One Northside Education Committee

One Northside’s resident-driven Education Committee is committed to working in partnership with residents to ensure all Northside children have access to high-quality early learning and K-12 schools within the Northside.

In response the Pittsburgh Public Schools Facility Utilization Plan, the Education Committee, in partnership with Kidcelerate, convened a series of community meetings from November 2024 through January 2025. Over 70+ residents participated in the discussions. In February 2025, a summary report was shared with Superintendent Walters and Northside School Board Directors.

Below are some highlights, along with a few recommendations on how the One Northside Education Committee and Northside residents might work collaboratively with PPS to continue these vital resident conversations and ensure any changes to Northside schools and feeder patterns ensure equitable access and the highest quality schools PreK-12.

• Northside residents prefer a middle school location that is centrally located with access to greater amenities and public transportation. Many are confused by the choice of Manchester elementary and don’t think it is the best option.
• Community members and leaders in Northview Heights are excited about the plans to reopen Northview Elementary and think it could bring together children and families in the neighborhood in ways that aren’t possible when the kids attend different schools.
• Northside residents value a wide range of attributes when selecting a school for their children. Feedback on the facility utilization plan seemed to disproportionately focus on the school location/neighborhood proximity issue. Residents value safety, academic programming, school and classroom size, transportation access/options and high-quality educators. (23% of Northside families select PPS schools outside of the Northside and 37% select non-PPS schools)

The One Northside Education Committee proposed exploring a collaborative process with Pittsburgh Public Schools to:

• Gather representative and comprehensive feedback from Northside residents on the best facility for the new Middle School.
• Design and reopen Northview Heights elementary school.
• Ensure every Northside school offers high-quality learning and opportunity.
• Increase resident access to accurate and timely information about PPS plans and vision for Northside schools to decrease the number of families selecting non-PPS schools for their children.

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If you are interested in joining the One Northside Education Committee, please send us an email.

Helpful Links

To help you find information easily, below are links to documents and information shared by the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

• District Feasibility Report (presented February 25, 2025)
• PPSERSFUPFeasibility-North2
• ERS Consultant Northside Specific Plan

• ERS Consultant Proposed Plan (presented October 15, 2024)
• ERS Special Schools Proposal
• District’s Facilities Utilization website

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Meet the School Board Directors for the Northside Community

District 2 – Devon Taliaferro

Northside neighborhoods represented in District 2:

• Spring Hill
• East Allegheny
• Spring Garden
• Fineview
• Troy Hill

Northside Schools:

• Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8
• Pittsburgh Spring Hill K-5
• Pittsburgh Spring Garden Early Childhood Center

Ms. Taliaferro can be reached by email at dtaliaferro1@pghschools.org.

District 8 – Dwayne Barker

Northside neighborhoods represented in District 8:

• Manchester
• Central Northside
• Northview Heights
• North Shore
• Chateau
• California-Kirkbride
• Allegheny Center
• Allegheny West

Northside Schools:

• Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5
• Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8
• Pittsburgh King PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Clayton
• Pittsburgh Conroy
• Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy

Mr. Barker can be reached by email at dbarker1@pghschools.org.

District 9 – Gene Walker

Northside neighborhoods represented in District 9

• Observatory Hill
• Brighton Heights
• Perry Hilltop
• Marshall-Shadeland
• Summer Hill

Northside Schools:

• Pittsburgh Morrow PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Perry High School

Mr. Walker can be reached by email at gwalker1@pghschools.org.

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