Pittsburgh Fulton PTA & PSCC

Last night hurts. There is no way around that.

Many of us spent the last two years fighting for Fulton because we know exactly what this school means to our children, our families, and this community. Fulton is a place where every child feels seen and that magic doesn’t stop because of this vote. Our resilience is part of the fabric of this school. The reason so many of us fought, testified, organized, emailed, protested, and showed up over and over again is because we believed our kids deserved better than a process that often felt rushed, predetermined, and performative.

We know it is hard to find hope right now but our voices still matter and can still make a difference in how this transition plan is carried out. Many of us continue to believe this plan is unrealistic and leaves serious unanswered questions for students, families, and staff. Since the board voted to move forward with this decision, it is now our responsibility to hold both the board and the district accountable for every commitment they made (or didn’t think through) during this process.

Fulton has long been more than just a school building. For generations, it has been part of the fabric of this neighborhood and a place deeply connected to community. That legacy matters. The relationships built here, the pride carried through these halls, and the sense of belonging so many families found at Fulton cannot simply be measured in reports or enrollment numbers.

We all know the vote did not go the way we hoped, and the Fulton PTA wants to take a moment to thank the incredible people who stood beside this community throughout this fight. Thank you to our fierce Fulton advocate and Board Director Devon Taliaferro, 412 Justice & Education Rights Network - for giving us a place we felt acknowledged and seen when the district did not provide that space, the Highland Park Community Council - for cheering us on and sharing information, and to our former PTA President Rebecca who never gave up on us, also our parent and student advocates, community organizers, neighbors, and every single person who used their voice to fight for our students and public education. Your time, energy, compassion, and persistence mattered deeply.

We also want to thank Fulton's teachers and staff for being a steady source of care, stability, and support for our children through an incredibly difficult and uncertain time.

We won’t sugarcoat it. This vote sucks
but we want to remind Fulton families of something important…

Fulton is still Fulton.

The teachers who love our kids are still here.
The friendships our children built are still here.
The community that doesn’t stop showing up is still here.

For families feeling scared right now, we understand. But we cannot let fear drive an exodus from a school that continues to do incredible things for students every single day. Our children deserve stability, joy, friendship, and consistency next year. They deserve classrooms full of familiar faces and adults who know them well.

One of the bright spots of this painful process was watching our community rise up together.

Tonight’s Spring Carnival gives us an opportunity to be together, to laugh, and to remember why we fought so hard. DJ Dolla Bill can cheer anyone up. Just ask your kids! Dance party starts at 5 pm.

And next, we hold this district accountable for every promise they made about transparency, support, transition planning, and protecting students. We will not allow them to overlook us.

Thank you for being a part of the magic that is Fulton.

The NAACP Pittsburgh Branch released a powerful statement about the School Closure and Reconfiguration plan. Thank you for standing with us and asking for more from the district before rushing through a plan that is not complete. You can read the statement below.

pittsburgh-naacp.org

Reminders for the week Fulton Families,
The Scholastic Book Fair starts today through May 29th.

The easiest way to let your child shop the Fair independently is by creating an eWallet. It's easy to set up and easy for others to add funds.

Create an eWallet, and you'll also have the opportunity to contribute to Share the Fair - the giving program that supports students at our school who need help buying books. Please consider participating so that no child leaves the fair empty handed.

Here’s the link with more details:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/pittsburghfultonelemschool

Also, tonight is the rally and public hearing before the board votes on the school closure plan. You may testify over zoom but you have to register before noon today.

https://pghboe.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3t2rKx6cJ1tqT1Y

And finally Spring Fling/Carnival is this Thursday. The Fulton teachers and staff have outdone themselves this year. We hope to see you there.

PPS Public Hearing Request PPS Public Hearing Request

Fulton Families, Tonight the Board sits down to discuss the Agenda for school closures. Here is the link to watch it live at 6:30 pm this evening. If you still have questions, let them know. Emails below.

