How come the only options for a "Yes" vote are "I do not sent my children to either" and "but it's not as bad as people think"? How about just a plain "Yes" ?

Just another reason why I object to Woodland Hills raising taxes -- and why this merger was a terrible idea from the start. Statistics say it all.

If Wilkinsburg Schools were to merge into any school district, it should be Penn Hills. Many, many Wilkinsburg kids over the years have lied about their addresses, used Grandma's address or a friend's address, so they could go to Penn Hills and they did.
Penn Hills has so much more to offer, It wouldn't be the end of the world. It would be better for the kids, maybe not better for the school district as a whole but I think it would give all the kids a boost up morally and academically. Some years back, my son went to Wilkinsburg, until the upper grades. Junior high was unspeakably awful. High school - I pulled him out.

I hope every Woodland Hills school board member sees this study and article. Maybe it make them truly understand why parents of Woodland Hills Academy students, like myself, do not want to send their kids to the regular junior high and want 7th & 8th grade kept at the Academy.

I don't subscribe to many surveys. I trust my eyes and ears. Thanks to generous invitations from various principals and teachers, I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting Dickson, Edgewood, Fairless, Shaffer, Wilkins, the Junior High and High School. My husband and I are confident in our decision to send our son to the Junior High this coming year and we resent anyone who would imply that we are not doing right by him. Still angry about the merger which occurred in 1981? Seriously? The poets Don Henley and Glenn Frey said it best: Get Over It.

And Woodland has the nerve to increase taxes....

Tara, I applaud your deision to use the public schools. Both of our children went to the Woodland Hills Schools and their education experience was the best. The were actively involved in the band and the many other activities that the district has to offer. In my opinion they were very prepared both academically and socially to move forward with their post education and now in their chosen careers. What makes the schools is the residents sending their children to the public school. We are paying taxes and we should want our schools to be the best. I know many of the decitated teachers and some administrtors in the district who are there for us. Good luck. I wish more residents would take advantage of our school system.

I too have 2 children who graduated from Woody High (with high honors and in the gifted programs since grade 3) and am sick and tired of all the bad publicity. My kids were involved in sports, academic clubs, band, etc. How about some good publicity coming out of the district for once...Gene Kelly Awards, hard work fundraising for band trips, academic scholarships (not only sport scholarships). My kids have never had any problems in school and will be ready for the outside world, not living in a bubble and totally unprepared for people and situations they cannot handle. What about all the recent problems at Hempfield and assaults/rapes at Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair...all bad publicity for these schools get swept under the rug and into the back sections of papers/news. We were always very involved with our kids, their schools, teachers, activities, etc. and this is very important also. These surveys don't mean a thing to the people who know the real issues and can hold their heads high knowing their kids had a good education, made great friends, loved their teachers/administrators and vice versa and weren't pampered and unprepared for the "real" world. I, myself, graduated from Wilkinsburg High School in 1978 and know a little about trouble situations/schools, etc. and I can say proudly that my kids went to double U, double 0, d,y - Woody High! Don't knock it till you try it!

Why are the facts that Woodland Hills graduates obtain MILLIONS of dollars of ACADEMIC scholarships/year, that the great majority go on to college/universities, trade schools and the military; that since 1981 Woodland Hills graduates go on to become successful, law abiding citizens who are giving back to their communities not making the front page? How about that the Mock Trial team goes to states, the musicals/band programs win honors? That teams participate in the Science Olympiad? How about the students who work hard, win athletic scholarships and mentor younger students? Why don't we speak to good? The majority of teachers who work to change students' lives; who see in them what they can't see in themselves? Why are the student run fundraisers to help those in need so easily discounted? THOSE are the RULE not the exception in Woodland Hills. We have a lot of good here in the East. Yes, there are problems and have been problems. But there are ways to overcome them. The expansion of the Wolverine Promise program is a start. And, yes, there will need to be changes in the District. Start by supporting the schools that are working (as what happened with EP); work with our State reps to change the configuration of how funds go from the District to charter schools; volunteer time and talents to bring positive change. Negativism/complacency is a social malignancy. The effort each one of us puts into our community/District will define its success or failure.

Paul, Judy and Pat: thank you! Not only for your unconditional support of our District but for having the courage to list your first and last names with your comments. Although reading your words has left me with a stuff neck from all the nodding! I see my full time job after wife and mother is to do everything in my power to spread the word of all the positives in our District and work with all shareholders to come up with plans to strengthen our schools and communities. We nine board members can't do it alone. When we start having meetings in August to plan for the 2013-14 school year, I hope you will join us. Again, thank you. People like you are another reason I am so proud to be part of the WHSD. Whatever it takes, our kids are worth it!!

Thanks, Tara. My support for the School District isn't unconditional. It has been earned by what I have observed and participated in and from the education my children and neighbor's children have received from dedicated teachers at Woodland Hills. The School Board is under the same pressure the municipal governments are, how to do more with less in a shrinking economy--How to support what is working and realize what is not and change it and engage community members in sharing their talents and ideas. I didn't support the EP proposal because it was going to dismantle a school that was working, in order to expand a program needed by the district. I didn't believe we needed to settle for an Either/or proposition. When it was brought to the attention of parents and fellow elected representatives, a solution was found. There will be times when we have to decide based on "either/or" but we need to be prudent about that. We WANT to have schools that are working, and we need to look at why they are and how we can duplicate that. I appreciate your hearing us, and those Board members who saw that we were there in support of the District and its success. The local governments met with the District at InterCouncil meetings. I hope we will begin those again. Working together with the focus on quality education, with willingness to put past obstacles behind us we can succeed.

AS a mom of a rising senior, I can say that Woodland Hills gets a bad rap repeatedly from people who are thinking it was like it was several years ago. I am proud that my son CHOSE to go to Woody when he could have gone to a private high school. The education he is getting is not limited to the classroom. He is learning how to comport himself in the world. There are problems in EVERY school district. Woody gets into the news for the negative stuff because well, negativity sells.There is so much good that happens at the high school. Band camp is in full swing, rifle team is practicing, soccer and football are getting into full swing, kids are talking about their summer reading lists and are wondering what classes they will have. Sounds like a typical high school to me. I strongly believe that if you think Woodland Hills School district is violent set up a visit to any of the schools. What you see may be a pleasant surprise. But if you chose not to see for yourself, do you really have anything to say? Just wondering.