Just one year into his tenure at Pittsburgh Public Schools, the superintendent said his goals for the new school year include reforming the ongoing issue of suspensions.
Speaking to campers and students at King Elementary School on the North Side, Superintendent Anthony Hamlet discussed his plans for the district’s future.
“There's no program that can compete with the resources we have available here for Pittsburgh Public School students. Moving forward we'll begin to see those changes in our curriculum and in support for our children. I see our enrollment going up in the coming years,” Hamlet said.
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After a rocky start to his job that included questions about his resume and the process by which he was hired, Hamlet has focused on ways to improve services for students in the district.
On Wednesday, he also discussed adding librarians and school nurses, getting more support for guidance counselors and social workers, and improving students' reading and math skills.
Hamlet said he’s also pushing to reform the growing problem of student suspensions.
“I think every educator and every citizen doesn't want students suspended. But just stopping suspensions is not stopping the kids’ problems they may have,” Hamlet said.
He said work groups consisting of teachers, principals and parents are being formed to evaluate the problem, which will be presented to the school board in December. He also discussed updating the English and language arts curriculum for the first time in a decade.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.