In lieu of a third-party contractor, Pittsburgh Public Schools will be analyzing its own data in-house to determine which elementary schools will feed into given high schools.
At the latest PPS board agenda review meeting, Superintendent Wayne Walters shared the update in response to the board’s request for updates regarding the district’s Facilities Utilization Plan.
Since postponing a vote to open a public comment period on proposed school closures — a critical and legally required step in the school closure process — district administrators are working to update and revise a feasibility report.
“The updated report will include financial impacts, transportation considerations, capital investment needs, and alignment with instructional practices that support student success — providing a more complete and transparent picture of how the recommendations may affect students, families, and school operations,” the district wrote in a message to stakeholders.
Superintendent Walters told board members the district would also be developing school attendance zones in-house since a call for proposals came up short.
“One proposal at a cost of $207,031 came from a non-local farm that lacked a clear understanding of the unique context of Pittsburgh,” Walters explained. “The second proposal was at $272,600, acknowledged after our initial meeting that they would not be able to deliver on the full scope of work as outlined in the request for proposal.”
Walters said district administrators were already underway analyzing internal data and historical attendance zone information.
“I want to articulate that this is a significant lift to our team, but we will make that adjustment. And this approach will allow us to be both cost-effective and responsive to student and community needs … We will share that information as soon as it's ready,” he added.
As the development wasn’t part of the official meeting agenda, there was no discussion among board members, but the announcement has been met with some skepticism.
During this month’s public hearing, Valerie Webb-Allman, a PPS parent active with the Pittsburgh organization 412 Justice, told the board the 2 and a half week call for proposals was too brief, and that the proposed timeline to complete the demographic study was unrealistic.
“No wonder we only got two proposals and neither could do the job. Anyone that knows the scope of work that is needed to be done could have told you that 75 to 90 days for a final report wasn't nearly enough time,” Webb-Allman said.
PPS didn’t respond to requests for additional information about the internal study.
District leaders did say an updated feasibility report would be presented in late May, including final recommendations and a proposed plan to phase-in changes to the district’s footprint.
