School Board Sees Plans for International Classrooms at Pine-Richland H.S.

Pine-Richland School Board directors got their first look Monday at specific plans to design, build and fund international classrooms at

Led by social studies teacher Matt Roberts and high school librarian Lauren Super, a committee made up of teachers, parents, representatives of the school board, Chatham University and the Pittsburgh’s World Affairs Council has been working on the project since April. 

In addition to many meetings, the committee visited and met with the director of the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh, and visited Sacred Heart School in Shadyside, which has a similar international classrooms program. 

Roberts told the board the benefits of exposing students to diverse cultures are immense.

“The research is overwhelming that diverse planning experiences leads to creative problem-solving, increased depth of understanding, improved school climate, and better preparation for secondary education,” he said. 

The committee concentrated on three key issues: determining which cultures will be represented, room design and construction, and funding. 

In selecting cultures, the committee is asking the school board to approve an online survey. 

“We felt that it was very important that this was something that was done in a very calculated fashion,” said Super. “That this wasn’t anything subjective.” 

Among other things, the survey will gauge community interest in a particular culture, the representation of that culture within Pine and Richland townships and the current school curriculum, and the availability of funding. 

As a prototype for one of the international classrooms, students at Chatham University’s Interior Architecture department have drawn up plans and construction documents for a German room. 

“These are very innovative, high-technology designs that still represent a traditional culture,” said Super. “And as is done at the University of Pittsburgh, in any of these rooms, no one political ideology or religion would be given preference in the design. These are to represent the entire German culture. We’re not looking to make any political or religious statements with the designs of these rooms.” 

Super said the structure of the classroom would not change and it would remain highly functional with 21st-century technology. The culture would be represented in the selection of cabinets; furniture; wall, ceiling and floor treatments; murals; arts and artifacts; lighting; and enhancements to doors and windows. 

Landau Building Co. has agreed to provide cost estimates based on the Chatham students’ designs. 

No tax dollars will be used for the international classrooms project. The committee will seek funding from corporate and nonprofit foundations. 

The next step is up to the school board; no action was taken at Monday's meeting.

The committee is asking the board to approve the creation and distribution of the online survey, allow it proceed with the design of the rooms, and approve the establishment of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to seek funding.