Friday, February 20, 2015

Now is the time to plan to speak at Monday's PPS Public Hearing

The next public hearing is Monday February 23 at 6:00 pm;  procedures are at:

http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/Page/4043

Note that you do not necessarily have to be a city resident to speak; in addition to city residents the following are also eligible:
  • Anyone having registered a legitimate interest in a contemplated action of the Board 
  • Anyone representing a group in the community or School District
  • Any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the School District
  • Any District employee
  • Any District student 

Call (412) 529-3868 by noon on Monday to sign up.

Hearings are now being filmed for wider viewing on PCTV (ch 21/47) and YouTube, so you can send your testimony to others who cannot attend the hearing.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm well aware of the old saying: If you don't do anything, then you have no right to complain.

Yet I must ask. Would it do any good to speak at the hearing? Does anyone think the powers that be will be responsive to citizen comments?

I'm sorry to be so pessimistic here, but as a PPS teacher I was asked many times for my opinion (at meetings, via emails, etc.) In the pre-Roosevelt days I was listened to, and I actually saw some of my suggestions put into action. The same goes with some of the suggestions from my fellow teachers.

But since Roosevelt, nothing. At one in-service we were actually told that no comments would be welcome.

Again, sorry to be so pessimistic. And I certainly don't want to dissuade anyone from speaking. It can't hurt! But in my opinion the only thing that really matters are the Board elections. Support Mark Brentley, and support any reform canditates in your district.

Questioner said...

Mark Brentley is not running for re election.

Anonymous said...

Questioner, I know that Mark Brentley is not running for re-election. He's not perfect, but we really do need him on the Board!

I hope that Pittsburghers can get him to reconsider.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Yes, Yes, Mark Brentley must be convinced to stay on the Board. He gets it! He asks questions that no one else would even think to ask!

Without his questions and understanding over a long period of time, the city will lose its public school system sooner rather than later.

Is there any group or numbers that can rally the parents of Pittsburgh's children to demonstrate to keep Mark Brentley?

Anonymous said...

3:11 - what do you mean by "reform candidates"?

Everyone calls themselves a "reform candidate" but what does that mean exactly?

The Roosevelt/Lane/Broad/Gates people call themselves reform, but education in the district is sliding backward under this "reform".

3:11 said...

3:50, you're right, it's not easy to figure out who the true "reform candidates" are. In fact, it is disappointing to see how little the new Board members have done to stop the failed Roosevelt/Lane agenda.

I guess the only true reform candidate would be one who would promise to do all the following:

1. Reject the Gates money, and all the strings attached to it.
2. Reject the Broad/PELA principal-training program.
3. Demand the resignation of Dr. Lane, and replace her with someone with at least 20 years of PPS school-based experience.

Anonymous said...

5:24
Care to make this comment at the Public Hearing?

Anonymous said...

Who out there has 20years school-based experience and is on the record for rejecting the Roosevelt/Lane agenda?

Anonymous said...

There are more than a few!

Anonymous said...

This is the time for the few to make their case for the 'record' and for the public, lest it be a would've, should've, couldn't.

Anonymous said...

5:24 PM you get it Linda Lane should RESIGN for the sake of PPS STUDENTS,and PGH COMMUNITY.
PPS can do better without her if she ran the Broad /Gates say in Upper St Clair should would have gotten fired on the first day on the job .We can't take Broad-Gates out of Linda Lane BUT!!!!!!we can take her job as Superintendent of PPS if not we just keep kicking the can down the road

Anonymous said...

For the "more than a few"

Make a banner stretching length wise : THERE ARE MORE THAN 450 OUT OF 500 PA.DISTRICTS ACADEMICALLY SUPERIOR TO PPS. Take it to the Public Hearing and reveal it across the balcony.

Questioner said...

PPS has a "no signs" policy at public hearings, although it is selectively enforced and raises First Amendment issues.

Anonymous said...

The PPS Board and Administration know that they stand very, very low in ranking. They have known that for the last 10 years. You wouldn't be telling them anything that Pa Dept of Ed hasn't told them over and over again!

So why hang a banner?

Anonymous said...


Does the Pubic know it? As has been said over and over in this blog the 'public' needs to be educated.

Anonymous said...

8:50


The point of all this is not to tell PPS what they obviously already know and skillfully keep . from public consumption. The key words here are:Public HEARING.

Questioner said...

A problem in the past was that few were able to attend public hearings, but now with hearings available on PCTV and YouTube, that is no longer an issue.

Questioner said...

But would this banner really spell it out? Even if all 500 PA school districts were educating its children to the highest standard in the world, there would still be a "bottom 5."

Questioner said...

Over 20 speakers on a range of topics despite the very cold weather outside; air dates will be posted when available.

Questioner said...

Board attendance was not as good. 3 Board members (1/3 of the total) were not present at the public hearing.