Superintendent
Dr. Wayne Walters
[email protected]

Board Directors
Gene Walker
[email protected]
Dr. Tracey Reed
[email protected]
Erikka Grayson
[email protected]
Tawana Cook Purnell
[email protected]
Dwayne Barker
[email protected]
Devon Taliaferro
[email protected]
Eva Diodatie
[email protected]
Emma Yourd
[email protected]
Yael Silk
[email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/live/C-DirTrSrTo

The district has finally released ESY sites and information. See below. If you have questions, reach out to Ms. McIntyre or your IEP team.

🌞📚 Pittsburgh Public Schools Extended School Year (ESY) 2026 is almost here!

From July 6–24, students across PPS will engage in enriching academic, therapeutic, vocational, and community-based learning experiences designed to support their individualized goals and continued growth.

This summer’s programming will include:
✅ Reading, math, communication & socialization support
✅ Community-based instruction & vocational education
✅ Daily living and independence skills
✅ Exciting partnerships with organizations like the Pittsburgh Zoo, Playnotes, Attack Theatre, OpenUp Yoga, Pittsburgh Fire Department, and more!

We’re proud to provide engaging, student-centered opportunities that help our learners build confidence, independence, and real-world skills all summer long. 💙🖤

FULTON COMMUNITY UPDATE

First, we want to thank 412 Justice for the enormous amount of time, organizing, education, and community engagement they have invested into this process over the last two years. Their newly released community report reflects what many Fulton families have been saying for a long time: communities deserve to be heard BEFORE decisions this large are finalized.

We also want to acknowledge and thank Devon Taliaferro for consistently showing up for the Fulton community throughout this process. Director Taliaferro hosted a Fulton listening session last fall, regularly attends Fulton events, engages directly with families, and has continued to maintain an open door to constituents even during difficult conversations. Whether people agree or disagree on every aspect of this plan, families deserve accessible leadership and genuine community engagement. We sincerely wish more members of the board and the district administration had invested in this level of visibility, communication, and relationship-building with impacted school communities.

What stood out most to us in the report was how specifically it captured what makes Fulton special.

The Fulton section highlights:
• our culture of inclusion and acceptance
• small class sizes and personalized supports
• strong support for students with disabilities
• low staff turnover
• strong academic outcomes
• positive student behavior supports
• the sense of safety, warmth, and belonging families feel here
• the value of Fulton’s French magnet program

One parent described Fulton as:
“a warm and safe place” where “the principal knows every single kid in the building.”

Another parent shared:
“I know I keep saying community, but there's so many facets to the community. It's not just the teachers, it's not just the students, it's the neighborhood, the teachers, the students, all of it together.”

The report also raised major concerns that many Fulton families continue to have about:
• overcrowding and larger class sizes
• transportation and student safety
• transition planning
• impacts on students with IEPs and vulnerable learners
• preserving successful school cultures and programs
• lack of clarity about staffing and supports

One of the clearest takeaways from the report is this:
Families are not saying they oppose all change. They are asking for a process that is transparent, collaborative, thoughtful, and centered on students and neighborhoods.

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:
• Attend the 412 Justice Community Rally on Tuesday 5/26 at 5 PM
• Testify at the Final Public Hearing on Tuesday 5/26 at 6 PM
• Submit written testimony to the Board
• Email PPS Board members directly
• Share your family’s story publicly
• Sign and share the petition at 412justice.org
• Encourage friends, neighbors, alumni, and community members to stay engaged

Families may testify in person, via Zoom, or submit written testimony.

Read the full report here:
412 Justice Community Report and sign the petition. Links in comments.

FULTON COMMUNITY UPDATE

The PPS Board is expected to vote on the proposed school closure plan on May 27.

Fulton would remain open during the 2026–2027 school year. The newest version of the plan now formally includes a transition year before proposed closures would take effect.

If the board votes yes, that gives us a year to push for a better transition plan because right now, there isn’t enough consideration around these children. The sooner the district hears from you, the better!

