Chris Rosselot: Pittsburgh City Council should get more involved with city schools

The covid-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of our social and educational systems, and nowhere is this truer than with Pittsburgh Public Schools. From laptop distribution to district communication, it is an understatement to say intervention is needed.

Last week, Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess introduced (and council passed unanimously) an initiative to bring city residents up to speed on happenings with the PPS school board by televising meetings. Board member Kevin Carter responded with bombastic and defensive remarks about council’s actions: “The council is full of (expletive).”

Carter’s retort did not surprise me. The relationship between Pittsburgh Public Schools and city government has been a disservice to the constituents both bodies serve. The public tends to only hear about their dysfunctional relationship during times of crisis, like budget negotiations or the covid-19 crisis.

Mayor Bill Peduto and Pittsburgh City Council members have been largely silent when it comes to education issues, particularly during the pandemic. While he might not have legal authority, the mayor and all city councilors have a bully pulpit to engage in public discourse about our public schools and advocate for parents, guardians and students who are struggling within the system of remote learning. Moreover, the teachers and administrators are doing their best to get back into the classroom in a safe environment.

Carter’s accusation of council grandstanding might sound legitimate, given the silence to date on education inequities that have been exposed during the pandemic. But all residents should applaud council’s effort to be part of the solution and work with PPS and its board to make our public schools stronger, safer and accessible.

We need council to go farther, however. Council members should create a standing committee to address education and childhood development. There have been commissions set up in the past, but they were created only to make policy recommendations that often do not have governmental teeth and fall into a bureaucratic abyss.

Establishing a standing committee centered on education and childhood development on council would add jurisdictional purview on educational matters within the city and permit council to be a legitimate stakeholder. For example, there are tremendous opportunities for transformative cooperation agreements between city government and PPS, especially as PPS looks to expand the successful community school model. These neighborhood-based schools serve as a place for students and parents to get resources beyond just education, including services like health care, family support and other community development programs.

Make no mistake: Reform is needed at the school board level, including paying school board members in an effort to recruit more diverse candidates. With an overall budget larger than the entire City of Pittsburgh, the responsibility and power are too great for a school board member to be a volunteer position.

It is my hope that our locally elected officials can come together to help our students, teachers and parents. If not, I am afraid that parents who are able will continue to leave the district. Students who cannot leave will continue to fall behind. This should be a concern for all city residents.

Chris Rosselot of the North Side is a parent of two Pittsburgh Public Schools students. He was an independent candidate for Pittsburgh City Council in November 2019.