District 7- Jamie Piotrowski
Q: Are you in favor of raising property taxes? Why or why not?
A: Pittsburgh Public Schools’ budget is facing a $39 million deficit. Our current funding systems are regressive and do not fund our schools equally. The current funding formula in Pennsylvania allows charter schools to siphon money away from traditional public schools, creating greater gaps in inequality among our most vulnerable students. In addition to this problem, the City of Pittsburgh is experiencing a slow, yet consistent, decline in population and seeing a younger population that is having fewer children. This decline leads to fewer students enrolled and perpetuates the cycle of inequitable funding. This cycle will continue until our State’s funding formulas are fair and promote equitable learning and close loopholes for charter schools that have limited public oversight. Additionally, raising property taxes under the City’s current tax abatement patterns will only harm moderate and low income families, many of whom are Black. Pittsburgh Public Schools needs to be a part of the conversations surrounding new developments in the City of Pittsburgh otherwise the District will continue to lose out on revenue streams and be forced to make spending cuts that will harm vulnerable students. Since 2011 the City of Pittsburgh alone has granted 1,089 tax abatements lasting between 3 to 10 years. Several abatements are granted in areas experiencing rapid development, higher property values, and gentrification, which ultimately benefit white, middle and upper middle class individuals and families. The lawsuit filed by the Education Law Center and Public Interest Law Center against Pennsylvania officials, challenging the state's broken school funding system is going to trial this Fall and will hopefully lead to a solution that ensures fair funding for our schools so all of our children can have access to an equitable education.
Q: Pittsburgh Public Schools is facing a systemic deficit of millions of dollars a year, how would you work to address the deficit in both the near future and the long term?
A: In the near term the District will be facing hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I will work with other members of the board, local leaders, non-profits, philanthropists, and corporations to ensure our students’ have the proper equipment for the current learning environment. Additionally, I will support the District in applying for short and long term grant opportunities, to supplement students’ learning, and to fill the gaps within the budget. In the long term, I will work to build and strengthen the relationship between the City and District to ensure the District is part of conversations surrounding new developments and strategies, especially ones that involve wealthy developers and tax abatements, tax credits, and affordable housing opportunities. The PA Legislature must work with the City of Pittsburgh and PPS to return the .25% Earned Income Tax to the PPS budget (currently approximately twenty million dollars per year) that was rerouted from the School District while the City was in financial distress under Act 47. Additionally, I will work with PA state legislators to ensure that funding formulas for our schools are designed to be fair for our students. We cannot continue to allow charter schools, especially cyber charter schools, to siphon funding away from public schools and line the pockets of CEOs.
Q: Do you think Pittsburgh Public Schools current physical footprint matches the needs of the students we serve? Why or why not?
A: Every neighborhood is unique and we need to look at each community holistically in order to assess the needs and disparities between them in order to understand what the footprint should be. We know that the current model does not work for all of our families but without a needs assessment that takes all of our families into account, any changes to the current model could be detrimental to students’ learning. I will work with fellow board members and advocate for comprehensive needs assessment for the district that is accessible to all stakeholders and prioritizes input from residents, parents/guardians, and students.
Q: Superintendent Dr. Hamlet has started a Student Advisory Panel to incorporate student voice into the administrations. How will you ensure student perspectives are heard and factored into board decisions?
A: I will work with Dr. Hamlet to ensure that participation methods are accessible for all students, especially those that have been historically marginalized to create a structure for student-adult communication, build trust between students and educators, and encourage students to become leaders. I will encourage the utilization of best practices outlined by the center for American Progress to create and promote new methods for students to be more engaged in their education such as student surveys; student perspectives on governing bodies such as school, local, state decision-makers; student government; student journalism; student-led conferences; democratic classroom practices; personalized learning; and youth participatory action research (YPAR).
Q: What are your top 3 priorities to improve the district?
