Voter guide to Pittsburgh Public Schools Board 9th District election: Petonic v. Walker

Pittsburgh school board members have spent most of the past year debating how to best go about closing schools without disrupting students’ well-being. While some board members want to finalize the list of school closures ahead of November’s general election, district administrators have said that no buildings will shutter until after the end of the 2025-2026 school year. That means candidates elected this fall will shape how the district carries out those plans, and whether they are executed with the efficacy needed to rein in district finances and improve students’ academic outcomes.

Your guide to the 2025 election, including races for city and county offices

District 9 covers a wide swath of the city, stretching from the city's northern neighborhoods surrounding Riverview Park and across the Ohio River into the West End. The current facility restructuring proposal, if adopted, would close the primary school building at Morrow K-8 in Brighton Heights and transform the intermediate building into a PreK-5 school; convert Langley K-8 in Sheraden into a PreK-5 building; and relocate services currently housed at the Pittsburgh Gifted Center in the West End to neighborhood schools.

Incumbent school board president Gene Walker faces challenger Allie Petonic, a union organizer with ties to the Education Rights Network. The group’s members are among the leading voices opposing the district’s closure plans, and its parent organization — 412 Justice — has frequently criticized Walker’s leadership.

School board members — or directors, as they’re known in Pennsylvania — hire and oversee the district superintendent (in this case, Dr. Wayne Walters). They are responsible for evaluating his contract, voting on the district’s annual budget and tax rates, and approving general classroom curriculum. They also draft and enact district policy and review charter school renewal applications.

In Pittsburgh, district board members dually serve as the board of the Pittsburgh-Mt. Oliver Intermediate Unit, which provides services to public, charter, and private schools alike.

Directors serve four-year terms, but they earn no salary. Pennsylvania is one of two states that prohibits school board members from receiving compensation, although some lawmakers are looking to change that.

“Candidates for 5 PPS board spots will face the weight — and legacy — of looming school closures” (Jillian Forstadt, WESA)
“Pittsburgh school board candidate slate launches ahead of Tuesday’s filing deadline” (Jillian Forstadt, WESA)

Courtesy candidate

Petonic is a longtime union organizer and an active member of the Education Rights Network with the local advocacy group 412 Justice. She’s also a member of the 27th Ward Democratic Committee and volunteers with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. The North Side resident says she would emphasize transparent communication with stakeholders, push back on “half-baked plans,” and advocate for participatory governance.

Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Brighton Heights
Education: A.B., biology, Bryn Mawr College; M.P.S., labor and global workers’ rights, Penn State University
Current occupation: Researcher, United Steelworkers (USW)
Related experience: USW research (2019-present); AFL-CIO field director/representative (2012-2018); political director for a UFCW Local in Ohio (2008-2012); SEIU organizer (2005)
Supporters/endorsements: Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO); United Steelworkers District 10; and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) District Council 57
Links: Website | Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle

WESA Candidate Survey

During the past year, PPS filed a lawsuit to force a countywide property tax reassessment, and filed another lawsuit against the city over a longstanding diversion of income tax revenue. Do you support those moves, and more generally, what approach should board members take to address the district’s revenue issues?

Yes, I support an equitable countywide property tax reassessment plan to stabilize revenue. I believe the income tax diversion should have ended in 2018 when Pittsburgh was no longer financially distressed. While we can't count on these changes happening soon, board members should increase budget transparency and adopt a participatory governance model that empowers the community to offer ideas and solutions. The board should coordinate efforts clearly with lawmakers and the community for advocacy at the state level. They must also do more to pursue grants and work to attract families back to the district to increase enrollment and revenue.

School closures discussions are ongoing, and it’s likely the next board will have to carry out whatever facility changes current board members decide on in the coming months. What do you see as the board’s main responsibility going forward as it relates to the district’s changing footprint?

Our communities want the school board to partner with them on solutions and a plan for the future of PPS. The board must push back on half-baked plans — based on flawed facility data — and empty promises that perpetuate the status quo. The board must learn from past closures, acknowledge the disproportionate effect on Black, brown, and disabled students, and pledge it won’t happen again. They must avoid disinvestment that drives families away. More families leaving PPS creates further revenue losses, perpetuating the cycle of declining enrollment. The board’s responsibility is to foster solutions that support and strengthen our schools and communities.

How would you address enrollment loss, whether due to charter schools or to families moving to other school districts?

To address enrollment loss, the board must work with the community to create a vision for schools where students feel safe, welcomed, and excited to be every day. It’s essential to reach out to families who have left PPS to gather their input and ideas, rather than making assumptions about why they left. Honest, timely communication with families is crucial to building trust and ensuring they are fully informed, fostering a sense of involvement and confidence in PPS. When all you do is make cuts and manage decline, you will certainly lose families to other places, further exacerbating the issue.

Many families and stakeholders have expressed concern about transparency and community engagement efforts at the school board level. How do you think the school board should address these concerns, and what’s your plan for engaging voices the board historically hasn’t heard from?

