DUQUESNE, Pa. — Dozens of people attended a community meeting Tuesday night with questions and concerns about the future of the Duquesne City School District as Pennsylvania education officials take a closer look at potentially consolidating with the McKeesport Area School District.
More than a dozen people spoke during the meeting, with nearly every one of them opposing a potential consolidation.
“We need data, we need accountability, and we need people that can answer the question,” one speaker said. “But you have answered not one question tonight.”
Another speaker questioned what a consolidation could mean for younger students who currently attend school within the Duquesne community.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is conducting a state-mandated feasibility study examining Duquesne’s long-term future and the educational, financial, administrative and community impacts of potentially consolidating it with another school district.
Duquesne serves roughly 450 students and operates one K-8 school, according to district spokesperson Jeremy Tepper.
The district has been considered financially distressed for 26 years and is currently in receivership, which is the state’s most restrictive designation for school districts in financial recovery.
The first phase of the feasibility study considered four possible consolidation partners: McKeesport Area, West Mifflin Area, East Allegheny and Pittsburgh Public Schools.
According to the feasibility study conducted by PDE, officials determined McKeesport appears to be the strongest potential partner for further study.
The state’s report found McKeesport presents fewer financial and operational concerns than some of the other districts considered.
It also points to McKeesport’s lower tax rate, career and technical education opportunities and planned high school renovations as potential benefits.
People at Tuesday’s meeting raised questions about a wide range of potential impacts, including teacher-to-student ratios, class sizes, taxes, transportation and possible bus routes.
Several people also expressed concerns about students potentially having to travel outside their community to attend school and whether they would feel safe doing so.
Nickole Nesby, who opposes a potential consolidation, said she believes resources should instead be invested in Duquesne.
“With the violence in our region, our children are afraid that once they go to school, they may not come back,” Nesby said.
Not everyone at the meeting opposed change.
Duquesne School Board member Borton Comensky told Channel 11 that his primary concern is whether students are receiving the education they need.
He said he supports change, whether that ultimately means significant changes within the existing district or a potential merger, he added.
“If these kids do not learn by this and fourth grade, they’re not learning,” Comensky said. “If they don’t learn, then something has to change. It’s not fair to them.”
John Hansen with the Pennsylvania Department of Education said future advisory committees will include representation from both Duquesne City and McKeesport Area school districts.
The committees will include two school board members from each district and two community members from each district, Hansen told Channel 11.
Hansen explained the groups are scheduled to meet five times through the end of the year: twice in September, once in October, once in November and once in December.
Those sessions will take a deeper look at issues that could determine whether a consolidation is feasible, including governance, enrollment, staffing, facilities and educational programs, safety and security, and finances.
The advisory sessions will not be open to the public, though state officials said public feedback will be incorporated into the feasibility study.
Channel 11 asked Hansen who has been selected to serve on the advisory committees. He would not release the names Tuesday night.
The committees are intended to help the state identify issues that could affect a potential consolidation, including staffing and contracts, class sizes, capital plans, local taxes, school facilities and how the districts would be governed.
The next several months of meetings and analysis are intended to determine whether a Duquesne-McKeesport consolidation is feasible.
According to Hansen, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Secretary of Education are expected to make a final recommendation in March 2027.
It wasn’t clear when the district would host another public forum.
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