Plans for the community's counter plan for Pittsburgh Public Schools are swirling

It was posted via email....

Hi everyone,

Obviously, we did not get time tonight to present.  

We will plan to do a community presentation this upcoming Tuesday, Oct 22nd at 6:30pm at Smithfield United Church of Christ Community Hall.  

Location: 

620 Smithfield St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

There is a public parking garage very close, and this location is accessible via PRT.  

Light dinner will be provided. 

 

Specific needs for that night: 

We are looking for a few folks to be there as staff to provide childcare - I have a lead on a few childcare providers. 

We would like an ASL interpreter if anyone has a connection to someone who is available to donate services. 

We need a way to stream the presentation live and also to record it for distribution.  

We need to borrow or rent a projector. 

We need to compose an official invitation to be sent out via email to board members, local elected leaders, superintendent and school administration, and community members. 

We will be accepting donations for anyone that would like to contribute to offset the costs of renting the church space, providing dinner, and paying anyone who we hire to provide childcare.  Please do not feel obligated, but if you feel like you are able to contribute a small amount - please send to @Sarah-Zangle (venmo) or zelle (717-395-4975; sarahzangle@gmail.com)

Thanks so much for all the amazing community support thus far.  I'm so impressed by our outreach.  

Thanks!

Sarah

PPS Public Hearing -- speaking

Statement from Mark Rauterkus

I am Mark Rauterkus. 

We reside at 108 S. 12th Street on Pittsburgh’s Historic South Side. 

I am a former PPS Varsity Coach. I led the first city league team of any sport to a WPIAL Sectional title. I also had the privilege to coached the first PPS athlete to win a WPIAL event and set a WPIAL record.

I directed Swim & Water Polo Camp as part of PPS Summer Dreamers for 10+ years. At the peak of the program we coached more than 200 students with 35 employees at five different sites for 27-days, including running the Liberty Mile.

I'm an afterschool provider with other nonprofits. 

I'm on the Take a Father to School Day Committee too, did PPS Sports Reform Task Force and other community projects.

Presently I'm webmaster with the International Swim Coaches Association.

Vice President for the World Aquatic Federation of Schools and Universities. – WAFSU.org.

My sons are proud PPS graduates, and I’ll be happy to share proud dad updates on their whereabouts after my 3-minutes have expired.

In my view, the swimming pool is the best learning laboratory ever. It is a classroom where students get to learn thousands of lessons.

Swimming – so when a family vacation happens people can enjoy themselves and come home, not in a coffin.

Physics, biology, training, goal setting, accountability, safety, hospitality, – and above all, Teamwork.

Sports, swimming, water polo – is about playing well with others. Sadly, that’s not being developed at our pools in the city.

The Olympics are happening in a matter of days. We have two OLYMPIC Swimmers from PA. Good luck to Josh Methaney from Upper St. Clair – now a IU Hoosier.

At the Swim Trials, high school swimmers were striving to make the team from Mt. Pleasant and Bedford, PA.. An Oakland Catholic grad was racing in finals too.

Sadly, in the city, we’re not creating literate Olympians here.

The city isn’t hosting its swim meet, nor teaching lessons.

There used to be dozens of PPS teams in meets for Elem Schools and Middle Schools. It is sad as to how that experience has been allowed to evaporate.

I do all these things internationally, and when I put in an ESSER Grant Proposal in December of 2023, I don’t even get a score or a call back. Seven great letters of reference, and not a peep from PPS.

https://read.swimisca.org/esser-pittsburgh-public-schools/

Meanwhile, we are very happy to be utilizing the swim pool at PPS Oliver High School throughout the winter with the Renegades. I gathered folks (adults and HS kids) every Monday evening to play water polo. We had a fine year. Some players went to events in Ocala, Florida and Cleveland even.

This summer, we had 30 people playing water polo at Citiparks Ammon pool – Bedford Ave, Hill District – every Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 7:30 pm. See the poster on my Facebook page.

Consultants are here! 

My invite is clear. 

I will be happy to meet with them to explain what SHOULD happen at PPS pools. With a little cooperation and latitude, the aquatics programs could be a bright start for the district and generate jobs, community engagement, scholarships, sponsorships and wellness. – PLUS – I dare say, over time, REVENUE.

Rather than having our district and city in decline – we’d be retaining kids and their families.