School boards must prioritize transparency and actively engage the community through genuine, collaborative processes — not just checking boxes. I’ll work to ensure the board listens, communicates clearly, and stands up for the community, making decisions that reflect the collective wisdom of all stakeholders. It’s essential to remove barriers to participation by offering child care, food, translation services, and virtual options. Clear and transparent communication about district direction, policies, and plans is crucial, so students, parents, staff, and the community are always informed and involved in shaping decisions. This approach leads to better decision-making and stronger connections with those we serve.

Pittsburgh schools face additional challenges, including high absenteeism rates, below-average reading and math scores, transportation issues and building infrastructure challenges — many schools lack air conditioning as global temperatures rise. What is the biggest issue you'd like to see addressed, and how?

All of these issues deserve the full attention of any school board. Boards should continually look for ways to improve student outcomes by providing the best teaching and learning environment, exploring evidence-based practices like small class sizes, and developing community partnerships such as the Community Schools model and vocational training partnerships with our city’s strong network of unions. That said, I take issue with the PPS Board's recent adoption of the Council of Great City Schools governance model, which restricts the board’s ability to address these concerns comprehensively and limits its ability to fully serve the community’s needs.

Courtesy candidate

Walker has served as school board president for the last two years and has been among the most steadfast proponents of school closures. He led the board through a process to make its practices more efficient and transparent (though not without controversy), and is working to retrieve district tax revenue lost through a city diversion and property assessment appeals. Walker, a PPS graduate, says he will continue to focus on maximizing board efficiency, improving access and equity across district schools, and ensuring the district’s budget remains stable.

Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Brighton Heights
Education: B.A. in accounting, Bloomsburg University
Current occupation: Managing director, Per Scholas Pittsburgh
Related experience: PPS board director since 2022 (board president 2024, 2025); 14+ years in Pittsburgh’s nonprofit sector; financial counselor accreditation; worked for the Pittsburgh Promise (2009-2018)
Supporters/endorsements: Black Women for a Better Education, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, Allegheny County Democratic Committee, State Rep. Aerion Abney, current PPS board members Tracey Reed, Dwayne Barker, Sylvia Wilson and Yael Silk
Links: Website | Facebook
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle

WESA Candidate Survey

Over the past year, PPS filed a lawsuit to force a countywide property tax reassessment, and filed another lawsuit against the city over a longstanding diversion of income tax revenue. Do you support those moves, and more generally, what approach should board members take to address the district’s revenue issues?

I have been in full support of our efforts to both push for a countywide property reassessment and for the ending of the tax deferment to the city. I have been working to push these issues to the forefront on multiple levels of government. The tax reassessment would allow for the district to better forecast our potential revenue and eliminate the multi-million dollar refunds that are currently going back to our largest property owners. The tax dollars that are being diverted to the city account for almost $26 million and would eliminate most of our annual deficit if recovered.

School closures discussions are ongoing, and it’s likely the next board will have to carry out whatever facility changes current board members decide on in the coming months. What do you see as the board’s main responsibility going forward as it relates to the district’s changing footprint?

The main priority of this Board is to make the necessary decision to implement the Superintendents district reconfiguration plan, and leave a well thought out blueprint for the next Board to follow. We have a responsibility to present a plan that ensures all students have access to a high quality education and needed resources. We can not continue the mistake of the past by delaying a process that must be done. Our top priority is to move forward with a plan that has been presented to the public with the details necessary to help parents plan for their children's education.

How would you address enrollment loss, whether due to charter schools or to families moving to other school districts?

Enrollment loss is a result of many factors including; demographic shifts, limited public and affordable housing, charters, and families moving. We have to look at the areas we can control, and that area is educational delivery. The PPS consolidation plan is designed to create opportunities to properly resource schools and provide the quality student outcomes that parents are demanding. Work also has to be done with the City and County to create a region that is also attracting families. There is no one size fits all approach, but as a district, increasing student performance and outcomes is the first step.

Many families and stakeholders have expressed concern about transparency and community engagement efforts at the school board level. How do you think the school board should address these concerns, and what’s your plan for engaging voices the board historically hasn’t heard from?

Family and stakeholder engagement is probably the most challenging part of the position. During my time on the Board we have worked hard to create opportunities to engage the community on a number of issues. There are multiple ways to engage; public hearing, surveys, community meetings, and 1 on 1 meetings. The reality is, not everyone wants to or can engage in the ways we currently offer, so we must continue to work with the district to find new ways for families to engage. There is no magic formula, we just have to show up as often as we can in spaces where families are and be ready to listen.

Pittsburgh schools face additional challenges including high absenteeism rates, below-average reading and math scores, transportation issues and building infrastructure challenges — many schools lack air conditioning as global temperatures rise. What is the biggest issue you'd like to see addressed and how?

Improving student outcomes is the biggest issue that we need to address in the coming years. If we cannot effectively educate and increase the achievement of our students, nothing else will really matter.. School conditions, learning environments, and teacher quality all play a significant role in helping us to get there, but the primary job of a school district is the education of its students. PPS and the Board have an obligation to focus on improving the outcomes of the students we serve and use every tool in our toolbox to make sure our students leave prepared for the challenges ahead. It starts and ends with improving student outcomes.