North Allegheny Superintendent Recommends Delay In Closing Peebles Elementary

To the surprise of several members of the  Superintendent Raymond Gualtieri recommended Wednesday night a one-year delay in the proposed closing of Peebles Elementary School.

The extra time would allow the district to add five additional classrooms to McKnight Elementary School. The space, located at the east end of the school, is currently under roof, but not built out. Gualtieri said the extra classrooms would give the district spare space in the event enrollment increases beyond current projections.

Tara Fisher, of the group Save NA Schools , which has been fighting the closing of any elementary school in the district, said the recommendation didn't make sense to her.

"it is shocking to hear the district is considering taking on new construction at the same time it's considering closing a top performing, well maintained building in the heart of the district," she said. "This is another example of the information surrounding the recommendation to close Peebles continuing to change. A decision of this magnitude should not be based on ever-changing data, floor plans and an 11th hour amendment that involves new construction."

Gualtieri also recommended the formation of community focus groups from each of the remaining elementary schools, to provide input on student redistricting plans.

Gualtieri said he heard "loud and clear" the concerns of parents who expressed at a public hearing on Jan. 30 that the decision to close Peebles was being rushed, and that there would not be enough time for the district and parents to adjust to the changes brought about by the closing of the school.

Fisher suggests the district still hasn't gotten the message.

"If the administration had truly listened to the community, it would have acknowledged the request of 1,000 residents for a community task force to brainstorm other options prior to closing a building," Fisher said. 

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