Franklin Regional School District's Gennaro Piraino says he's using his platform as Pennsylvania's 2019 Superintendent of The Year to elevate discussion about school security in Pennsylvania. Tuesday marks five years since a sophomore student used knives to injure 20 other students and a security guard at Franklin Regional High School.
Piraino, who was appointed to a school safety and security committee commissioned last year by Governor Tom Wolf, says it's critical schools receive an established framework for conducting basic safety and security checks, measuring preparedness and applying for grants that could help offset the cost of relevant help and technology.
Piraino joins 90.5 WESA’s Maria Scapellato for The Confluence to talk about how to balance those goals while keeping students focused less on inherent dangers and more on their education.
Later in the program:
People who need fitness are often the ones least likely to seek out assistance, says fitness trainer James Rounds. In addition to operating a private gym, he also maintains community-based fitness programs through his nonprofit, One-On-One Fitness and Training. He spoke with 90.5 WESA’s Elaine Effort about helping people develop healthy habits.
And good food can be found in every neighborhood in Pittsburgh, but how easy is it to find a woman or a person of color leading the restaurant? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette food writer Melissa McCart is exploring the topic through a conversation Monday evening at City of Asylum on the North Side. “I wanted to create an environment that allowed for women restauranteurs to talk about why and what obstacles they might have confronted or might not have confronted.” McCart says. She joins 90.5 WESA’s Megan Harris to talk about inclusivity among restauranteurs, as well as a new project focused on social justice food writing. McCart is working with former New York Times food writer Mark Bittman on the yet-to-be-renamed online vertical.
UPDATED: 11:02 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2019. 90.5 WESA's Meg Fair, Mick Stinelli and Julia Zenkevich contributed to this program.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in weekdays at 9 a.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
