Ed Reinhardt receiving the Award for Facilities Excellence at the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) Conference being held at Hershey, PA. Pittsburgh Public Schools is one of only 7 districts out of 500 school districts in the State of Pennsylvania to hold this certification. In addition to the award, the District will receive a $500 scholarship for future facilities staff training.
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Over the past month and a half many schools participated in “Dress Down” days when staff and students could opt to dress down for a donation of $1. Other schools had penny drives or sold paper hearts for $1 that were then displayed throughout the school. Many schools partnered with local community organizations in their efforts and most activities were tied into on-going community service projects at the schools.

In addition to fundraisers in the classrooms, a few schools held special benefit events. On the evening of February 26, at Pittsburgh Fulton PreK-5 students and staff hosted an event called “Le Carnival d’Haiti a Fulton: Hommage Bien Meriter aux Bienfaiteurs” (The Haitian Carnival at Fulton: A Tribute for All). The school, which houses a French International Studies program, collected hygiene articles to benefit Haiti relief. The evening included Haitian music and food, a parade and a tribute by the students to the special guests of the night which included a representative from Governor Ed Rendell’s office and a number of doctors and volunteers who had been involved in the care of the Haitian children who were brought to Pittsburgh.

In addition to events organized by the schools, there was also a special District-wide fundraising event for Haiti. The idea was proposed by a District family and February 19, 2010 was designated “Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Hearts for Haiti Day.” On this day students and staff who chose to participate were asked to voluntarily donate $1.