School board votes 8-1 for superintendent
-
Linda Lane
Share with others:
The Pittsburgh Board of Public Education Monday selected Linda Lane, the No. 2 ranking city school administrator, as the district's new superintendent.
Dr. Lane, 60, will take the helm of the district of approximately 25,300 students on Jan. 1. The vote Monday night was 8-1.
She succeeds Mark Roosevelt, who was the superintendent for more than five years. In October, he announced he was leaving Pittsburgh at the end of this month to become president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Her appointment makes her the first black woman to serve as permanent superintendent of Pittsburgh schools.
Dr. Lane is deputy superintendent of instruction, assessment and accountability and was picked by Mr. Roosevelt four years ago.
Dr. Lane received a standing ovation from school board members following Monday night's vote.
"We are very, very lucky to have you," board President Sherry Hazuda told Dr. Lane.
"She's talented. She's open-minded. She will listen to people. She is solution-oriented," Ms. Hazuda said later in discussing why she considered Dr. Lane the obvious choice. "I've never heard her raise her voice."
Board member Bill Isler said the district has "gained a phenomenal leader tonight. You are the right person."
It would be "hypocritical, contradictory [and] selfish to vote for anything other than the appointment of Dr. Lane," said member Thomas Sumpter.
"Welcome to the hot seat," board member Jean Fink said.
"I'm very excited. I'm very humbled and pleased, and ready to serve," Dr. Lane told reporters after her selection.
Board member Mark Brentley Sr. cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he would have preferred a national search for a new school chief.
First Published December 14, 2010 12:00 am
