City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2013-1875

• File #: 2013-1875
• Version: 3
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed Finally
• File created: 9/17/2013
• In control: Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
• Final action: 10/29/2013
• Enactment date: 10/29/2013
• Enactment #: 713
• Effective date: 10/30/2013
• Title: Resolution calling upon the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh to create a Public Schools Task Force and further calling upon the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education to place a moratorium on the closing of Pittsburgh Public Schools for the 2014-2015 school year to allow such Task Force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the public schools system.
• Sponsors: Theresa Kail-Smith
• Indexes: MISCELLANEOUS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/31/2013	3	Mayor	Signed by the Mayor
10/29/2013	3	City Council	Passed Finally	Pass
10/23/2013	3	Standing Committee	AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTE	Pass
10/23/2013	3	Standing Committee	Affirmatively Recommended as Amended	Pass
10/14/2013	2	Committee on Hearings	Post Agenda Held
10/14/2013	2	Committee on Hearings	Public Hearing Held
10/14/2013	3	Post Agenda	Post Agenda Held
9/25/2013	2	Standing Committee	AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTE	Pass
9/25/2013	2	Standing Committee	Held for Cablecast Post Agenda	Pass
9/25/2013	2	Standing Committee	Held for Cablecast Public Hearing	Pass
9/17/2013	1	City Council	Read and referred

Title

Resolution calling upon the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh to create a Public Schools Task Force and further calling upon the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education to place a moratorium on the closing of Pittsburgh Public Schools for the 2014-2015 school year to allow such Task Force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the public schools system.  

Body

WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, parents, and families, have been working diligently over the past decade to improve public education in the City of Pittsburgh; and

      WHEREAS, changes in teacher and student expectations and curriculums, coupled with serious financial debt, have resulted in many schools being closed and consolidated; and

WHEREAS, funding has played a role in the district's fiscal position, and upcoming elections may shape the educational agenda and budgeting decisions for the 2014 and 2015 school year; and

      WHEREAS, it is imperative that all parties collaborate to make the best decisions for the students, parents, educators, and community members of the City of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, the future of the Pittsburgh Public Schools system is critical to the future of the City of Pittsburgh and its residents, and City Council desires to foster greater collaboration among the city and all stakeholders in our public schools.  

Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:

Section 1.  The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby calls upon the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh to appoint a Public Schools Task Force, comprised of Twenty-one (21) members plus one (1) ex officio member, as follows:

·      two (2) members from the Pittsburgh School Board: one being a minority;

·      one (1) member from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers;

·      one (1) member from the Pittsburgh School District;

·      one (1) member from the Mayor's Office;

·      four (4) members from City Council (North, South, East, West);  

·      one (1) member from the City Controller's Office;

·      two (2) members from foundations;

·      two (2) members from public education advocacy groups:  one representative shall be from a special education advocacy group--and one representative shall be independent of foundation funding, and of the two representatives one shall be a minority;

·      four (4) members from the community at large:  at least one representative shall be from a minority community, one representative shall be a current parent, and at least one representative shall be from the Faith Based community;

·      three (3) students of Pittsburgh Public Schools:  two (2) representatives shall be a minority, and each of the three representatives shall be from geographically diverse schools; and

·      one (1) member qualified as a trained mediator who shall serve as an ex officio member.  

All members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Mayor, and be required to publish a report by September 1, 2014 regarding its findings and recommendations regarding school closings and the financial condition of the District, and work with all stakeholders to implement such recommendations prior to December 31, 2014.     

 Section 2.  In order to allow the Task Force the opportunity to conduct the aforementioned work, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby calls upon the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education to place a moratorium on the closing of Pittsburgh Public Schools for the 2014-2015 school year.

Section 3. The Task Force shall convene a series of televised public meetings throughout the community to discuss with and receive feedback from the community about the future of our public schools.