A North Point Breeze woman who wants the Pittsburgh Public Schools to better communicate with parents captured both parties' nominations last night in the District 1 race for city school board, according to unofficial results.

With all precincts reporting, Sharene Shealey, 37, an air-quality specialist with Reliant Energy, captured the Democratic nomination with about 62 percent of ballots cast, according to the unofficial tally.

Sherry Brooks, 34, of Point Breeze, and Christine Stone, 34, of Squirrel Hill, trailed by substantial margins.

Ms. Shealey cross-filed and was the only candidate on the Republican ballot. "I commit to being open, honest and considerate of all viewpoints in decision-making," she said.

By locking up both nominations, Ms. Shealey almost certainly will sail through the general election and succeed three-term school board member Randall Taylor in December.

Mr. Taylor decided not to seek re-election because he said he's frustrated with district Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and disappointed in other board members, who generally back Mr. Roosevelt's initiatives by a wide margin.

Ms. Shealey believes the academically and financially troubled district has been making progress since Mr. Roosevelt joined the district in August 2005.

But she said Mr. Roosevelt, who angered some parents with the closing of Pittsburgh Schenley High School and other changes, hasn't been a good communicator. She said a lack of parent engagement is one of the district's biggest problems.

Ms. Shealey, the mother of three students in district schools, also cited concerns about the racial achievement gap and questioned whether the city's highest-performing students are pushed hard enough.

Ms. Shealey and Mr. Taylor are black, so the board's racial makeup -- six white members and three black -- would be maintained if she succeeds him.

Four other board members seeking re-election -- Theresa Colaizzi, District 5; Jean Fink, District 7; Floyd "Skip" McCrea, District 9; and Thomas Sumpter, District 3 -- had no ballot opposition.