Pittsburgh residents are gearing up to voice their concerns and opinions as public hearings on the planned closures and reconfigurations of Pittsburgh Public Schools commence this week, with the district's administration building on South Bellefield Avenue serving as the venue for the crucial conversations.
The focus of the hearings was on the Student Achievement Center, previously known as the Baxter School, with a general public hearing following immediately after, as reported by WPXI. Today's hearing started at 5 p.m. For those looking to have their voices heard, tomorrow's session will consider the Montessori PreK-5 program at Friendship at 5 p.m. Later, the Morrow PreK-8 school will be presented at 7 p.m. that evening.
Registration for speaking at the hearings is a requirement, and the organizers have stipulated that it must be completed online in advance. However, the option to submit written testimony via email to [email protected] remains available for those unable to attend.
The district has a plan to close nine schools and make changes to others to address declining student enrollment, aging buildings, and more efficient resource utilization. This could save over $100 million in the next few years. While many in the community have strong feelings about the plan, it's intended to address significant issues and could begin as soon as June 2026, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
