About us

We are a collaborating group of Parents and other interested community members who agree that the Pittsburg Unified school district [K-12] has been over time decaying to the point of dysfunction. We are interested in doing what it takes to get the educational system in this town back on track through direct involvement of Pittsburg Parents.


The Problem

In short, statewide testing is necessary to the district and to the state for funding purposes. Accordingly so must all the other aspect of education. Teaching to the test is a great way to improve the test scores and save jobs. However it is disastrous for our children. Over the last few years schools have been laying off fundamental foundational elements of elementary school education such as penmanship, history and even science.

 

In some cases, schools like Heights elementary have even decided to horde textbooks rather than allow the students to take them home. So the kids transport stacks of photocopies of pages without any resource text to fall back on. This is an exercise in futility, as students are not sent home with class work or notebooks. The method (if you can call it that) makes it nearly impossible for a parent to participate in curriculum decisions. Parents for whatever reasons are being excluded from the entire decision making process, and at least at Heights, have been consigned to smaller representation as chaperones and fund raisers.

 

We are informed constantly of funding deficiencies and we are never included in the decisions regarding how our children's educations should be handled. We are too often told what will be done and we’re also told (not asked) to accept whatever decisions made at a local level as a fact of life rather than a point of debate. We are never given a choice. We are just expected to fall in line as if this is a welfare program we get for free. This is really unreasonable when you think of it. Your mortgages and rent pay the taxes that support this system. Your family is the only reason it exist. So why are you powerless to complain?

And you are powerless to complain. PUSD is unequipped to handle any serious complaint. They claim that they have no power but what they really mean is YOU have no power. Your taxes and your votes GIVE you power it is time to organize and start SHOWING your strength as PARENTS, TAXPAYERS, and VOTERS AND CITIZENS OF PITSBURG!

Our Goals

Our purpose is to insist that the district change its current methods so that it INCLUDES the opinions and meets the APPROVAL of Pittsburg's parents and teachers.

We are after all, the major players in our children's academic careers.

We hope to empower parents' voices with regard to administrating academics are in the school their child attends. We plan to shake up the district's stale and stagnant policies and ways of looking at education.

Why?

We are losing an unacceptable percentage of our students. The Parent Project wants to affect an evolution in the methodology of teaching. Simply stated we want teachers to be free to teach a fuller lesson plan not just teach to the test.

How can you help?

Join us, we can only reflect the true feelings of the parents if all are in. We promise not to make this into another chore. We simply ask that you meet with us once or twice a month and fully participate.

Send us an email with your name, and a something about your concerns, we will call you back and add you to our members list (that we dont share).

Sorry no prizes just the promise that we will struggle with you to improve the standards education in our public schools. Our focus is to bring the best education we can to your child so that they can realize bigger dreams for themselves.

How does this affect you?

Come talk to us let's figure it out. We don't want to tell you want you need. We want to listen to what you are saying to address your needs. We pay taxes; we vote we contribute to the welfare and development of this town. We should expect a top quality education for our kids. There are so many reasons to want a more powerful voice. Schools should not have complete autonomy without seeking the consent and approval of the parents and teachers. This is a team effort yet parents and teachers are being systematically shut out of the process.

For instance if you're a single parent or working parents, the excessive amounts of vacation time your child receives becomes a checkbook issue. It is presumably cheaper to stay at home and watch your children and lose wages, rather than to hire someone and pay holiday wages for a low income parents. Unfortunately, these days, that means most of us.

We look forward to meeting with parents like you to begin the change.