A: Prioritizing Resources for an Equitable Education by - Supporting traditional public schools - Providing teachers with resources they need to support students - Supporting students with disabilities - Supporting programs that allow immigrants and refugees to flourish Addressing PPS’ Revenue Gap by - Working together with local and state leaders, stakeholders, and foundations to address gaps in funding and explore viable sources for consistent, reliable, revenue for the district. Creating a Safe School Environment where Students can Succeed by - Allocating funds to student support services - Eliminating suspensions to include grades 3-8 - Phasing out and removing police officers in schools
Q: What are 3 things you think the district is doing well and how will you support those initiatives?
A: Career and Technical Education programming (CTE) - Continue to support PPS 16 programs that prepare students for a career in high demand fields and expand the program through partnerships with trade and building unions and guilds for hands on experiences and apprenticeships after graduation and a good paying, union career. Character Development Initiatives and Restorative Practices to increase student learning and improve school culture - I will advocate for increased professional development for teachers so they are prepared with best practices in handling classroom behavioral issues and can address the problem in a holistic manner and keep students on track. - I will advocate for increased funding for student support services such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists to provide additional support to students, instead of using punitive methods for intervention. PPS publishes board meetings and agenda on public calendars and records public meetings for later access, as well as a centralized point of contact for immigrant and refugee families. - I will continue to support these initiatives and advocate for alternative communication methods to improve engagement and build relationships to better respond to the needs of all PPS families.
Q: Teaching in Pittsburgh Public Schools is a great opportunity. As a board member how will you promote teaching in the district so that we attract high quality diverse teachers?
A: Evidence suggests that having a racially diverse teaching staff is beneficial for all students. Recent reports from Brookings, REL Northwest, and the Center for American Progress demonstrate that students of color recognize benefits from having a teacher of the same race, including: better performance on standardized tests, higher attendance rates, lower rates of disciplinary issues, better chances of completing high school, better chances of pursuing higher education. Following research and best practices I will work to attract high quality and diverse teachers by partnering with local colleges and universities to create a pipeline to train and recruit new teachers, develop early outreach programs to encourage students of color to pursue degrees in education, follow data trends to predict hiring needs and target areas for new teacher recruitment, encourage and provide adequate professional development opportunities for existing teachers and staff so they are well equipped to handle tough teaching scenarios and are more culturally sensitive to students’ needs. I will work to ensure that our teachers offer a well rounded curriculum that reflects the diverse perspectives of our student body.
Q: What is your vision of a community school? How will you as a board member work to create partnerships to strengthen our schools?
A: Community schools create a resource hub for our students and families that promote and encourage student and community engagement that strengthens the relationships between our schools, families, nonprofit partners, and reduces the stigma of seeking out and asking for help. As a board member and licensed social worker I will listen to the needs of families to inform new partnerships with nonprofits and philanthropists to meet the unique needs of our students and families, ensure that our children are ready to enter school and have a safe, supportive, and stable environment that allow students to develop cognitive, social, emotional, physical, civic, and ethical competencies and the capacity and preparation to thrive in college, career, and life and as participants in our democracy. I will work with our community schools coordinators to provide holistic, wraparound services, including counseling, health services, feeding programs, substance abuse prevention programs, and services such as SNAP, LIHEAP, and Dollar Energy. I will work to ensure a sustainable funding stream to operate community school programs throughout the year so students and families do not miss out on resources during the Summer months when school is not in session.
Q: What resources do you think schools need to better engage with families with limited English proficiency? How will you advocate for those resources?
A: I will work to ensure that school communications are translated into appropriate languages for students and parents and create opportunities for LEP populations to have public engagement opportunities if they are unable to participate in regular board meetings due to lack of interpretation services. Any new technology products the district utilizes must have built-in language accessibility in order for our families to access it. Our schools will benefit from partnerships with agencies that provide services for refugees and immigrants, such as the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, Hello Neighbor, the Islamic Center, Casa San Jose, etc. to meet the needs of existing groups and anticipate the needs of incoming refugee and immigrant groups.
