Auditor General DePasquale Applauds Pittsburgh City School District Decision Ending Quest to Acquire Insolvent August Wilson Center

February 27 2014

Auditor General DePasquale Applauds Pittsburgh City School District Decision Ending Quest to Acquire Insolvent August Wilson Center

HARRISBURG (Feb. 27, 2014) — Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today praised a decision by the financially-struggling School District of Pittsburgh to stop pursuing plans to acquire the debt-ridden August Wilson Center for African American Culture.

“Sometimes our hopes and dreams need to be based in reality. The reality is the taxpayers of Pittsburgh cannot afford this enormous debt. It is great to know that district leaders are thinking creatively about the future and perhaps, with assistance from a private-sector donor, such a creative idea could be pursued in down the road,” DePasquale said.

“Right now the Pittsburgh public school system is facing some enormous challenges. The focus must be on improving performance in the classroom and addressing potentially crushing financial projections,” DePasquale said.
In January, DePasquale publicly questioned plans to acquire the center, saying the district could not afford to assume million of dollars in debt from the insolvent cultural center when the district was projected to run out of money and face bankruptcy in 2016.

DePasquale said he hopes an audit of the city schools, which is now underway, will help local leaders design a blueprint for academic success and prevent financial collapse.

“I believe there is a tremendous opportunity for success if everyone works together and stays focused,” DePasquale said. “We owe it to our children. Their future is at stake.”

# # #