NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER METRO MARCH 10-16, 2010 A5
Pittsburgh schools expanding tech offerings
by Christian Morrow
adopted. All the academic the district. The capital house will house the will offer courses in build- “credit recovery” site for
Courier Staff Writer
programs in these schools budget for CTE is pro- Health Careers and Culi- ing trades, which includes students who have either
will remain the same. jected at just over $38 nary Arts programs, while HVAC and Welding. It fallen behind or dropped
With the empty hulk of a “The technical skills re- million. Milliones houses the In- will also house the Cosme- out. The center would re-
closed Connolly Technical quired of students to enter Under the new model, formation Technology/- tology program. main open year-round and
School looming over the the workforce today are certain high schools in a Business Finance pro- Brashear will offer may offer multiple time
city, education advocates higher than once re- given region will offer pro- gram. Transportation, which in- frames to accommodate
have long argued that the quired,” said Superinten- grams in Health Careers, In the South/West Re- cludes auto body repair students. Options being
Pittsburgh Public Schools’ dent Mark Roosevelt. Culinary Arts and Infor- gion, which includes Bras- and automotive technol- explored include 8 a.m.-4
focus on preparing stu- “That is why this plan fo- mation Technology/Busi- hear, Carrick and Langley, ogy. Langley will offer Ad- p.m., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and
dents for college left no cuses on creating a new ness Finance. Students in Carrick will house Infor- vance Machine Opera- 12-8 p.m.
career path training for delivery model that pro- those regions would take mation Technology and tions. “The year-round sched-
non-college bound stu- vides access for all our their normal academic Culinary programs, while The district’s Robotics ule, based on student
dents. students to quality CTE classes at their home Langley offers the Health program will be housed in need, builds in time for
The district responded programs that will pre- school and take shuttle Careers program. one of the East Region acceleration and remedia-
with several career-ori- pare students for the pri- buses rather than Port In the North Region, schools, due to their prox- tion,” said Assistant Su-
ented programs, but they ority jobs of today and to- Authority Transit to their which includes Perry and imity to Carnegie Mellon perintendent Derrick
were specific to certain morrow.” CTE programs. The shut- Oliver, Oliver will house and the University of Lopez.
schools and unavailable Roosevelt said the new tle budget is estimated at all three programs where- Pittsburgh. The exact lo- (A comprehensive presentation
on a district-wide basis. regional model will ex- $147,600. as Perry will house the cation has yet to be deter- of the Career and Technical Ed-
That will change if a new pand opportunities and In the East Region, new teachers academy. mined. ucation recommendations is
model for delivering Ca- reduce expenses by maxi- which includes Allderdice, Signature programming Additionally, Oliver available at the district website,
reer and Technical Train- mizing current program- Milliones, Peabody and classes will be offered at would also house a Gate- www.pps.k12pa.us, or by calling
ing, released last week, is ming space throughout Westinghouse, Westing- specific schools. Oliver way Center to serve as the 412-622-7920.)
Smith-Ribner running for lt.-governor as people’s advocate
CONTINUED FROM A1 tors who said I did the right Smith-Ribner said. “Now ference where she heard going to need reforms be-
If she wins she will be
Relations Committee that things. I shifted from inte- all over the nation there’s a firsthand testimony. cause you have to absorb
only the first African-
called for an increase in gration and busing to push for smaller class sizes “I listened to them talk the influx, but the bottom
American woman to serve
busing of Black students to achievement.” and better teachers. It’s about the medical issues line is we can do this.”
as lt.-governor.