Call me: 412-298-3432

Mark@Rauterkus.com

WAFSU.org@Gmail.com

The swim pools are the low rungs on the ladder for civic engagement. The activities there should be for all ages too.

Ironic how many of the issues before the PPS Board today are matters that citizens battled against as they were hatched by Mark Roosevelt. Get rid of those 6 to 12 schools. We knew that they were a bad idea. 

But, it is the parents and community that knows best. Listen. Engage. Let's build that capacity at the PPS pools. 

PITTSBURGH BOARD OF EDUCATION

PUBLIC HEARING

JULY 22, 2024

6:00 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

CONFERENCE ROOM A

1. Ja'Bree Wiginton - Organization

412 Justice

Estudiantes preocupados

2. Shirley Hill - Retired PPS Teacher

Unfair treatment of Montessori teacher. Lack of Black teachers at Carrick High School. Scheduling concerns at Carrick High School.

3. Karen Sloan - Parent

Montessori Administration Concerns

4. Shannon Striner - Parent

Town Halls are performative

5. Gina Grotelueschen - Parent

PPS Fulton Parents

6. Lauren Abt - Parent, Community member

Frustration multiplied

7. Jalayne Allison - Organization

412 Justice

Concerned Student

8. David Abt - Student

Course offering at Schiller

9. Meredith Knight - Parent, Community member

Extend the Timeline for the Facilities Utilization Pan for better process efficacy, community feedback and future-proof planning

10. Laura Mullen - Parent

Facilities Utilization Plan

11. Jacquelyn Schriver - Family member

Ripple Effect Counseling, LLC

Do not close Fulton. These students matter. Their educations matter just as much as any of Pittsburgh resident.

12. Katy Rank Lev - Parent

Lainey Davis

Plan to increase or maintain enrollment?

13. Martha Riecks - Parent

Concerns regarding school closure plans and strategies

14. Goldette Shields - Organization

Shields Of Joy

Grieving and health awareness in the schools

15. Jessica Merlin - Parent

Jessica Merlin

16. Jala Rucker - Parent

412 justice

Don’t close Manchester school

17. Angel Gober - Organization, Community member

149.99

Stop the FU Process

18. Lily Allman - Student

A Student's Perspective on the School Closure Process

19. Valerie Webb-Allman - Parent

Rushed process leads to terrible outcomes

20. Lauren Stuparitz - Teacher/Staff, Parent, Community member

412 justice. Education rights network.

Closed Minds Close Schools

21. Andrea (Andy) Kubis - Parent

Attracting Families to the District

22. Jude Abt - Student

Manchester

23. Alice Valenta - Parent

Disappointment

24. Walitta Abdullah - Community member

Not providing testimony

25. Laura Gallagher - Organization

Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network and 412Justice

Not failing schools, as some say, but schools that are being failed

26. Debra Hall - Community member

None

27. Emily Sawyer - Parent, Other substitute

And the band played on

28. Marcia Bandes - Community member

School Closures

29. Pam Harbin - Community member

Stop the facilities utilization - AKA school closure - plan. Accountability for authentic community input and access

30. Rachel Schlosser - Parent

Authentic Community Input

31. Holly Munson - Parent

Stop the school closure process and start listening to what students actually need

32. Lars Munson - Student

Don't close schools

33. Rita Porterfield - Parent

The Silence Is Deafening

34. Jude Porterfield - Student

I've Had Enough of It

35. David Munson - Parent

Stop the school closures

37. Ghadah Makoshi - Parent

Accessibility and Accountability

38. Naomi Chambers - Parent

Concerned Parent…

39. Laura Petty - Organization

Advancement Project

School Closures Harm Children and Families

40. Paul James Dell - Parent

Response to initial facility presentation and listening sessions methodology

41. Jazlynn Worthy - Parent

The Foundation for the Future

42. Annette Hall - Parent

Taking away online public hearing attendances is taking away accessibility for many

43. Mark Rauterkus - Parent, Organization, Community member, Other Afterschool partner & former scholastic coach

Renegades Water Polo, International Swim Coaches Assn, World Aquatic Federation of Schools & Universities

Swimming, our pools are the best learning labs - yet under utilized

draft of a new slide deck on issues with PPS

Issues from Coach Mark Rauterkus concerning Pittsburgh Public Schools from Mark Rauterkus

Aquatics and Pittsburgh Public Schools

PPS Community Schools v2.0 from Mark Rauterkus

Tip: You might want to view this on the SlideShare site so it can easily go to full screen.

