PPS Board President Walker stuck in one-vote gridlock

Gene Walker (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource) New board members support the district’s plan to close some schools but push for increased transparency and greater community engagement in the process. Consolidation’s most prominent supporter was stuck in a nail-biter. “PublicSource is an independent nonprofit newsroom serving the Pittsburgh region.& Sign up for our free newsletters.” by Lajja Mistry, PublicSource Gene Walker, incumbent Pittsburgh Public Schools board president, was holding onto his seat in a race split by a single vote with less than 3% of votes uncounted as of 11:30 on primary election night. Walker has been vocal about his support for the administration’s plan to reconfigure the school district. His views and approach have met with criticism from families who have sought deeper community engagement before voting on a plan. Walker, on the other hand, has reiterated that the district can move forward sooner. Allie Petonic, a researcher for the United Steelworkers and vying for Walker’s District 1 seat, was the only board candidate who did not fully support the proposed school closures plan and argued that the current community engagement process created barriers for public participation. Allie Petonic was a single vote ahead of District 9 incumbent Walker late...