Procedures for Testifying at Public Hearings

A regular public hearing for citizens’ comments on agenda items and other school matters is held each month. The public hearing is normally held on the Monday before the Legislative Meeting of each month at 6:00 p.m.

In addition, special public hearings are scheduled as needed.  During the COVID-19 emergency, Public Hearings will be held virtually with the opportunity for public comment as described below.

Speakers will personally give their testimony via Zoom.  Speakers will receive a link to join the meeting via email.  Please do not share this link with others.

If you are unable to read your own testimony, you may submit your testimony to lgetty1@pghschools.org.  Your testimony will be forwarded to the Board of Directors.

Members of the public are invited to view the Public Hearing, which will be streamed live.  You can view the live stream of the public hearing by clicking this link.   

Detailed instructions on how to participate in the Zoom meeting can be found here.

Hearings will be conducted under the following procedures:

1. All speakers must be School District (City of Pittsburgh or Mt. Oliver) residents, or:
   • Anyone having registered a legitimate interest* in a contemplated action of the Board 
   • Anyone representing a group in the community or School District
   • Any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the School District
   • Any District employee
   • Any District student 
2. Requests to speak at the Public Hearing will be accepted beginning one week prior to the date of the hearing until noon of the day of the hearing. Register to speak by completing the Public Hearing Request Form. Anyone needing help completing the online form can contact Laura Getty for assistance at 412-529-3868.
3. Speakers will be scheduled in the order registrations are received.  
4. Speakers will personally give their testimony.  Each speaker will be limited to three minutes of testimony.
5. Speakers should submit their written testimony to Laura Getty at Lgetty1@pghschools.org.
6. A speaker may not relinquish his or her allotted time to another. 
7. All speakers, regardless of their viewpoint, are entitled to the courtesy of speaking without interruption from those who might disagree. Failure to extend this courtesy could result in removal from the public hearing or adjournment of the meeting.
8. Signs are not permitted at public hearings.
9. Speakers who arrive late to the Public Hearing will be given the opportunity to present their testimony after all the speakers’ names have been announced.

*The District reserves the right to determine if the registered interest is legitimate for any non-School District resident.