Pittsburgh Public Schools pushes back start of school

Students of Pittsburgh Public Schools won’t return to class until Sept. 8 to give the district more time to iron out transportation issues, administrators said Tuesday.

“We are also listening to the concerns raised by our staff related to the impact traditionally high temperatures in August have on our facilities, now coupled with the use of masks,” Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said. “It is our hope this challenge would be lessened in September, allowing everyone a positive start in the new school year.”

Classes were initially set to start Aug. 25.

The plan was announced during a news conference Tuesday morning, and it will be discussed further at a school board committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. To watch the meeting, click here.

The district needs more time to address busing issues that include a shortage of more than 400 bus drivers and 11,000 fewer seats on buses needed for students, according to Megan Patton, the district transportation director.

The district is working to add another carrier and working with Port Authority of Allegheny County to tackle those issues. Officials are promoting a “release your seat” campaign for parents who are able to take their kids to school or have other options that mean they don’t need to be bused, Patton said.

They’re working with middle school parents and students to get those who need to use Port Authority buses accustomed to doing so.

Under the proposed changes in the 2021-2022 calendar, teachers will return to school Aug. 30. The last day for students will be June 22, 2022, and the last day for teachers will be June 24, 2022.

Hamlet said it is uncertain how variants of covid-19 and/or changes in the city’s pandemic numbers could impact the school year. He didn’t rule out a return to hybrid or remote learning if it is warranted.

The district also plans to used staggered start times of between 7:15 and 8:05 a.m. for most high schools and 6-12 schools, an 8:25 a.m. start for neighborhood schools and the Student Achievement Center and a 9:25 a.m. start for elementary and middle schools that serve students from across the city. For a detailed listing of the proposed start and end times for each school, click here.

The early start times have some concerned, and an online petition to move the start time to later than 7:15 a.m. had support of 389 people as of Tuesday morning.

Hamlet and other administrators didn’t mention these concerns Tuesday. He said the moves are being made to deal with the transportation issues the district is facing as it adjusts to a school year with students in classrooms again after they spent last year learning from home or using hybrid models because of the pandemic.

“Of course there’s some angst,” Hamlet said of the sentiment of parents.

But parents of seventh and eighth graders at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) magnet school appreciated when their children started using Port Authority buses in previous years.

The district may also furlough about 30 teachers because of decreases in enrollment, although some of these teachers are being moved to other positions, Hamlet said.

The school board will vote on the changes to the school calendar at a special meeting Aug. 18.