White schools. Smith-Rib- Smith-Ribner’s decision something that as a state they face. It just made me
ner’s ultimate decision was has contributed to her per- and a nation we must rec- that much more aware of a
to deny the request and in- sonal focus on quality educa- ognize education is key.” population that we’ve for-
stead focus on improving tion and has made an impact Another priority for gotten,” Smith-Ribner said.
the achievement of the on education policy across Smith-Ribner is ensuring “More and more women are
racially-isolated schools. the nation. Among the best protections for veterans, an going into the service. We’re
“We remember all the practices is mandatory full- issue particularly close to not protecting the people
cases dealing with buses, day kindergarten and stan- her heart due to the many who are protecting us. I’ll
integration, but there were dardized curriculum. veterans in her family. Her tell you the things that
none dealing with achieve- “Many of the initiatives increased concern for vet- these women veterans are
ment. It wasn’t an easy de- coming out of the govern- eran needs and the unique going through will break
cision to make,” Smith-Rib- ment offices are based on plight of women veterans your heart.”
ner said. “I spoke to educa- the decision I made,” was amplified during a con- On the issue of health
care, which has recently
40 young elite to be honored by Courier
shifted focus to reform at
the state level, Smith-Rib-
ner has been a supporter of
a single-payers system that
CONTINUED FROM A1
will ensure all Pennsylvani-
was really surprised. I did
ans have health care. She is
not even know I had been
also in support of necessary
nominated. It is quite an
reforms to reduce health
honor to know what you do
care costs.
is really making a differ-
“Those people who are in-
ence.” He explained that it’s
volved have said we don’t
humbling because one never
have to wait for D.C. Will
thinks that when they’re
we get health care from
doing this work they’re going
Washington this year?
to be recognized.
Hopefully, but there are
Out of many nominations,
people saying we can be the PHOTO BY GAIIL MANKER
only 40 of Pittsburgh’s elite
front-runners,” Smith-Rib-
young Black leaders are
DORIS SMITH-RIBNER
ner said. “Of course you’re
chosen for this prestigious
award. Rod Doss, editor
and publisher of the New
Pittsburgh Courier, said,
“We congratulate the hon-
CHASE PATTERSON JADA GRANDY
orees and are proud of their
leadership and efforts as someone else whether pro- not mean they’re not lead-
they continue to serve in fessionally or in the com- ing or making a significant
our region.” He added that munity.” impact in the community.”
the chosen few are individ- Not only does the award Patterson added that this
uals who have proven their recognize the elite, but award helps rejuvenate the
talents in their area of ex- many agree that the Fab 40 image of young Blacks in
pertise and have been and awards like it prove the region. He also said
highly recommended in the that young Black people are there is a certain responsi-
nomination process. doing positive things in the bility for other individuals
“It is important to ac- community. to support the events and
knowledge that everyone “Awards like this and the activities of the young peo-
has a role to play in the work that the honorees do ple who are doing things in
shaping of our community is proof that positive things the community.
and it is important to recog- are happening and that we For the new and future
nize those who are up-and- are empowering the rest of honorees, Eddie Edwards
coming. They are a part of a our community and people Jr., attorney and agent/rep-
new vanguard that allows can look to the Fab 40 hon- resentative at Burns, White
the community to see their orees as examples for how and Hickton, said, “When
active engagement in help- we can encourage our you are bestowed an honor
ing to shape our commu- youths,” said Jara Dorsey, from a prestigious news-
nity,” said Doss. community outreach spe- paper like the Courier, em-
Like Patterson, Jada cialist for the Carnegie Mu- brace it, share it with those
Grandy, vice president and seum of Art and a 2009 hon- who helped get you there
CRA officer at Fifth Third oree. and be humble.”
Bank and an honoree last Grandy said she feels the Lee Davis, of the Commu-
year, agrees that the Fab 40 highlights those nity Empowerment Associ-
award was an honor and who are not necessarily al- ation and past honoree
added, “It felt good and ways in the forefront, but adds that after the award,
was a humbling experi- who are still making an im- “(honorees should) not only
ence to be recognized for pact in their community. keep working hard but give
things that are second na- “True leaders inspire others back or reach back and
ture to me and that I love and just because they are help someone that is out-
doing—which is making not visible to the commu- side of there normal com-
sure I reach back to help nity or in the forefront does fort zone.”
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26