Navigating Change: The Future of Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Role of the Board of Education

The Pittsburgh Public School District (PPS) is at a critical juncture, facing declining enrollment, budget constraints, and the urgent need to address academic outcomes and equity. As five out of nine seats on the Board of Education are up for election, the decisions made by the incoming board members will significantly shape the future of the district. This article examines the key issues facing PPS, the perspectives of the candidates vying for a position on the board, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Facing a Reduced Footprint: School Closures and Consolidations

One of the most pressing issues facing PPS is the need to resize its footprint. The district has lost approximately 7,730 students in the last decade and is projected to lose another 6,000 students by 2030. This decline in enrollment has led to many buildings operating at half capacity, resulting in fewer opportunities, advanced classes, and educational programming for students.

District administrators and a majority of board members have repeatedly emphasized the need to resize the district to meet the needs of students and reduce existing inequities. A plan is under consideration to reconfigure the district’s footprint, involving 10 school closures and consolidations. No school closure will take place in the 2025-26 school year.

Nearly all of the board candidates agree that the district needs to reduce its footprint and close some schools. However, they differ on the approach and the level of community involvement. Some candidates emphasize the need for data-driven decision-making and a comprehensive plan that considers the impact on students, families, and communities. Others, like Allison Petonic, are unsure if the board needs to close schools and believe that the current process has created barriers against public participation.

Past school closures have not always led to improved outcomes, highlighting the need for a more strategic and comprehensive approach. The incoming board members will need to carefully consider the criteria for school closures, the impact on students and communities, and the strategies for ensuring a smooth transition.

Defining Student Success: Beyond Test Scores

In February, the school board adopted a set of policy changes based on a framework known as Student Outcome Focused Governance. This framework has raised concerns among community members who worry that the board will only focus on test scores and leave many decisions to district administration.

Erikka Grayson believes that test scores are a narrow-minded way of evaluating children’s success. Other candidates, like Reed and Walker, said it would be up to the board to decide how to define student outcomes based on input from community members and parents.

The challenge for the incoming board members will be to develop a comprehensive definition of student success that goes beyond test scores and incorporates factors such as social-emotional learning, critical thinking, and civic engagement. This will require engaging with community members, parents, and educators to develop a shared vision for student success and to identify the metrics that will be used to measure progress.

Addressing Disparities: Suspension Bans and Trauma-Informed Training

Disparities in discipline are a persistent problem in many school districts, including PPS. Currently, the district has a suspension ban from kindergarten through second grade. Thomas supports a suspension ban across kindergarten through fifth grade, and Petonic believes the idea is worth exploring.

Other candidates advocate for professional development and culturally relevant training to reduce suspensions. Cook Purnell suggests that cautious hiring and providing trauma-informed training to teachers could bring down suspensions.

Addressing disparities in discipline will require a multi-faceted approach that includes implementing suspension bans, providing professional development for teachers, and addressing the root causes of misbehavior. The incoming board members will need to work with district administrators and educators to develop and implement strategies that promote positive behavior and create a more equitable learning environment for all students.

Securing Funding: Advocating for Resources

Securing adequate funding is a constant challenge for school districts, including PPS. Bey, Thomas, and Diodati want to push state legislators to secure more funding. Diodati argues that the district can’t kick the can down anymore.

On the other hand, Grayson and Petonic want to take a growth approach to managing the district’s finances. Reed cautions that while the district regularly projects a deficit, it does not always have one, and board members and district officials need to do a better job of talking about the finances.

The incoming board members will need to be effective advocates for increased funding from the state legislature and other sources. They will also need to be responsible stewards of the district’s finances, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and efficiently.

Superintendent Leadership and Goals

Dr. Wayne N. Walters is the superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools. The board approved the superintendent’s goals for the 2025-2026 school year, with one abstention from director Emma Yourd.

Read also: HPBOSE: A Detailed Look

The three benchmarks include a 51.7% proficiency rate in third-grade English language arts; 36.35% proficiency in third-grade math; and a districtwide graduation rate of 85.06%. A fourth goal related to career readiness will be voted on at a later date, according to board president Gene Walker.

