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Portland Public Schools' principals are urging the School Board to go to voters this November with a proposed $750 million school bond, instead of delaying until May.
At a school board meeting last night, three principals—Cleveland's Tammy O'Neill, Madison's Petra Callin and Grant's Carol Campbell—read a letter signed by the leaders of every district high school.
"We have a nationally recognized crisis. Lead, radon, asbestos, and a looming earthquake threat," the letter reads.
"Currently Portland's high schools have too many rooms with no natural light and inadequate ventilation, and our school buildings cause injury to students and teachers on a regular basis."
It's unusual for principals to line up against a decision of the School Board—and at least one school board member disapproved of the decision to go public, said Lincoln principal Peyton Chapman, who attended the meeting but did not testify.
"It was obvious that our letter displeased some board members," Chapman said. "Principals were trying to advocate for their kids and their schools and express urgency and support for an earlier bond."
"Now I hope that everyone gets behind the May bond. It has to pass," she added.
Only one school board member, Pam Knowles, was seen speaking with the principals after their testimony, but Knowles denied objecting to the principals' decision to go public.
"I'm always interested in hearing what principals have to say," Knowles told WW.
The School Board had planned to go to voters for money in November to repair Madison, Benson and Lincoln high schools as well as to address health and safety problems in other buildings.
Last month, the board abruptly reversed course, at least in part over the fact the board did not have a full accounting of health and safety concerns.
Willamette Week