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Haley, 13, is a seventh-grader at Arlington Middle School, which is set to close its doors for good when the school year ends June 15, part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools' plan to erase a $36.5 million budget deficit by closing schools.
'I'm kind of upset. We didn't really get to go through (next) year. We have some pretty good memories of the school,' Haley said.
In December, the school board approved a $441 million budget for 2001 that raised property taxes 20 percent and will close eight schools this year. Three more schools are set to close in 2002.
As a result of the closings, district officials have redrawn school attendance patterns and reassigned more than 1,000 students. Parents learned in April where their children will go to school, and over the past several weeks, parents and school staff have been working to ease the transition for children.
Activities have varied from school to school, but in just about every case, children are scheduled to visit their new schools and meet with their new teachers and future classmates.
'We want the kids to not be anxious over the summer about their new school,' said Harold Goldman, principal of West Side Traditional Academy in the West End.
Children who attend West Side, a magnet elementary school, may transfer to Allegheny Traditional Academy on the North Side, enroll in Westwood Elementary School or return to their home school.
Children who go to Allegheny will be paired up with a 'buddy,' another student who will show them the ropes at their new school, Goldman said.
'Elementary school children are often very tuned into particulars. For example, where is my locker going to be⢠Will I have to walk far from class to class⢠Am I going to be safe?,' said Janet Yuhasz, co-coordinator of the school district's student-assistance program.
'The middle school and the high school kids are kind of at an age where they don't talk a whole heck of a lot about it,' Yuhasz said.
Adolescents are less concerned with their physical surroundings and more worried about whether they will be able to make friends, Yuhasz said.
'I don't want it to close because I'll miss my friends,' said Sean Kaho, a seventh-grader at Arlington.
On Friday, Arlington students, staff and some parents gathered in the social hall of St. Henry's Church next door. They held a closing ceremony that included a slide show and a time capsule that was filled with memorabilia and each student's description of their favorite memory of the school.
Arlington students have been assigned to Prospect Middle School in Mt. Washington. Arlington Principal Valerie Merlo assured students they will enjoy their new school as much as they have the old.
'This really isn't something to be afraid of. It's just like here when you started your first day of school here. It's a change, and change is hard. It's hard for everybody.'
Parents need to talk to their children about the changes, find out what their concerns are and reassure them that everything is going to be OK, said Emie Tittnich, a child mental-health specialist at the University of Pittsburgh.
'I think the important thing is that parents can give the impression that adults are in control, not in control as far as the schools closing, but that someone knows where they're going to be Monday morning and Tuesday morning,' Tittnich said.
Michelle Wolfe said her son, Harry, 12, a sixth-grader at Arlington, is getting used to the idea of a new school.
'He is. I'm not. I'm worried about if he gets sick, how will I bring him home?' Wolfe said.
Harry can walk to Arlington, but he will have to ride a bus to Prospect. Wolfe said she has visited Prospect and was pleased with the school's staff. Harry will visit next week.
'He's excited because they have a pool.'
Jonathan Potts can be reached at jpotts@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7900.