Ask for the PDF or Keynote if you want parts or all of it.

Curling Trivia in Pittsburgh

Creating Literate Olympians Here!

Back in the day, I helped to start the Pittsburgh Curling Club. I wasn't around for long, but I was there at the outset. We should be curling on the South Side. 

In curling, the team that wins the game / match buys the first round of adult beverages. 

You are invited: Saturday Swim School at Oliver High School, 2323 Brighton Road, Pgh 15212

Hiring the new PPS Superintendent

Hi PPS Board Members.

I have been following this noise about the hiring of Dr. Anthony Hamlet as close as possible and have some suggestions. STICK TO YOUR prior DECISION.

Sure, a storm has come. Blame goes here and there in bits, but golly. Plug ahead.

I feel that saboteurs are trying to derail elected school boards and are trying to damage Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The board voted 9-0 to hire the guy. To change your views now would spoil the desire for others to seek the job. None would want to deal with the mess in this wake, plus deal with a fickle board, nor confront the wire-pulling and outside influence from beyond the school board.

IMHO, two of those claims are bogus fabrications. An open source approach of wikipedia on a definition of terms is desired and should not be original.

There should be some repercussions and remedies. I have made some solution suggestions. Follow my Facebook page and http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com.

Triple his probation period.

Seek a partial refund from the consultant.

Allow for a super MINORITY to terminate his contract within the probation period.

Work harder.

+ +

Final two points:

#1: I volunteer to stand with you or stand alone and talk to the media, the citizens. other politicians, union leaders or anyone else on this topic.

#2: Furthermore, Let's begin again with sports reform, something that did NOT resonate with Dr. Linda Lane, sadly. Teaching our kids how to play well with others isn't an expensive proposition, and it is a great investment if done well. I volunteer to help to re-think the issues with PPS. System-wide athletics, sports, after-school recreation, swimming, student leadership with jobs and after-school technology have pressing issues. The city can't wait to get started on the heavy lifting on those fronts.

Good luck.

PPS Attendance matters, plus Senior night at pool. H2O = Hail 2 Obama!

Hi Friends,

With all the noise about attendance at PPS in the media, it is good to know of a bright spot. See below as we honor 14, devoted senior swimmers.

Plus at 6 AM swims practice this week we had 20, 17 and 12 each on M, T and W.

FYI, three boys in Summer Dreamers Swim and Waterpolo Camps in past years are on the Varsity Swim Team now. Six more worked as staffers.

One other tidbit on attendance, our biggest trouble point in Summer Dreamers Swim and Waterpolo Camp was guarding the door to prevent kids from sneaking into our sessions. We had waiting lists. We got scolded for recruiting, but really so many were having fun and learning they told their friends. PPS record showed Waterpolo at 95% attendance in 2012, and that included the need for all kids to run 1 mile over and back to the pools in The Hill.

I really wish we were offering, robust year round, "Dreamers" at PPS with Swim and Waterpolo so our kids could get invested in their teams, fitness, schools and academics. Let's all replicated and empowered what is proving to really work wonders in our community and hooked to athletics.

Go, go, go!

H2O

Coach Mark Rauterkus
412-298-3432

PS: Heard that high school students in National Honors Society have been asked, because of funding issues, to tutor middle school kids now. Rather, let's get those senior and smart students, our swim team really, to teach swimming and play waterpolo with the kids. Then greatness can happen with self esteem, relationships, mentoring, sportsmanship and rule following. Then the academics can flow for the individuals and institutions.

PSS: Friday's visit with USA Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer, Cullen Jones, with black history month, has the potentials to be special. He is at Obama at noon and UPrep at 2 pm. FYI, in April, three other USA Olympians, Waterpolo players, visit Pitt for a weekend clinic with Tiger Waterpolo (community, club program that supports our Summer Dreamers), and we will get our kids and the media to interact as well.

Footnote: Sam's fist season of swimming this year, as a senior, happens as he is registered and training for the May 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon, his first.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Mark Rauterkus" for Morning Announcements
Date: Feb 6, 2013 7:01 AM
Subject: Senior night

The last home meet for the swim team is tomorrow, Thursday, at 6 pm against Bishop Canevin. This is our senior night and we honor our greatest class of seniors ever in the city swim scene.

