save NA schools

On December 19^th, school board members will vote YES or NO to schedule a public hearing related to the closure of Peebles Elementary.  It is the school board members who have the power to close a school.  They are not required to follow the administration’s recommendation.  A public hearing is the first step in the process for closing the school.  We are launching a movement to get school board members to VOTE NO to the public hearing.

Here are the top 5 Things YOU can do:

1. Register to speak at the December 19^th meeting.  You can simply stand up and say “Vote NO” if you are not comfortable with public speaking.  Call 412-369-5437 and ask to speak at the BEGINNING of the meeting.
2. Contact members of the school board.  You can call them or write them a letter.  Click here for Contact Information and here for a Form letter.  We suggest you focus your efforts on:
   1. Joe Greenberg
   2. Libby Blackburn
   3. Chris Jacobs
   4. Tom Schwartzmier

   PLEASE REQUEST THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS VOTE NO TO SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.  You can also use one (or more) of the following points as a basis for your conversation or voice mail.

3. Write a letter to the editor.  Letters should be no more than 250 words and should only focus on one topic.  Click here for letter to the editor details and a link to the Post Gazette Editorial dept.
4. Attend the December 19^th meeting. Consider arranging childcare so that both you and your spouse can attend.  The meeting is at 7pm at Carson Middle School.
5. Forward this email to 10 people.  Tell everyone YOU know about the impact on the remaining buildings. Explain that this is is not a done deal and get them to attend the meeting on December 19th!
   

The school board meeting last night was a success.

As expected, the administration made a formal proposal to the board to close Peebles Elementary school.

What the board did not expect was a 32 page community report that refuted each and every point made by the administration using the administration’s very own facts and figures from the past 4 months.

The report illustrates that current enrollment accounts for 90% of the available seats under the new model and leaves a cushion of only 4 students per grade in each building before class sizes exceed district guidelines.

It also documents a 13-year history of the administration underestimating actual enrollment by an average of 350+ students.

Finally, it notes that the data used for population projections in the consultant’s report does not tie to the 2010 U.S. census and a mathematical error contained in the conclusion section of the demographic study changes the projected forecast for the town of McCandless from a “decline” to “stability.”

This report can be viewed here.

Parents should know that the Save NA Schools group is pursuing several strategic options that further strengthen the case for keeping Peebles elementary school open. Please sign-up as a “follower” at SaveNASchools.com to stay updated on all relevant information surrounding this recommendation.

As of this time, the School Board has not declared a date for the public hearing– it is only after a public hearing that the school board could vote on a recommendation to close a school.

We strongly urge that ALL parents and other community members appear at the board meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, November 28.   The meeting will be held in the Carson Middle School auditorium.

At the end of the meeting, any resident of North Allegheny may address the board with their concerns. You may also contact the school board members directly to voice your opinion.

If the board feels that there is limited public concern about the closing of a school, then their votes will reflect that perception. Contact information may be obtained here: School Directors / Contact Information