Pittsburgh Peabody Stakeholders Meeting at 6 pm tonight

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Time: 6:00 pm
Location: BGC Community Activity Center
113 N. Pacific Avenue (Garfield)

Yes, We Can! Educational Change..

Whether you’re a parent, a banker, an economic development/ social service agency leader, a funder, a government employee, a student, a school district staff person, a community member or a civil rights leader you need to yell out--- Yes ---we can restructure the educational system in the East End in order to better serve all children! Especially for those children whose current educational status leaves them unable to effectively compete in the new American economy.

This is an historical time in the East End and a major restructuring of the public educational system needs to occur. Your time and input is critical to the creation of a positive outcome that is a win-win for all.

In collaboration with Pittsburgh Public Schools there will be two critical meetings, one on January 28th and another on February 4th. The agendas for the meetings and the January 7, 2009 meeting notes are included with this mailing.

We ask that you attend these meetings and --- listen and provide input.

President Obama has challenged us to hold the government accountable. This does not necessarily mean taking on an oppositional or critical nature. Accountability (on the matter at hand) should relate to the public engagement of the Pittsburgh Public Schools in a collaborative, trusting, and partnering manner. When this occurs, great things can happen.

Call (412-441-9833 ext. 10) or email Rick Flanagan (Rflanag@aol.com) to confirm your attendance and to ask questions.

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Pending agenda for the Pittsburgh Peabody Stakeholders Meeting slated for tonight:
Location: BGC Community Activity Center

1. Welcome

2. Information item- Director Thomas Sumpter Jr., District 3 School Board Member, acceptance of an invitation to meet at the BGC Community Activity Center on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 6:00 pm.

3. Overview of the January 7, 2009 meeting notes (see below)

4. Pittsburgh Public Schools sharing of the International Baccalaureate plan, the roster list of the committee members and the data that the International Baccalaureate committee utilized to inform their decision. Other relevant PPS data will also be shared

5. Parameters that guide the work of the Pittsburgh Public Schools and how they relate to the Pittsburgh Peabody Community discussion process.

6. Creation of a collaborative planning process that engages the Pittsburgh Westinghouse, Pittsburgh Peabody, and International Baccalaureate Working Groups

7. Timing and communication with families and community members

8. Concrete next steps to the planning process.

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THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE PITTSBURGH PEABODY STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS. THIS INFORMATION WAS GATHERED FROM TWO MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009

8:00AM MEETING NOTES

SPECIAL GUESTS from PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

Nancy Kodman (On board since 12-18-2008), PPS – Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives (Former principal at Allegheny Middle School)

Sam Franklin PPS – Program Director of Science and Technology Academy to open in Sept. * Focus on getting more students into math and science curricula; former teacher in Oakland, CA.

Nancy Kodman gave a brief overview of where things stand, in terms of determining the future for Peabody High School:

> “Need to look at the big picture, in terms of all of the city’s high schools”

> “One thing can’t be done in isolation from another; the plan for Peabody needs to be integrated into those that are developed for other schools”

> “First priority for district: high-quality, educational programs for all students”

> “IB program can’t be situated in new quarters without resolving the future of Peabody”

> “Importance of working with others in the community that Peabody serves is critical”

REQUEST OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

* Ask District to Setup a Series of Meetings w/Stakeholder Group

QUESTIONS From Audience about Peabody: “Do problem kids at other high schools get sent to Peabody?”

Answer: Only if Peabody is the original feeder school for that student or those students.

SUMMARY OF PEABODY AND STUDENTS

Melissa Friez, the principal at Peabody, was asked what she uses as a thumbnail description for her school. Her response was as follows:

“It affords a good opportunity for the faculty to get to know students, since there are just 500 students at this point.”

“And it’s a school that is progressing in terms of student achievement”

PRIMARY ISSUES/CONCERNS for a future STAKEHOLDERS’ GROUP:

* Voice for People From the Community Served by the School
* Find Way to Keep Tension Level Down

8:00AM MEETING NOTES

PRIMARY ISSUES/CONCERNS for a future STAKEHOLDERS’ GROUP:

* Post-secondary outcomes are important – Is there a value to internships, career counseling, etc. that can help ensure all students find their way into the workforce?