We know many families are overwhelmed trying to follow all of the moving pieces, and we know the district is not sharing enough, so we wanted to share some updates. The district could have made an effort to inform parents at Take Your Father to School Day. It is one of the highest attended events of the year. Them choosing not to is telling.

Please remember this. Even if decisions feel predetermined, public pressure still matters. Community advocacy has already changed timelines, shifted conversations, and forced transparency around issues that were not being fully addressed.

For many of us, this fight has never just been about a building. It’s about protecting inclusive public education, preserving school communities, and making sure students, especially students with disabilities and high-needs learners, are not treated as an afterthought in this process.

We encourage families to:
• Submit testimony
• Email board members
• Attend hearings and rallies if able
• Share accurate information
• Continue supporting our staff and students through an incredibly difficult time

The district continues to frame the plan around:
• declining enrollment
• building utilization
• budget concerns
• consolidating students into fewer buildings
• reinvesting resources into academics and programming

At the same time, many families, educators, and advocacy groups continue raising concerns about:
• lack of detailed transition plans
• impacts on students with IEPs and high-needs learners
• transportation and overcrowding concerns
• preserving school communities and staff relationships
• whether transitions can realistically happen well within one year

Additional community resources explaining the plan and proposed closures:

Fulton Closure Information:
pittsburgh-parents.com/pps-fulton-closure

Simple Breakdown of the Future Ready Plan:
pittsburgh-parents.com/pps-future-ready-facilities-plan-facts-2026

412 Justice has also released organizing materials and talking points encouraging families to speak out before the final vote.

IMPORTANT DATES:

412 Justice Community Rally
Tuesday, May 26 at 5 PM. We will post the community event. You can rsvp and reach out if you need rides.

Final Public Hearing
Tuesday, May 26 at 6 PM
Families may testify in person, via Zoom, or submit written testimony.

Final PPS Board Vote
Wednesday, May 27

If you cannot attend hearings or rallies, families are also encouraged to email the Board directly and share their experiences. Some community members are encouraging parents to submit short videos of students sharing what their school community means to them.

PPS Superintendent & Board Contact Information:
Superintendent:
Dr. Wayne Walters
[email protected]
Board Directors:
Gene Walker — [email protected]
Dr. Tracey Reed — [email protected]
Erikka Grayson — [email protected]
Tawana Cook-Purnell — [email protected]
Dwayne Barker — [email protected]
Devon Taliaferro — [email protected]
Eva Diodati — [email protected]
Emma Yourd — [email protected]
Yael Silk — [email protected]

No matter where people stand, one thing is clear: these decisions will impact real students, families, teachers, and neighborhoods for years to come.

Thank you to everyone continuing to stay informed, engaged, and supportive of Fulton’s students and staff during an incredibly difficult process.

What a week at Fulton!

We kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week with breakfast on Monday, followed by a “Baby Loves Tacos” lunch midweek, and wrapped it all up today with a little “Treat Yo’ Self” celebration because our teachers deserve all the candy, candles, flowers, snacks, gift cards, and love for everything they pour into our kids each and every day.

Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and helped us celebrate the staff that keeps Fulton shining.

And a huge thank you to all the dads, grandpas, uncles, and caregivers who showed up for Take Your Father/Special Person to School Day. Seeing the halls filled with families this morning was such a special reminder of the incredible community surrounding our students.

Fulton truly does a lot with a little — and it’s because of people like you. ❤️🖤

Hello Fulton Families! This is a reminder that we are hosting our 28th annual Take a Father to School Day on Friday, May 15 from 10:15am-12:00pm. All fathers, uncles, and male mentors, along with all caregivers and important role models, are welcome!

You can take your student home with you after this event however, no students will be released to any adult, unless they are on the student's emergency care form OR you send in a note giving permission for your child to leave with someone else. Students MUST BE SIGNED OUT at their homeroom.

We hope to see you tomorrow, Friday, May 15 at 10:15am!