Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Public testimony split as Pittsburgh SD hears 3 Rivers Wildflower Montessori charter application
Summary
At a Dec. 16 special public hearing, supporters urged the Pittsburgh SD board to approve the 3 Rivers Wildflower Montessori charter to expand access to Montessori education; opponents warned charters can divert special‑education funding and urged expanding Montessori within the district. The board will review the full application before deciding.
Stephanie Dobbs Lapine, founder and CEO of the proposed 3 Rivers Wildflower Montessori Charter School, asked the Pittsburgh SD board on Dec. 16 to approve her application to create a tuition‑free, high‑fidelity Montessori option for city families.
"This application is not about ideology. It is not about competition. It is about access," Lapine said in her seven‑minute presentation, describing a phased enrollment plan, conservative budgeting and explicit accountability measures for academic and financial performance.
Supporters — parents, a student and community leaders — described positive classroom experiences with Lapine and urged the board to allow the charter to open. Parent Dave Carlton said he trusted Lapine as a teacher and credited her with his child's academic gains. Student Belle Carson, speaking as a fifth‑year Montessori pupil, said she wants a full‑time Montessori…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
