TRIB: Wilkinsburg's superintendent concedes difficulties, pledges change (Pittsburgh: credit, homes)

[BrianTH]

Yeah, I hope we are only one or two more election cycles from having a rational majority on the Board. But we aren't there yet.

[groar]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Wilkinsburg isn't the place for me. Wow!

no way we had no idea

[Goinback2011]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Include me among those who live in the city who wouldn't mind Wilkinsburg being annexed wholesale.

lol. Note to self: NEVER move into the city.

Annexing Wilkinsburg will be a big selling point to the residents of the rich suburbs you'd also like to annex.

[groar]

omg the poor people might leach over into the city proper, how gross!

also who is talking about annexing rich suburbs?

[PGHproud]

I believe the next board elections don't take place until Spring 2013? I would assume this is the only way to influence this situation.

[groar]

Originally Posted by PGHproud

I believe the next board elections don't take place until Spring 2013? I would assume this is the only way to influence this situation.

yeah, unless someone resigns i think that's it.

at least now there is an active coalition trying to get new and better members on the board. the problem is most people don't give a crap and just vote for people they know/familiar names/randomly so the same people keep getting reelected.

[squarian]

Originally Posted by PGHproud

I believe the next board elections don't take place until Spring 2013? I would assume this is the only way to influence this situation.

Almost, but not quite. The other alternative would be for the state Dept of Ed to exert its authority, as it has done with Duquesne SD, to take control of the school district. Whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing, in light of the Duquesne example, is an open question - having taken that step there, the state seems to have failed to move on to the next logical step, forcing the district's dissolution and annexation. However, it is an alternative, if election fails to produce a local majority in favor of the obviously necessary steps.

[BrianTH]

It isn't very hard to imagine a post-annexation Wilkinsburg becoming the next East Liberty (in fact it isn't hard to imagine that happening either way).

So one way to ask the question is: would the City right now kick out East Liberty if it could? Would that make it look like a more promising partner for other possible municipal deals, or otherwise improve its long-term prospects?

I think not.

[squarian]

Any kind of annexation will require a state-city-borough partnership at some level - all three will be involved, and the full commitment of all three will probably be necessary. (And by city and borough, I mean both municipal and school authorities).

At the state level, the precondition is genuine interest in public education reform - leadership will have to want to make a solution to the zombie district problem one of its battle honours: "In my first term, I blazed the trail and showed Pennsylvanians I'm willing to tackle failed districts for the sake of our kids' future".

As regards the city, since the main argument against is financial, I think the key is enough imagination to see development potential - "Despite the shortsighted cavils of my opponents, I had the foresight to see that blighted areas adjacent to the City are a key to Pittsburgh's prosperity, and improvements since my legislation have proved me right".

Within the borough, the main issue is local control vs. greater opportunity - "People said we didn't need outsiders running our schools, but let me introduce you to my young friend here, now a straight-A student at CAPA."

[groar]

Originally Posted by squarian

Within the borough, the main issue is local control vs. greater opportunity - "People said we didn't need outsiders running our schools, but let me introduce you to my young friend here, now a straight-A student at CAPA."

yup, i think this is the crux of the matter. the old guard on the school board (most of them) don't want to give up the district's autonomy. this seems ridiculous to me when you see what has (or more importantly hasn't) been achieved by that autonomy, but i think if you asked them that's what they'd say.

the actual reason is probably more about not wanting to give up a position of power, no matter how meaningless it is.