The team as 14 seniors including three time PIAA swimmer Erik. Plus:

Annie
Hannah
Wendy
Nicole
Rene

Jonah
Tobias
Max
Mat
Demetri

Daniel
Ben

And, Sam Lapp who will compete in his first ever swim event on Thursday.

Win the section.

Go Seniors!

Swimmers have AM swim on Thursday and should be at the meet by 5 pm.

Third letter on this blog about the sell off of PPS school assets

October 20, 2011

Dear General Wagner,

I am writing you today as a citizen, and former Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Member, to express my great concern about the sale of a public asset. I am writing about the proposed sale of the former Florence Reizenstein Middle School to the development company Walnut Capital. I believe that this sale would constitute an irresponsible stewardship of public assets by the Pittsburgh School Board and Administration. And that it should be stopped for the following reasons:

1)      According to Allegheny County Assessment Office the Building and Land is worth $22,920,500.00

2)      Sole Bidder bid $5,700,000.00

3)      Bidder announced plans for $119,000,000.00

4)      Bidder has history of seeking tax exemptions, thereby reducing or eliminating tax revenues to City, State, and School District.

5)      There was only ONE Bidder

6)      Bidding process was "fast-tracked". A shorter bidding process from other buildings for sale.

7)      Property is within an area (East Liberty) that has seen great economic investment in the last 10 years(A Target store opened 3 months ago)

8)      Board did not properly (only locally) advertise this property for sale.

9)      Bidder developed property across the street from school.

10)   Property not appraised by a least 3 appraisers.

11)   School building only 30 years old.

12)   School building is used for many community activities.

13)   Building is modern facility with large gymnasium, pool, and air conditioning.

 

I believe that this property should remain a school. There is currently one proposed charter school for East End of Pittsburgh with of others likely. I believe the property's continued use as a school is highly possible and, most likely in the future, necessary.

 

Furthermore, the Reizenstein building is a valuable asset to the East End of Pittsburgh community. This building, because of its central location and access to public transportation is a natural meeting place. Its gymnasium and pool are used by many groups and organizations. It even housed the Pittsburgh Public Schools"Summer Dreamers" education program for hundreds of students.

The taxpayers of the city have invested tens of millions of dollars in this building and property. They should have every right to expect the property to be put to the best use for students and, if this property is to be sold, to receive the maximum amount possible. This sale should be halted for the purpose of determining if this has occurred.

Looking back over the years, I also believe the handling of this property to be a prima facie case(s) of, not only wasting precious tax dollars, but of NO fiscal planning by the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

I placed before the Pittsburgh School Board in April 2008 a resolution to cancel the planned move of students from the closed Schenley High School to the Reizenstein Building. $10 million dollars was slated to be spent to make the facility more appropriate for High Schools students. However, the Board knew at that time the move would be temporary because Business Affairs Director stated "that to make building permanent home for High School students would cost $40 million in upgrades". I asked Board to move those students to an existing High School. The Pittsburgh School Board voted my resolution down. In May of this year, the Pittsburgh School Board voted to send Reizenstein students to that very same existing High School. Yet, it does not end there.

The East End of Pittsburgh is an area that is experiencing great commercial and residential development (Coincidentally, the bidders for Reizenstein are proposing a $119 million dollar residential development). The communities of Garfield, East Liberty, and Highland Park are all doing significant building of new homes. Even the struggling communities of Larimer and Homewood have plans and funding   and are beginning long overdue community re- development. We are already seeing many new families moving into the East End of Pittsburgh, and I believe many, many more will follow. What if the School District of Pittsburgh finds, in a few short years, that there is a need to build a new school for the new families? A new school will cost at minimum $40 million dollars. The East End also has many schools that are over 90 years old. How long will it be before it becomes cost prohibitive to maintain and upgrade these buildings? How long will it be before these buildings are obsolete?  The Reizenstein property would provide a large parcel of flat land in an attractive location. If a new building is ever constructed the existing sports facilities might well be incorporated at significant savings. The lack of planning may cost the taxpayers of the city and state tens of millions of dollars.

