Q: Currently, nearly half of the dollars spent at a school building are allocated centrally and not accounted for at the building level, making it difficult to know whether resources are being distributed equitably to meet student needs. How will you make Pittsburgh Public Schools budgeting process more transparent?
A: There are specific costs that are allocated to schools that are easily identified such as the amount per employee salary and benefits for those assigned to each site. After that there are specific allocations based on a number of pupils. Schools do have some say via the PSCC and internal processes, if they function as originally designed.

Q: Under what circumstances would you support increasing or decreasing property taxes in the district? What research or evidence would you use to help you make that decision?
A: I am not in support of a decrease. If property taxes were eliminated, without a viable alternative, that would mean increases in personal income taxes and an increase in sales tax. This impacts middle and lower income families the most.

Q: Over the last several years Pittsburgh Public Schools has seen a decline in student enrollment. How will you reverse this trend to keep families in the district?
A: The Pittsburgh Promise was one strategy to bring families to live in Pittsburgh and enroll their children in PPS. As public housing was closed and other forms of housing was built to replace them, families have been moved to county housing/homes. they have not been brought back to the city to live and become a part of PPS again. There should be attention given to this as the fight for affordable housing continues.

Q: How will you, as a board member, improve the district’s transportation system?
A: We do not have our own transportation system. However, feeder patterns need to be addressed. Bus driver shortages need to be addressed. One way might be best addressed by paying decent wages. This would attract and retain better drivers.

Q: Do you support the universal screening of all students for Gifted and Talented education supports?
A: Yes.

Q: Do you agree with the board’s decision to create another tier of disciplinary infractions? Would you be in favor of creating more tiers to better address behavior problems?
A: This is being addressed right now. Input is being requested from the community via several public sessions.

Q: Suspensions and expulsions are rarely an effective means for improving school climate. What alternatives will you support (eg. Restorative Justice, Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems, others) through policy to reduce school pushout and improve school climate? (Please cite the research or evidence you will use to back up your policy position).
A: Both alternatives are being used in various degrees in the district. More attention/training is needed for the practices to become comfortable and commonplace. A need for peer mediation is also a strong strategy which should be used as well.

Q: If elected, your main job will be to serve over 26,000 students in Pittsburgh’s district and charter schools. How will you ensure student voice is taken into account by the school board?
A: It was one of the considerations expressed from the community that was an outcome of the forums held leading to the selection of the superintendent. The inclusion of student voice is increasing with the current administration.

Q: Pittsburgh Public Schools hiring process often does not conclude until August for many new teachers, later than most surrounding districts. What policies will you enact to improve the hiring timeline for new teachers and to attract a more diverse pool of candidates?
A: There have been efforts to identify vacancies and hire early. However, it is not an easy process. Employees do not have to indicate their retirement by a specific date. Therefore, it is not always easy to know which vacancies exist. The district has instituted some incentives to report early, but it does not always bring about the desired result.

Q: PPS is currently in the planning stages of creating community schools. What research or evidence will you use to monitor the successful implementation of a community schools model?
A: There are many districts in the US that have functioning community schools. Although each district has many variations within their schools, PPS can look to the various models as our own community schools develop.

Q: Reading at grade level by third grade has been shown to be a strong predictor of future academic success, and in 2016 only 47% of Pittsburgh’s third graders met that bar. What will you do as a Board member to ensure that students benefit from systematic, comprehensive and evidence-based reading interventions so that more of our students are reading at grade level by third grade?
A: Appropriate interventions to be in place for identified students having difficulties with existing curricula. The use of data to determine what each student needs to meet that bar.

Q: How will you as a board member identify gaps in opportunities for students and work to address them so as to close gaps in student achievement?
A: There has to be more work to determine why the gap remains even when considering that black students continue to score lower regardless of socio-economic factors.

Q: How will you ensure that students receive a well-balanced and healthy lunch that students will want to eat?
A: Lunches are designed to be well-balanced. The problem is perception of what is "good." Flavor and variety have to be considered. There are options being considered by PPS food service which in turn are opted by individual schools.

Q: How will you make sure students have up to date materials especially in history and literature classes?
A: Access to and the use of specific internet resources have provided for this.

Q: What is your vision for the expansion of Pre-K in Pittsburgh? What do you see as the role of Pre-K in a child's learning progression through the PPS system?
A: It only stops short of expansion based on available funding.

Q: How will you work constructively with the eight other board members to ensure all Pittsburgh students receive a quality education?
A: No one can accomplish anything alone. It requires the members to work together for the benefit of all students.

Q: How will you effectively advocate for Pittsburgh’s students with other elected officials, both local and state?
A: I keep in touch -- call, speak to them directly, or write to them regarding specific issues. Also, it's good to keep them informed of PPS activities.

Q: How will you communicate the board’s work with your constituents, parents and non-parents alike?
A: I participate in public meetings, forums, etc. when time allows. I have been contacted by email, phone, or when I am out anywhere in the community. I refer to the board's web site for information. Many watch the board meetings on TV and I get follow up comments and/or questions.

Q: How will you support best practices in early education (Pre-K- Grade 4), including play based learning and a focus on social and emotional skills?
A: I support these best practices, but there are always pressures (external and internal) to get results without these considerations.