Dear Public School Enthusiasts,

PURE Reform is collaborating with various community groups in the Hill
District, Homewood, East Liberty, Bloomfield, Garfield and Highland Park to
advocate for a coherent, logical plan for east end high schools rather than the
piecemeal approach taken to date.

As most of you know, the IB selection committee has recommended putting
the IB program at Peabody high school. What you may not know is that no
input was sought from the Peabody community and no one from that community was
on the IB selection committee. Several meetings have been organized by the
Bloomfield/Garfield corporation to urge the PPS district to include the Peabody
community in discussios and decisions regarding their school and their
students.

We are also exploring the possibility of reexaminig the Schenley closure
due to several factors:

1) other schools in the PPS have asbestos/plaster problems (Miller, Vann,
McKelvey) similar to scheleys and have been handled in a much more cost
effective manner without displacing students

2) there is still no comprehensive plan for East End high schools3) the
district is to receive $24 million from the Obama administration's economic
stimulus program for "shovel ready" bricks and mortar projects. If
realistic estimates foir the Schenley renovation are utilized ($40-45 million as
opposed to the inflated $80 million price tag), this money would easily make
Schenley reparations affordable to the district.

If Schenley were open for the IB program, other options for Peabody will
open up that will not require displacing current Peabody students.

Please consider attending the next PURE Reform Steering committee meeting
on 2/12 at 7PM. Also, tune in to see PURE Reform steering committee
members on Black Horizons with Chris Moore discussing PURE Reform issues
including sbestos issues in PPS schools and (see times and stations
below).

CHANNEL 13 Black Horizons Sunday, February 1, 2:00pm

Black Horizons Wednesday, February 4, 8:00pm

Black Horizons Sunday, February 8, 2:00pm
WQED-TV [D]

Black Horizons Sunday, February 1, 2:00pm

Black Horizons Wednesday, February 4, 8:00pm

Black Horizons Sunday, February 8, 2:00pm

WQED: The Create Channel (channel 211)

Black Horizons Friday, January 30, 10:00pm

Black Horizons Friday, February 6, 10:00pm

Remember, GRASSROOTS RULE!-- PURE Reform www.purereform.com