Pittsburgh Public Schools & Clayton Clayton Academy (Howard: home, transfer)

[Chautauquast]

Last year the Pittsburgh Public School Board gave a multi-year, multi-million dollar, no-bid contract to an out of state company (Community Education Partners) that operates schools for disorderly and disruptive students in several states.
That company took a small former elementary school, in an extremely residential area, and retrofitted it for use for middle and high school aged students.
Now such students are bused from every school and neighborhood in Pittsburgh to this little, struggling neighborhood on the North Side.
I have heard that City police, as well as School police are called to this school regularly to address fighting between the students, even though the school provides its own security personel. Several teachers have already quit because of fighting in hallways and classrooms.
I've also heard that the school provides much individual positive support for children in other ways.
Anyone know anything more about this? I don't have kids, so I'm only relying on word on the street.

[Adge56]

Funny, I found this site while looking for information on Clayton "Academy".
What I know of Clayton is what I hear from my granddaughter who attends Clayton and what I see for myself. Clayton is a failure. It is a warehouse for children with needs the Pittsburgh Public Schools chooses to turn their back to.
Children attending Clayton are not being taught. I can believe that the police are there often. What would anyone expect when children with emotional and behavioral problems are penned up for hours at a time with no structure other than maybe changing classrooms during the day.
Not long after my granddaughter began attending Clayton she came home to tell us that the Principle had retired and a few other teachers had quit. I think the principle quit in disgust. This man was paying for pizza every day to feed the children lunch. To this day the young people at Clayton are not being fed the same nutritional lunches that the rest of the school districs are getting. They are not permitted to bring their own lunches.
Teaching consists of the student teaching themselves with the aid of a computer. In some classes they watch bootleg movies. Great cirriculum.
I am trying to find help in getting my granddaughter transfered to another school. Yes she has issues but she still wants and deserves an education. I'm nowhere near giving up.
So that is my take on Clayton "Academy", the holding cell for problem students.

[Yvonne WIley]

The writer of Feb. is correct. The place is shameful. These are throwaway kids. I wouldn't allow my child to be placed there. It is one step away from being another "George Junior" which for everyones information is a lock up for teens near Philladelphia. As A teacher in this district I am concerned at the number of students we push out of the door

[blackbeard]

KDKA-TV did a clip about them a while back - laughable - it was fake! Kids dont really stay in class or learn. Principals threaten employees not to tell newspeople what happens there or else be written up or fired. They dont have real teachers in the classroom so use whoever. Teachers always quit from being hit in the face with books or jumped by kids. My relative works there adn even said they had the attendance lady in a class one day. He said the principle covers lunch breaks. He said there are always teachers getting hurt and even a security gard got bit. In a way it is a good place to work because workers can have neck and boob tattoos and dont have to cover them and can cuss and not get in trouble. Clayton has people who dont have clearances, and only a few people hit or slammed kids and got fired. He said workers push kids and rough them up and cuss them out but dont get in trouble because the principles dont even belive the kids for real. He said the principle dont care because he grabs kids and screams in kids faces anyways.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Two girlfriend's of mine work there. They have a VERY high staff turn over rate. No one wants to work there. They have to give incentives to IMPORTED staff, from their other schools in Baltimore and Philly, to come to Pittsburgh to work. Supposedly, the Pittsburgh 'campus' is the worst campus of them all!

[gaelgirl]

This is so sad to hear. I went to Clayton, but that was 15+ years ago. It was just a regular elementary school then.

[Chautauquast]

Thanks for the replies!
The neighborhood is still struggling with Clayton activity and would like to offer help.
How do we even find out the name of the current Principle? Since it's operated by out-of-state contractors the Pittsburgh School Board doesn't have to report any details to the public (paying for the contract). I want to contact the Principle for a possible gardening project for the Clayton Academy students.

[Sideblinded]

Are there any alternative ideas or programs in place to replace this disgrace?

Chauq,

I found a link to the school & principal. I hope it is current.

http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/14311021210...NG-8-19-10.pdf

Dr. Howard Bullard 586-3481

Best of luck, all kids deserve a chance. It is a fine line when dealing with kids that have been violent or abusive. The mere fact your community is reaching out to them amazes me. It is easy to walk away, it is scary to get involved. I would suggest calling every news station, radio, paper, Oprah (j/k) and community groups with your ideas, get as many people onboard as possible.

Some of these kids may find self worth when they realize other people care and they are simply not forgotten or warehoused.

[Chautauquast]

Thanks Sideblinded!
One reason CEP thinks it "helps' school districts is that by keeping all the bad kids in one place other schools might see their overall scores improve.
With Roosevelt gone maybe Lane can do something about this whole abysmal CEP contract situation.

[Chautauquast]

Perry South academy to undergo curriculum, discipline changes

Jodi Weigand is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer can be reached at 412-320-7910 or via e-mail.
By Jodi Weigand
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Curriculum changes and a new approach to discipline are in store for at-risk youths attending Clayton Academy.

"We create an environment where positive behavior gets them attention," said Dayna Stewart, vice president of business development at Specialized Education Services Inc. "It produces change, not compliance."
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Read more: Perry South academy to undergo curriculum, discipline changes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Perry South academy to undergo curriculum, discipline changes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review