Monday, February 9, 2015

Superintendent reflects on tenure

From the PG:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/02/09/Profile-Pittsburgh-school-superintendent-Linda-Lane-focuses-on-children/stories/201502090002

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

comments from P-G article

X K3 hours ago
When she's not walking "part of the way to and from work" she has a school police driver that chauffeurs her around. Doesn't that sound like something a nearly insolvent school district can ill afford? This article is a fluff piece - what has she even done in the past several years besides tread water? Granted, it's not all her fault, we have a school board composed of lay persons who constantly bicker over issues that are personal to them, and who lack the strategic vision to improve the district.

People don't realize that our Board is powerless and doesn't really "run" our district.

Anonymous said...

another comment from P-G reader

Shawn Frost2 hours ago
It appears Dr. Lane has attempted to do good work on behalf of kids and taxpayers. However, when her board is made up of "well intentioned people who care about kids" - that does not seem sufficient to oversee a budget that is over half a BILLION $$ and employs more people than the City. How could anyone make traction while being micromanaged by people who put politics over students?

Again, people don't realize that it is Lane and Co., Gates, etc, who is running, and ruining our district.
Lane is angling for another contract raise and watch her get it while the teachers in the trenches lose in this next contract. It is the teachers and staff IN the schools who do the work - not the chiefs at Bellefield.

Questioner said...

In addition to 21 students who died there are countless others who have been critically injured. Just last evening in Homewood 3 PPS students were shot on the porch of a home owned by the assistant police chief; another student present was critically injured about a month ago. Two other students were shot shortly after leaving Westinghouse a couple of months ago. "Outside the school walls" yes, but often the shooters or suspected shooters are PPS students or former PPS students. And like it or not, schools may be the best or the only opportunity to intervene before it is too late. When the right principals, coaches, teachers and community members could have made a difference, but were not put in place (or turned away when they offered to help), it's on her.

Anonymous said...


Losing children through death and dying comes under life's per view. We all mourn and grieve for their loss. Losing children to schools systems that fare far better than PPS's comes under the per view of the current Superintendent. And she must be held accountable. The public would be better served by an op-ed piece which answers the Who,the What, the Why, the When, the Where and the How PPS has failed to educate our children.

Anonymous said...

Notice who wrote this article...Eleanor Chute. Did you expect any negative comments about Lane?

Anonymous said...

Yes Dr Lane gain some ground Closing SCHOOLS,HIGH DROP OUT RATE,POOR ATTENDANCE,ETC.If Dr Lane was at Upper St Clair she probably be FIRED after first DAY enclosing she should RENOUNCE her SUPERINTENDENT job ASAP
for the GOOD of PPS

Anonymous said...


Seemingly no one writes any negative comments about Dr. Lane and there are many other publications other than the PG. Surely Broad/Gates tentacles don't reach into the Trib, Courier, City Paper etc.? Is her Superintendency shielded from any kind of public debate?

Anonymous said...


Is all of PPS shielded from any substantive scrutiny and public debate (with in the small communities and communities at large )on the " trail of decisions responsible for the failure to meet academic standards in the education of Pittsburgh's children" over the past 15 years?

Another 15 years ...

Anonymous said...

Yes.

Anonymous said...


No critical thinking skills needed. Case closed.

Anonymous said...

NO, the CASE for PPS' most underserved students will NEVER be closed!

GOOD things are happening EACH and EVERY day by people in the community and schools that truly care despite the odds!

Anonymous said...


Of Course. Life goes on 10:31. The committed,caring individuals will continue to be caring and committed___ buoyed by the belief that He who has brought us this far will not fail to bring us to the Light.

Ordinary voices create extraordinary stories!

Anonymous said...

11:38 - AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

And YES, we have come this far by "faith"!
(From 10:31)

Questioner said...

"Among the highlights of the year, Mrs. Lane noted the improvement in the graduation rate, Pennsylvania System of School Assessment scores and teachers’ ratings of school climate as well as the performance of new principals and new central office leadership."

- Hmm, graduation rate- let's look at novanet and see how many students are relying on abbreviated online makeup courses in order to graduate. What provides a better education- the old "mainstream" classes, or novanet?

PSSA scores- there might be a grade or a subject with improvement, but others with poorer scores- a claim of better PSSA scores really needs to be backed up, and reporters need to ask for substantiation.

School climate- same thing- teachers at some schools see an improvement, others see a decline in school climate; where is the substantiation for an overall claim of improved school climate, and over what time period?

Without deeper reporting it is just fluff. Misleading fluff.

Anonymous said...

Actually RELYING ON online classes isn't being done by students- they are told basically you had your chance with a real teacher, now this is the only way you have. Imagine if you couldnt- for whatever reason learn something, and you are told-- now go learn it on your own. Saving money by closing another door to struggling students.