Q: In general how do you think the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: We are continually learning about the novel Coronavirus and its variants and must continue to be diligent at preventing the spread by wearing masks, washing our hands, social distancing, and staying home when we feel ill or show symptoms of Covid-19. The initial roll out of remote learning was inadequate with learning packet pickups initially causing confusion for many families; however, the district was able to meet and maintain its goal of becoming a 1:1 district. The board has worked to ensure that our staff and students are safe by encouraging teachers and staff to get the Johnson & Johnson, and other available vaccines, and has taken steps to prepare classrooms for 6ft. social distancing, appropriate and frequent cleaning, ventilation etc. for school classrooms. Students who are performing poorly with online learning are prioritized to return in person first to ensure they get the in-person instruction and interaction they need to succeed academically. Open communication from the board to parents and students must continue to convey new information through live streamed events, public hearings, and other relevant communications to ensure that students can learn in a safe environment while attending in person instruction.
Q: How are you going to deal with the drop in grades and catching students up both near term and for the long haul?
A: Covid-19 is disproportionately impacting our Black and Brown students. While students learn from home out of necessity or by choice we must close the digital gap and ensure students have the appropriate equipment to access their classrooms and resources; as the return to in-person learning occurs, vulnerable students should be prioritized, with appropriate safety protocols in place to keep them safe from possible infection. The American Rescue Plan Act signed by Joe Biden on March 11, 2021 will create an influx of Federal funding for K-12 schools. This will play a significant role to level the playing field for our vulnerable students. It allows for: - $130 billion for K-12 schools, to safely reopen most schools within 100 days. - Money for K-12 schools may be used to improve ventilation in school buildings, reduce class sizes to make social distancing possible, purchase personal protective equipment, and hire support staff. - 20% of the school money must be directed to programs to help counteract "learning loss" from students who missed school during the pandemic. In the short and long term I will work to ensure any allocated monies are spent responsibly to promote a holistic learning model and strengthen opportunities for social-emotional, and academic growth in our community schools and upcoming Summer programs including developing partnerships with funders, philanthropists, non-profit supports, and feeding programs. As we flatten the curve of the pandemic we must work to ensure that schools remain equitable in order to close the learning gap prolonged by the Coronavirus. I will also encourage the expansion of the Allderdice tutoring program, started by students, to our other high schools to create learning and mentorship opportunities for our younger students and facilitate leadership opportunities for our older students.
Q: How can you as a board member support increased literacy? What specific programs would you support/ advocate for?
A: It is important that we present increased literacy opportunities for both youth and adults, and English Language Learnings to encourage growth and new learning opportunities. There are so many amazing programs in Pittsburgh that work with youth and adults to encourage literacy of many types including, reading and writing, digital literacy, mathematics etc. It is important that our students and caregivers are informed about these opportunities. I will work to support programs such as Literacy Pittsburgh’s (and other organizations) English and Citizenship classes for English Language Learners, immigrants, and refugees, as well as their adult mathematics, reading, and writing to courses to help prepare adults for the GED and career transitions. I would also encourage partnerships with Carnegie Library, Reading Ready PIttsburgh and Reading is FUNdemental so that children of all ages have access to self-selected books, and necessary technology that enhances learning. Our students should also have access to peer to peer tutoring to promote literacy and academic growth for our younger students and learning and leadership and mentoring opportunities for our teens. Highschool students from Allderdice took the initiative to create a non-profit for tutoring students K-5 known as Children of Steel. I will advocate for this program to be expanded to continue tutoring K-5 students and to include middle and high school students so they can get the academic help they need and build strong relationships between students. I will also support professional development opportunities for teachers surrounding the science of learning to read and encourage educators to know literacy milestones and the signs of learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, so they can be identified early and students can be referred to the appropriate services and improve learning outcomes.
Q: Will you ensure that non-Christian Students are allowed the same time off from school for major religious/cultural dates such as Yom Kippur/Rosh Ha’Shanah/Passover, Eid, Diwali, etc.
A: Yes - I was so excited to see the addition of Eid-al-Fitr to next year’s school calendar. Pittsburgh is a diverse cultural hub and it is time that we accept, support, and celebrate our multiculturalism by respecting and allowing our Jewish, Musim, Hindi, and other religious families to spend their time together during their significant holidays.
Q: The Jewish community is concerned with rising Antisemitism and a record-low baseline education about the Holocaust; what will you do to ensure that these issues are adequately taught in school?
