The Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) The school district has unveiled a restructuring plan that could result in the closure of up to 16 schools.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that education consulting firm Education Resource Strategies has presented consolidation scenarios as the next step in a facility utilization plan that could result in the closure and consolidation of numerous school buildings.
Under the proposal, 16 existing schools would be closed, 14 would have their class sizes changed, six magnet schools would be converted to district schools, and five new programs would be opened in existing buildings.
The recommendations focus primarily on restructuring grade levels into preschool, 5th grade, and 6th to 8th grade instead of preschool, 8th grade, and 6th to 12th grade. They also take into account the age of the buildings – district schools are on average 90 years old – and the condition of the buildings. According to the report, 37 schools need moderate or major renovations.
The scenarios presented are not final. The district will collect public input in the coming month.
A final recommendation will be presented to the Board in September.
“From the board’s perspective, this is obviously the next step in the process,” said board Chairman Gene Walker. “Now that we have those recommendations, we have an opportunity to look at them both individually, but I think over the next two weeks we’ll come together as a board and have a broader conversation … so we can start to formulate the next steps.”
