Pittsburgh Public Schools to Consider Permanent Hybrid Public Hearing Format

Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) is considering making its hybrid public hearing format a permanent policy after months of pushback from families and stakeholders. The district, which transitioned to hybrid meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, had planned to return to fully in-person hearings in August 2024 but faced criticism over accessibility concerns.

School board president Gene Walker acknowledged the frustration during a policy workshop on Monday, stating, “I recognize that’s cause for some frustration and some anger by folks who felt like we were doing something to kind of take their voice away.” The district initially shifted to hybrid meetings in November 2023, allowing both in-person and remote participation via Zoom, but announced a return to in-person-only hearings in July 2024, citing improved vaccination rates and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Parents and community members, however, raised concerns about the change, particularly for individuals with disabilities, transportation challenges, and childcare needs. Vice president Devon Taliaferro emphasized the need for clarity, suggesting that formalizing the hybrid format in writing would ensure consistency. “We just have to make sure that we make testifying and the voice of the public heard very clear and concise so that everybody knows what they’re supposed to do,” she said.

The board’s policy committee is now drafting language to codify the hybrid format, which will undergo a 30-day public comment period before a potential vote in March. The district is also working with the Council of Great City Schools, a Texas-based nonprofit, to streamline governance policies. Proposed changes include extending the time board members have to review agenda items from three to 10 days and requiring public disclosure of board members’ questions and answers about agenda items.

Board vice president Tracey Reed described the proposals as indicative of the “healthy direction” the board is moving. The district has faced scrutiny over its governance practices, with city controller Rachael Heisler urging improvements last fall. Residents will have 30 days to submit public comments on the proposed policies once they are posted on the district’s website.