*Safety- Muzz Meyers feels Westinghouse is a much nicer facility - parents have to feel their kids will be safe, which is not in Westinghouse’s favor at the moment.

* What will success look like at Peabody? Knowing the student body intimately can be a key to success. If a school can be more successful w/400 kids as opposed to 800 kids, then there should only be 400 kids.

* Peabody needs to offer something more for its students than what is now the case. (This comment from a parent w/2 kids @ Peabody)

* Melissa Friesz – “We don’t have music or other programs that would give students a more well-rounded education.”

* Nancy Kodman – Programs beyond academics are critical to sustaining student interest, including band, sports, and other extra-curricular activities.

* What kind of constraints already exists? Example: The district previously promised that the IB program would not be based at a “neighborhood school”, (i.e., schools that draw their students from the general population).

* Is a themed school right for everyone? Many students need a comprehensive educational program.

* Court-based programs can be integral to changing outcomes for many of the so-called “troubled” students. (This comment from Rick Cokley, director of the county’s intensive juvenile supervision program in Garfield)

* Need statistics that are current and understand how they’re compiled.

* Need to look at achievement gap by race as it applies to IB and non-IB students

* Build a sense of ownership among community stakeholders through an open, well-managed process.

* How do we determine what constitutes a low-achieving school, then set a series of benchmarks by which improvement can be attained?

6:00PM MEETING NOTES

SPECIAL GUESTS from PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Nancy Kodman (On board since 12-18-2008) PPS – Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives (Former principal at Allegheny Middle School)

Susan Chersky PPS-Communication & Marketing

Sam Franklin PPS – Program Director of Science and Technology Academy to open in Sept. * Focus on getting more students into math and science curricula; former teacher in Oakland, CA.

Nancy Kodman gave an overview of the district’s intentions at this stage:

“Supt. Roosevelt will make no recommendations to the board on the IB Program without community input.”

PEABODY STAKEHOLDERS GROUP - POSSIBLE COMPOSITION:

* Parents
* Interested East End residents and business owners
* Non-profit agencies and religious groups
* Community organizations

PRIMARY ISSUES/CONCERNS for a future STAKEHOLDERS’ GROUP:


* After-school programs, better athletics, band program, etc. need to be part of the planning for a better Peabody

* Why are students being told that Sept. ‘09 freshman class will not be at Peabody?

* Parent’s comment: School needs to develop better communication network and tools with parents, students, and other stakeholders

* Suggestion: Letter be sent immediately from Supt. Roosevelt to parents clarifying where things stand with Peabody at this stage.

* Need to set standards for what a” full-service” high school would look like at Peabody.

* Safety of students needs to be paramount.

* Jobs and career development need to be integral part of school’s program.

* Neighborhood dynamics vary widely from neighborhood to neighborhood. Homewood’s atmosphere is different from Garfield and East Liberty.

* Administrators and faculty at Peabody don’t have intimate knowledge of the neighborhoods that the students come from.

* Crossing neighborhood lines poses creditable safety threat for students.

* African-American population needs to be a prominent part of this process.

* What will happen to specialized programs already at Peabody (e.g. Robotics) – How will program quality be sustained?

* How will Peabody become a high quality school serving the entire East End?

* What is a realistic timetable for the decision-making process to unfold- can one be developed?

* Competition from charter schools is robbing board-run schools of students “Divide and conquer” strategy, it seems, on the part of the system.

* Letsche School in Homewood is drawing students from across the city without incident (Comment from Rick Cokley, C.I.S.P. director in Garfield).

* What curriculum will be offered at each high school in Fall 2009 – info needed now!

* Parent’s concern: Don't ignore larger regional trends affecting city high schools as a whole.

* Target board members for direct contact and involve them.

* What assurances will any stakeholder group receive from the Supt. and the Board that the Peabody Stakeholder Group’s input will be heard and incorporated into the final decisions made by the board about Peabody’s future?

* Keep an open mind – also keep an eye on the IB committee’s deliberations.