Across the state, the issue of charter schools and the need for choice was a highly debated topic in the primary election for governor. In Pittsburgh, recent controversy has been focused on the proposal for a charter school in the vacant Burgwin School building in Hazelwood.

CHARTER ADVOCATE—Sarah Jameela Martin makes a statement at the Pittsburgh Board of Education public hearing, May 17.

“It’s a slow process in Pittsburgh because you have to put a proposal in and normally they will reject your proposal no matter how good it is,” said Sam Howard, executive vice president of Imagine Schools for the Midwest and Northeast. “Charter schools offer choice and choice doesn’t seem to be en vogue in the system.”

In late April, the Pittsburgh Public School District released recommendations by the East Region Advisory Committee for changes to Peabody and Westinghouse high schools. The changes would not go into effect until the 2011-2012 school year and have yet to be approved by the school board.

“In making this recommendation the East Region Advisory Committee paid particular attention to the issues of academic instruction, student support, declining enrollment and facilities utilization,” said Derrick Lopez, assistant superintendent, secondary schools. “After multiple working sessions and community input the committee feels this recommendation best meets the needs of East End families.”

Recently, Pittsburgh has hosted a number of seminars and summits promoting green jobs and a green economy. Advocates claim, as they did during the Green Pathways to Prosperity Summit held May 20 at the Pittsburgh Project, that problems such as unemployment, blight and divestment in urban communities can be ameliorated by building a “robust, diverse and inclusive local green economy.”

LOOKING FOR GREEN—Attendees look over informational brochures during the May 20 Pathways to Prosperity Green Jobs Summit at the Pittsburgh Project.

But what is this green economy? What are the green jobs that are going to remake the inner city, and how many are there?

Khari Mosley, the director of green economy initiatives for GTECH and a member of the Urban Green Jobs Alliance, facilitated the Pathways to Prosperity Summit and said he was pleased with the crowd and their level of interest, but admitted that translating interest into employment is still a challenge.

The Courier recently found that the number of new Black police recruits is declining. We asked Pittsburgher what they felt could reverse this trend. Here’s what you said:

“Start early with young people, say in middle school, making them more aware of the importance of careers in that area and preparing themselves earlier on; learning about them and finding people who could mentor them so that they can ultimately become one of the positive people on the police force.”
Shirley Biggs
Highland Park
Emeritus Faculty, Pitt

Shirley Biggs, Roger Green, Michelle Biggs