A: I will seek out the advice and input from our Jewish leaders, community, and institutions, to ensure that our students’ education of the Holocaust and other culturally imporant events are taught appropriately. I will also encourage teachers to utilize teachings and assignments from diverse perspectives, and encourage the district to provide supplemental opportunities such as guest speakers and field trips to the Holocaust museum.
Q: Locally - and nationwide - enrollment numbers in early childhood programs and kindergarten are down due to the pandemic. As a school board member, how will you provide leadership and support for enrollment in district early childhood programs and kindergarten? How can the district provide support for increased outreach and engagement to Pittsburgh families with young children?
A: Those who attend pre-K do better in school and are less likely to need special education services or have to repeat a grade. Pennsylvania currently ranks 38th in the nation for early childhood programs. It is imperative that initiatives like these are prioritized and access to high quality, public pre-K is funded through the State. For every $1 invested in early childhood education yields up to $16 return on investment. The Biden American Rescue plan includes $15 billion allocation for child-development block grants, a $1 billion allocation for the Head Start early education program, and a $24 billion stabilization fund for child care providers. We must ensure that these dollars, distributed by the State, are distributed fairly and equitably within our school district. Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh and the School District should also work together to develop community benefits agreements as new developments are constructed, especially if those new developments involve tax abatements or tax credits for wealthy developers. Hopefully, with a new Director of Children Initiatives at the County, we’ll see even greater coordination of these efforts locally. In addition to funding, we must ensure that our schools and childhood centers are safe for our children. We must ensure our early childhood center staff and teachers follow CDC guidelines and Covid protocols to keep each other and our children safe, by having appropriate ventilation equipment installed or retrofitted, wearing masks, washing hands, and disinfecting high touch areas frequently. The school board can work with community and neighborhood groups and councils to reach out to families in a variety of ways such as online outreach, door knocking, and/or mailing campaign to inform parents and encourage them to utilize early childhood resources, including any subsidies they may be eligible for.
Q: What role do you think high-quality early learning plays in providing the educational foundation for children to succeed? As a school board director and local leader, how will you work with state elected officials and other leaders to ensure more children continue to receive access to pre-k?
A: Early childhood education provides holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing, molding caring, capable and responsible future citizens. I will work with state leaders to ensure that early childhood education is consistently funded using formulas that adjust for inflation, and is distributed equitably across the District so our students receive high-quality programming so they are prepared for primary school and beyond.
Q: The 2020 A+ Schools Report to the Community highlighted the joyful learning happening in PPS early childhood education programs. The article focused on the importance of a whole child approach including play-based learning and social and emotional development. How will you support educators and administrators to implement developmentally appropriate, play-based learning in school reopening plans? Additionally, what considerations do you feel need to be made in supporting the mental health, social-emotional development, and physical activity of students during remote learning and as they return to school?
A: We must ensure that our schools are safe upon the return of our students by enforcing mask wearing, encouraging hand washing, frequent disinfection of high touch areas, social distancing, and other recommendations informed by the Centers for Disease Control. In order to promote a holistic teaching and learning approach our teachers must have access to professional development opportunities that equip them with the tools to prepare them to support the mental and social-emotional health needs of our students as they return to school. In addition to these professional development opportunities, we must also ensure that we utilize appropriate student to counselor/social worker ratios. In general, there is a 250 student to 1 social worker ratio; the National Association of Socialworkers suggests a 50 student to 1 social worker ratio for students with more intensive needs. Students should be encouraged to spend time outside to benefit their physical and mental health needs. Schools can also encourage and schedule outside time for students and regularly scheduled breaks and outdoor for students learning online so they have the opportunity to go outside and learn in a more interactive environment.
Q: How can the Board be more transparent with COVID and schools reopening?
A: The board must continue to offer an open line of communication for parents, students, and other caretakers to voice their concerns about Covid. It is important that the board continually follows updates from the Centers for Disease Control, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Allegheny County Health Department, and other health agencies, and communicate any new information and policy changes with students, and families. A PPS data dashboard should be created and updated daily to inform the public on the number of cases within each school and describe data patterns as more information is collected. Students over 16 and adults should be encouraged to receive the Covid vaccine when they are able to ensure herd immunity and significantly decrease the chances of hospitalization and death.