Putting the "roots" in Grassroots
About the Coalition
In 2003, Pittsburgh citizens watched the school board majority ineffectively lead the school district. A group of citizens in School Board District 2 – including Spring Hill, Troy Hill, Spring Garden, Polish Hill, Lawrenceville, Morningside, Stanton Heights, Washington's Landing and Highland Park - decided the time to watch was over and it was time for action.
Over several months, these citizens recruited over 100 other parents, senior citizens, and young professionals who were also concerned about the future of our public schools. On a blustery winter morning, this diverse coalition met at the East Liberty Branch of the Carnegie Library and listened attentively to the two individuals who were willing to donate their valuable time and energy to the task of providing new leadership for District 2 on the school board. The coalition endorsed Patrick Dowd to represent them in the May primary election. Stephanie Tecza took on the roll of chairperson of the campaign and each member of the coalition pledged to recruit 20 other individuals. A movement was born.
On May 21, 2003, in an incredible upset, Patrick Dowd won both the Democratic and Republican nominations. Patrick has decided to run for City Council and the coalition has again endorsed a coalition candidate...Heather Arnet.
The Coaliton's 2007 endorsed candidate, Heather is a community leader, activist, and mother. Executive director of the Women and Girls Foundation, she is a resident of Highland Park and the mother of a preschool age son. Heather is dynamic, passionate, smart, and committed to working for continued professionalism, increased academic achievement, fiscal responsibility and accountability for both the school board and the superintendent.
Every attempt is made by Coalition organizers to include residents from throughout District 2 in the process. The sole motivation of the Coalition is to support a high quality candidate for school board director for District 2, one who will advocate for a world-class public school system and bring professionalism to our school board.
In the spirit of transparency, the following is an outline of the process used by the District 2 School Board Coalition.
- From September to December, interested candidates are identified through email networking and word of mouth. The only criterion for includes: A desire to oversee meaningful reform; an intention to advocate for our public school children; an ability to maintain a level of professionalism; and an understanding that by participating in the District 2 Coalition endorsement election, the potential candidate agrees to support the candidate elected by the Coalition and not run independently for school board.
- Each candidate completes a comprehensive questionnaire and signs a pledge to support the endorsed Coalition candidate.
- At the January coalition endorsement meeting, each candidate has an opportunity to make a presentation, highlighting his or her personal qualities and policy positions.
- Votes are cast by the Coalition and the District 2 endorsed candidate is chosen. In turn, the candidate pledges to: oversee meaningful reform and advocate for quality public education; not seek employment for any relatives or friends; not to seek contracts for relatives or friends; not micro manage the district; work cooperatively with the Superintendent and staff; and act within board member conduct guidelines supplied by the school board association.
