the district.
Since board approval in May, the district has taken inventories of school supplies and materials, Walters said. The plan calls to reopen the Northview Heights facility, and work is underway to get that school ready.
“That work will provide the district with options related to rebuilding or renovating the facility and help inform the development of an appropriately set-up project timeline,” he said.
New “parent ambassadors” will serve as a liaison between the school and the community, and help lead conversations on the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, said Mercedes Williams, director of communications and stakeholder engagement. Their role is to lead healthy discussions over families’ transitions to new schools. Parents will meet monthly with either Williams, Walters or district spokeswoman Ebony Pugh to get updates on the plan’s implementation.
“It’s actually two-fold: a general liaison, but also being our ambassador, our champion and our advocate for the understanding of the plan as well, (and) specifically, the facilities plan as it relates to some misconceptions, some myths or untruths about it,” Williams said.
Walters said formal updates on the plan will be given at public school board meetings in November, February, April and June.