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As a parent of two remotely schooled Pittsburgh Public Schools students, I am extremely concerned about my children’s education and mental health during the pandemic. For almost a year now, I’ve watched my children stare at screens for eight hours a day and complain that they think they are learning very little. Their words, not mine.
I am pleased that Mayor Bill Peduto has finally reached out to the governor in an appeal to accelerate the vaccination of teachers. But please explain to me: Why is this necessary for teachers under age 65 and without preexisting conditions? Why is it that healthy teachers need a vaccination before returning to work when
Jared Murphy / 90.5 WESA
A group of Pittsburgh Public Schools parents, alumni, former employees and concerned community members will endorse a slate of candidates for the five open school board seats this May.
Members of Black Women For A Better Education say they want candidates who are laser-focused on ensuring Black children get the education that they need and deserve.
School board President Sylvia Wilson is the first incumbent to announce she will run again to represent district 1 which covers East End neighborhoods including Homewood, East Hills and Larimer. Districts 3, 5, 7 and 9 are currently represented by Sala Udin, Terry Kennedy, Cindy Falls and Veronica Edwards, respectively.
UpdatedThu, Jan 28, 2021 at 3:22 pm ET
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PITTSBURGH, PA After planning to resume hybrid instruction on Feb. 8, the Pittsburgh Public Schools will not have any students in classrooms until after spring break. School directors on Wednesday voted 7-2 to continue virtual instruction until at least April 6.
The vote came a week after the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers approved a resolution advocating that a return to classrooms be delayed until all teachers receive both doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Pennsylvania currently is in Phase 1A of the vaccination program; public school employees are in Phase 1B and there is no definitive timetable yet as to when that phase will begin.
Pittsburgh Public Schools has delayed the return to in-school instruction another two months, until April 6.
The district targeted the return to classroom instruction at the end of February.
One after the other, several board members spoke at their meeting Wednesday in support of continuing to teach classes online, though nearly all of them noted that it was a difficult decision and an imperfect solution.
“I want kids to come back to school, I want them back,” said Board President Sylvia Wilson. But without the staff, it’s not possible, she said. “The reality is people are concerned about their health. … We are concerned about the student’s health. We are concerned about the health of their families.”