Not even a bomb threat could keep parents from voicing their dissatisfaction with the proposed plan to redistrict the City of Pittsburgh schools.

Throughout the week, the Pittsburgh School Board held neighborhood meetings to discuss its plan to reassign students closer to their homes. The meetings have often led to emotional, contentious interactions between parents and school board members. In fact, during Thursday's meeting at Westinghouse High School, parents chose to ignore a bomb threat and continue the argumentative meeting in the auditorium. (A bomb squad had earlier investigated the telephoned threat, which proved to be a hoax.)

The proposed plan would divide the district into nine clusters, each centered around a high school with elementary and middle schools "feeding" into it. Plan supporters believe it will strengthen parents' involvement in their neighborhood schools. Opponents, however, fear the plan will return segregation to the school district and threaten the successful magnet school programs.

Following this week of often-angry interaction, it seems likely that the original plan will be changed to some degree. Although Board President Ron Suber continues to support the plan, he indicated that there may be adjustments based on parents' recommendations, including implementing the plan in phases rather than in its entirety this fall.

Other developments also indicate that changes will be made to the proposed plan. Two school directors have announced that they want it scrapped altogether. And, next week, the board will decide whether to table the purchase of a Brighton Heights building, which would be needed to implement the proposed redistricting.

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