This year’s numbers reflect a continuation of goals outlined by the district in 2021, when the board first hired Walters as the district’s interim superintendent. But as several speakers pointed out during Monday’s public hearing, PPS has already met two of those three goals.

The board also approved a list of expectations for the administrators’ pending school closure implementation plan. The list of expectations includes staffing projections, a timeline outlining when the district should expect improved student outcomes, a multi-year financial analysis and a comprehensive transportation plan.

The Candidates: A Diverse Range of Perspectives

The candidates running for the PPS school board bring a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. PublicSource interviewed eight out of nine candidates running for the PPS school board. Tonya Fores did not respond to requests for an interview.

Tawana Cook Purnell: A retired school administrator who has served as a teacher and administrator at both public and private schools throughout the region. She is a proponent of the district’s school closure proposal and ran on promises to prioritize social-emotional learning and advocate for data-driven budgeting.
Erikka Grayson: As director of community and engagement at the Early Excellence Project, Grayson has worked to develop tutoring and literacy programs for early childhood and elementary students in the Hill District. She wants to expand these programs if elected, along with improving school infrastructure quality and consistent communication with stakeholders.
Eva Diodati: A teen library services associate at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Hill District branch. Diodati wants to help the district address chronic absenteeism and find new ways to retain families leaving Pittsburgh.
Tracey Reed: Incumbent District 5 board member who ran uncontested.
Other Candidates: The field includes candidates with backgrounds in education, business, and community organizing. They bring a range of perspectives on the issues facing PPS and offer different approaches to addressing these challenges.

Community Involvement and Volunteer Work

Many of the candidates have a long history of community involvement and volunteer work. This experience has given them a deep understanding of the needs and priorities of the communities they hope to represent.

For example, one candidate has spent nearly two decades deeply involved in education and youth development in the Pittsburgh region, serving as a youth football coach, vice president of the North Side Youth Athletic Association, sponsor of the African-American Scholars Club, and organizer of the PPS Alumni Basketball Game.

Another candidate is actively involved with Highcliff Elementary School through their involvement with the PTO and contributes to various school events and initiatives.

This commitment to community involvement demonstrates the candidates' dedication to serving the students and families of PPS.

Key Issues and Priorities

The candidates have identified a number of key issues and priorities for the district. These include:

Improving academic outcomes: Many candidates emphasize the need to improve academic outcomes for all students, particularly in math.
Addressing disparities: Candidates are committed to addressing disparities in discipline, achievement, and access to opportunities.
Managing finances: Candidates recognize the need to be responsible stewards of the district’s finances and to advocate for increased funding.
Engaging the community: Candidates are committed to engaging with community members, parents, and educators to develop a shared vision for the district.
Supporting teachers and staff: Candidates recognize the importance of supporting teachers and staff in navigating the changing educational landscape.

The Role of the Board of Education

The Board of Education plays a critical role in shaping the direction of PPS. The board is the policy-making body for the School District. It hires and oversees the district superintendent, votes on the district’s annual budget, drafts and enacts policy, and reviews charter school renewal applications.

The incoming board members will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of students, families, and communities in Pittsburgh. They will need to be collaborative, strategic, and committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Student Voice on the Board

Two students were sworn onto Pittsburgh Public Schools’ board of directors Wednesday night. Orli Trumbull, a senior at Obama Academy 6-12 in East Liberty, and Chris Graves, a junior at Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, were selected from a pool of 26 applicants to be the district’s first student board representatives.

Student board representatives will serve as nonvoting members of the board and will be given the opportunity to share a monthly student body update. School board director Sala Udin first introduced a resolution creating the two seats in January 2024 and the board approved the policy that June.

Election Outcomes

Earlier in the night, retired school administrator Tawana Cook Purnell, Hill District parent Erikka Grayson and library worker Eva Diodati won their primary races. Incumbent District 5 board member Tracey Reed ran uncontested.

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