 

I am writing to ask your office to intervene and investigate the sale of this building. I believe that tens of millions of public dollars are at stake. Yet, most importantly we are facing the loss of a building that has helped to enrich the educational experience of thousands of students. I believe that a building with excellent amenities make for a well-rounded education.  Pittsburgh has long believed that well maintained facilities are important to a child's education. We have long believed in the importance of pools for our children to learn to swim and large gyms and fields for them to play and grow strong. This current Pittsburgh School Board has forgotten this. My hope is that you will us here in Pittsburgh to remind them.

 

Sincerely,

 

Randall Taylor

Former Pittsburgh School Board Director, District #1

(412) 867-8170

Can't Langley be turned into a City-Wide Magnet to focus on PUBLIC SAFETY? Let's call it Pgh Sci-Service Magnet, 6-12

Hi Board Member McCrea,

I think that there is plenty of merit to the plan championed by Pgh City Councilwoman, Theresa Smith, for PPS.

If the City of Pgh buys PCA/Greenway, then the city can put all the public service enterprises into that building and avoid paying more
than $1-M per year in rent. So, the city has the cash-flow to float such a deal.

Then the PPS sells a building for more than $1.

Then PPS can move the Pgh Gifted Center to another building, perhaps back into the Hill District, something central. That is a simple move.
Same too for staff training uses.

Then PPS can move the Greenway/PCA students and staff to another building -- such as Langley in part.

Langley HS can be a High School magnet, grades 9-12, for those that are interested in working and training and studies that are central to public safety.

Furthermore, Langley can be a 6-12 school with general education for local kids in grades 6, 7 and 8. It could be PCA as is, but in a
different home.

Then the HS kids can do projects and more with the city EMS, building inspectors, firefighters, police, and others that can be put into that building. The Greenway building and Langley are not far from each other for a high school student.

To me, a public safety focus for a magnet could be very interesting
for the students. Good for environmental studies, lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, Biology, physics. I see advance sciences at that school so kids that want to take Pre-Med in college could get a leg up at this school.

Furthermore, the city firefighters and the city police who have to send their kids to private schools while residing in the city limits could then have a school to be stewards with the PPS faculty and administration. Those families are seemingly sending many of their children to Catholic or other private schools. If we make a good alliance with city workers and that school -- we could get more engagement in after-school offerings and other efforts to insure that the school functions with gusto.

I'd even suggest that the SCIENCE Department at Sci-Tech could be duplicated at this public safety magnet at Langley, if it is up to everyone's standards. Rather than Sci-Tech, the Langley could be Sci-Service Magnet.

Perhaps too, if there is room, the Citiparks Aquatics Department and other parts of Citiparks might be able to move into Greenway as well. If that was the case, and the city had a year-round swim pool, I would not be opposed to the selling off of the Oliver Bath House by the City of Pittsburgh.

From Frick-swim

Finally, on a different note, I think the name WESTINGHOUSE should be retained with the school. The blue color and the name Bulldogs are fine too. But by all means, don't rename the school away from the inclusion of the name, Westinghouse. Westinghouse Academy Blah-blah-blah is fine. But keep Westinghouse. In my humble opinion, the whole name switch from Schenley to Pgh Obama has been a real thorn in the side of the school and its students. Sure, each school has its own situation -- but Westinghouse is still at Westinghouse. It will
cause years of confusion to make a name change. That's the last thing PPS needs now, confusion and alumni disrespected so as to never offer
to engage again.

Wouldn't it be great to send a message that the city and the schools are working together on a venture for the interest of the kids and taxpayers.

Judge upholds rejection of Mt. Lebanon High School plan

Judge upholds rejection of Mt. Lebanon High School plan

The Mt. Lebanon School District filed a court appeal in April, after the three-member zoning hearing board issued an eight-page decision denying the variances. The zoning hearing board wrote that it believed the district could have complied with zoning requirements but for its "overreaching," specifically singling out the athletic field house planned on Horsman Drive across from the main academic building.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10287/1095195-100.stm#ixzz12LUyjDOM

So, the over-reaching of the building happens at the athletic field house, exactly where there should be over-reaching.

Zoning problems are a pain.

How about if you put the swim pool and some athletic facilities on the roof, as is done in Hong Kong swim pool at HKU. The swim pool at HKU is over a parking garage. Very nice.

Working on PPS Athletic Reform since 2004, at least

Pittsburgh should have a park district

South Side Market House had a Children's Youth Advisory Committee that planed lots of fun events throughout the year