PITTSBURGH \u2014 After more than two years of debate and months of back and forth, the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board voted Wednesday night to move forward with its controversial \u201cFuture Ready Plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a 6-2 vote with one abstention, board members approved closing 12 schools across nine buildings as part of the district\u2019s long-term restructuring effort.<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE PLAN.<\/a><\/p>\n Those school closures include:<\/p>\n Allegheny 6-8Arsenal PreK-5Fulton PreK-5King PreK-8Linden PreK-5Manchester PreK-8Miller PreK-5Milliones 6-12South Brook 6-8South Hills 6-8Spring Hill K-5Woolslair PreK-5. <\/p>\n The decision sparked emotional reactions inside the meeting room, including from parent Jazlynn Worthy, who opposes the plan<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we\u2019re talking about transportation, they can\u2019t guarantee if my children are going to be safe when they go to school,\u201d Worthy said.<\/p>\n District leaders say the changes are necessary because of declining enrollment and aging school facilities. <\/p>\n Superintendent Wayne Walters said some district buildings are more than 90 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have amenities that we would like to have in our school buildings,\u201d Walters said. \u201cI mean, we have schools that are still not air-conditioned.\u201d<\/p>\n Walters said it is still too early to know exactly how staff members could be impacted.<\/p>\n Board President Gene Walker said the district\u2019s next steps include working through staffing assignments and transportation planning.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district will be preparing staffing, working with the PFT, making sure teachers know where they\u2019re moving, they\u2019ll be working on transportation,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Worthy said she plans to continue challenging the board\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I search through every nook and cranny to figure out if what they\u2019re doing is legal or illegal, I\u2019m willing to take it there because my children deserve it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The plan would not take effect until the 2027-28 school year.<\/p>\n City Controller Rachael Hisler issued a statement on the decision, saying: <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to recognize that closing school facilities will not address the district\u2019s long-term financial challenges in a meaningful way. There will be short-term logistical benefits, but unfortunately, this plan, with its contracted footprint, will not reverse the trajectory of the district\u2019s finances. The most recent projections to the Budget and Finance Committee indicate that the district is headed for a negative $18.8 million fund balance by 2029, and the Future Ready Plan does not change that course. Other projections from the District suggest that with or without the Future Ready Plan, the unrestricted fund balance will go negative in 2028. <\/p>\n \u201cIf we really want PPS to be ready for the future, we need the administration and the Board to ensure that the district prioritizes financial stability while our students get the most out of every dollar we spend. My office will continue to provide information about how PPS can save money while improving services, and we hope that the administration and the Board will work with us to make real changes. The future of our school district depends on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n