Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
Title
A Resolution providing a sense of Council related to the Pittsburgh Public School system; and, proposed amendments of the state statutes governing school districts of the First Class A, which would provide for the formation of a nominating commission to select four (4) nominees for appointment to the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, with the advice and consent of the City Council. The resolution is to be conveyed to the city's state legislative delegation by the City Clerk
Body
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's school districts act as agencies of the state legislature in administering its constitutional duty to maintain a thorough and efficient system of public schools; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education and the City of Pittsburgh, organized as separate governing and taxing bodies, are intrinsically tied together by the common task of serving the needs of essentially the same population. The actions of these two governing and taxing bodies have broad social and financial impacts upon the very same people be it the education of their children or the taxation of their property in support of governmental functions. Actions taken independently or in concert by these two governmental units have a profound effect upon the overall implementation and development of public policy and, the quality of life within the City of Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, within this resolution, desires to form a closer working relationship between the City of Pittsburgh and the Board of Public Education in order to best serve the needs of the city's residents and, most importantly, the children of the City of Pittsburgh.
WHEREAS, the Council respectfully requests that the legislature act, pursuant to the plan outlined in this resolution, to empower the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, with the advice and consent of the City Council to appoint four members to the existing Board of Public Education.
Now, Therefore Be It Resolved That The Council Of The City Of Pittsburgh Enacts As Follows:
Section 1
Intent of Council
It is the intent of Council to form a closer working relationship with the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education in order to promote: a better public school system; coordination of effort with regard to fair and equitable taxation; and, to further enhance the overall quality of life within the City of Pittsburgh. The ultimate goal is to significantly improve governance structure of the School Board and to provide the children of Pittsburgh with the best possible public education. The Council stands ready to work with the State Legislature, the Board of Education and the people of the City of Pittsburgh to make constructive changes to achieve these goals.
Section 2
Request for Legislative Action by the Pennsylvania State Legislature
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh respectfully requests that Pennsylvania's Legislature take the appropriate action to amend the state code at Title 24, Chapter 1, Public School Code of 1949, Article III, Section 3-301 to allow for the formation of a School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) which would empower the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh to appoint four (4) persons, with the advice and consent of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, to the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education. The School Board will then be comprised of thirteen (13) individuals, four appointed by the mayor and nine (9) elected by district. The amendments shall embody the following provisions.
Section 3
Creation of School Board Nominating Commission
The City of Pittsburgh's Council shall enact legislation to form a School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC). The purpose of the Commission is to submit to the Mayor qualified nominees for appointment to the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education.
The SBNC will be formed pursuant to the city's Home Rule Charter governing the creation of Commissions. The Mayor shall nominate school board members as recommended by the SBNC.
Section 4
Composition of the School Board Nominating Commission
The composition of the SBNC shall be comprised of twelve (12) persons, with three representatives from each of the following four (4) sectors:
Universities/Colleges
Three (3) individuals shall be representatives of major city-based universities.
Philanthropic Foundations
Three (3) individuals shall be representatives of major city-based philanthropic foundations.
Career Schools
Three (3) individuals shall be representatives of major city-based career, technical and/or arts schools.
Business/Labor
Three (3) individuals shall be representatives of major city-based organizations representing business and labor.
Section 5
SBNC Organization
The SBNC shall be charged with: conducting an organizational meeting every two (2) years, coinciding with the municipal election cycle, to elect its own chair, vice-chair, and secretary; familiarization of the Pittsburgh school system's governance structure, budget, operations and policies; and, development of a selection process in order to nominate qualified candidates for appointment to the Board by the Mayor.
Section 6
Qualifications of Appointed Board Members
The nominees to be submitted by the SBNC to be appointed by the Mayor shall have the following qualifications:
A. Shall be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh for at least one year prior to nomination by the commission.
B. Shall have a strong working and professional background in either one of the following professions:
1 Education
2 Public or private finance
Term of Office
The appointed members of the School Board shall serve a term of office not to exceed four (4) years and be subject to all laws governing elected members of the Board of Education. At the end of the appointed term, the member may be re-nominated for another term by the SBNC.
In the first appointed member's term of office, two of the appointees initial term of office shall be two years. At the end of the two-year term they may be re-appointed to a two-year term, coinciding with elected terms of office, in order to stagger the appointees terms of office. Thereafter all appointments will be for a term of four (4) years.
Conveyance by City Clerk to State Delegation
The City Clerk shall convey this resolution to the members of city's state legislative delegation and to the leadership in the state legislature.