I went to the press event hosted by Mark Roosevelt, Superintendent, Pgh Public Schools. He talked about closing Schenley High School. This is its last year, according to his plan.
He didn't want to break the news this way this soon. He wanted to keep the plan under cover for another couple of weeks. Too bad.
In a nutshell, the citizens, students and family of Pittsburgh need to brace themselves. Another number of tugs and yanks are about to come. The students and families are always getting jerked around by the district. It doesn't feel good. It means more are going to depart.
Frick Middle School -- it is closing too. Yank!
Rodgers Middle School moves too. Welcome to downtown 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
Humm....
In the presentation period, the five 'dropout factories' were not mentioned once. Not a peep about Westinghouse, Oliver, Carrick, Peabody nor Langley. Zippo.
It seems to me that Pittsburgh has some schools that work and some schools that don't. Tinkering with the ones that work and delaying action on the ones that don't is silly.
Schenley is a public high school. I got the feeling that the administration was looking for the Schenley graduates to chip in $20 or $30 million for fix-ups. They need $60 million, so they say. They might be looking for an endowment from the alumni. Gosh.
Stewardship means you take care of what you got.
Capital costs in the city are huge. They went ahead and designed lots of building additions that are now worthless. Poof. That's money down the drain.
Still no talk of a Vo Tech. Roosevelt said it would be talked about on or before May, 2008. Don't hold your breath.
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7 comments:
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Please check out the press release on the above PPS web site concernig the next phase of school reform. Although the first article in the Post-Gazette sounded like they were just thinking of the possiblility of a move, it now seems like Roosevelt thinks that this is the ONLY option.
If you are concerned about this proposed move, please read page 3 of the release for details on the special hearing scheduled for Tuesday, November 27 at 6 pm at the Admin Bldg on Bellefield. We need lots of speakers and even more, we need parents and community members to attend to show support.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL WITH ANY SCHENLEY, FRICK OR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PARENT. WE NEED LOTS OF SUPPORT
From: Jill M Weiss
To: AMMO823
Subject: Fw: Dear Schenley High
From: Paulmckrell
Fellow Spartans!
Today's news should not come as much of a surprise to anyone. I don't believe it to be necessary to recap all the arguments against closing Schenley. Nor do I wish to counter Mr. Roosevelt's incredibly flawed plan - a plan that not only closes the Schenley building, but destroys the Schenley spirit by dividing students into rigid tracks of academic pursuit and separates students by socio-economic, racial and geographic boundaries. Schenley's character as a bridgebuilder between communities and peoples is something worth fighting for, but for whatever reason you do not wish to see Schenley close, we must come together to fight this decision with a single voice.
Instead of being bitter or pensive, I feel emboldened to act. I feel up for a fight. Do you?
Let's get together to plan. I have a few thoughts, including the obvious after-school rally, a media outreach plan, political pressure and an appeal to the foundation community.
Schenley is our alma mater - in a very real sense our "mother." I know I am who I am today because Schenley formed me, nurtured me and transformed me. We must demonstrate our resolve to work not only against the closure, but to fight for the rehabilitation of a building that is so much more than brick and mortar.
Who can meet? Maybe this Saturday at noon in Oakland at the Kiva Han at Forbes and Craig?
Thanks!
Paul
(There are 53 people CC'ed on this, but I didn't want to spam people's inbox - perhaps we can get a yahoo group going.)
--
Paul McKrell
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Young Democrats
PAYD Phone: 412.853.0613
I do stand corrected. I've been thinking more about the chatter from today's press event. There was ONE instance when ONE of the other five high schools -- the dropout factories -- was mentioned by Mr. Roosevelt.
The robotics that not operates at Schenley is going to move to Peabody. That is 130+/- students. I don't remember the exact number. But, it was less than 200.
Schenley students go three different directions.
IB to Reisenstein
Robotics to Peabody
Neighborhood to the new school in the hill.
Hi, Schenley Parents YOU CAN COUNT ME IN.
WE need to see where our newly elected school board members sit on this matter, are they YES WOMAN TO THE SUPERINTENDENT??? If so, we need to educate and lobby them for what is right for ALL OUR CHILDREN.
We need to be concerned for the low achieving students as well as the special ed students. Please let ALL FAMILIES OF ALL KIDS know how this will affect children. THIS IS TRUELY SEGREGATION. Our school board and our superintendent can chose to embrace all kids and help them reach their full potential or they can be selective and only embrace our gifted kids, and paint a fake facade. One unique thing about Schenley everyone is there everyone belongs. We need to work together.
I have gotten preliminary notice of a meeting for parents at 6 PM in the Schenley auditorium on thursday, Nov 8. An official notice will be sent from the central office but pencil it in now so we have a good turn-out.
It is really important that we have as much information as possible about upcoming events so that we know what action to take. Also, PLEASE think about speaking at the board hearing on Nov 27. Those of us who attended the hearing the night that Colfax had over 50 speakers know how effective they can be.
amy moore
From: Sarah Antonucci [mailto:sj.antonucci@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:40 AM
To: sj.antonucci@gmail.com
Subject: Save Schenley Meeting
Save Schenley Meeting!
Get together to save our school.
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326
We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!
We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.
Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?
Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.
Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.
From: Sarah Antonucci [mailto:sj.antonucci@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:40 AM
To: sj.antonucci@gmail.com
Subject: Save Schenley Meeting
Save Schenley Meeting!
Get together to save our school.
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326
We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!
We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.
Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?
Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.
Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.
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