NA Residents For Neighborhood Schools

The residents of the North Allegheny School District believe that a strong and high performing school district is critical to the success of our children and grandchildren. It is also an important part of our local quality of life and contributes to the value of our homes. Recent discussions by the North Allegheny School Board including a suggested closure of Peebles Elementary School threatens to undermine these benefits. The inevitable increase in elementary school class size throughout the district, elimination of neighborhood facilities, and unnecessary construction created by this shift will cause unneeded disruption and unnecessary expense for all residents.

While we recognize that North Allegheny School District, like most school districts in Pennsylvania, are under significant financial constraints, we believe that other, less radical reforms within the district can achieve the necessary cost savings. Further, we reject any idea that district residents must choose between school closures / higher class sizes or a property tax increase. We request that the North Allegheny School Board, school PTAs, and the teacher’s union appoint a committee of local residents including parents, financial professionals, teachers, and local leaders to find more appropriate solutions to district’s challenges. This committee should present its findings by January 31, 2013. Further, we request that the district disregard any construction or consolidation recommendations from firms with a potential financial interest in potential facility rehabilitation or construction.