School Daze

WW gets a look at the Portland school district's proposed closures.

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Portland Public Schools Superintendent Vicki Phillips will probably recommend closing 11 Portland elementary schools over the next two years, according to an internal district staff presentation obtained by WW.

The presentation, which district officials call a "rough draft," is part of Phillips' long-term solution to PPS' looming $57 million budget shortfall.

Out of the district's 52 elementary schools, the proposal, dated March 14, seeks to shutter Rieke, Stephenson, Sitton, Astor, Humboldt, Hollyrood, Rose City Park, Llewellyn, Creston, Bridger and Woodmere. Two of those 11 elementaries are on the city's west side, the other nine on the east of the river.

Two middle schools, not identified in the presentation, might also have to be closed to meet the district's plan looking ahead to 2010.

Schools officials called the presentation a "rough draft" that was still evolving.

"Schools have been put on and schools have come off," says PPS spokeswoman Sarah Carlin Ames.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the principals at the targeted schools had not yet been informed.

District officials had earlier estimated closing 14 schools could save $5 million per year. A dollar figure was unavailable for this proposal, Carlin Ames told WW.

The presentation describes the district's overall plan to emphasize the merger of elementary and middle schools into K-8 schools in an effort to better use available space and provide a more consistent education program across the district.

The purpose of emphasizing the K-8 model is less about saving money than "about providing the best possible education for kids," Carlin Ames says. The system would ease the transition from elementary to middle school and help to preserve programs like music and gym during tough budget times.

Phillips is slated to unveil her final list on April 4, a day after presenting the school board with her budget, Ames says. The board is expected to vote on it in late April.

Read the entire 13-page plan ,"Optimizing Portland Public Schools for 2010," at www.wweek.com/media/7344.pdf.

03.14.2006 at 10:00 Reply

Story Forum Archive

School DazeThe scope and complexity of these proposals echoes Phillips' proposals to change the Jefferson cluster last year. If the Jefferson redesign process is any indication, the rest of the district is in for a lot of manipulation and very little democracy or even common sense out of PPS.And why is it that we are learning of changes of this magnitude in March? In 2005, school closure proposals came on Feb.14 and were decided on March 15. Minutes from a January 10 05 Board meeting state "Superintendent Phillips agreed that the timeframe this year would be somewhat tight. In future years, she said there would be ample time for input and comments from schools and the community." Two weeks later at the next board meeting Phillips said "this year the framework for decision-making is being accomplished, so next year the entire process can start earlier in the school year, most likely in October, and the Board would vote on recommendations in January. "—Anne

School DazeGee thanks Vicki and company! My suggestion is that since you all are doing this "less about saving money than providing the best possible education for kids" you clearly do not have enough to do BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUDGET CRISIS ON OUR HANDS. Turn in your resignations so we can save some *real* dough or get yourselves to Salem and kick that kicker $ back to schools so we get a real educational program, not this shell game being proposed. Here is the simple math: 0 + 0 still = 0!!!! Play this shell game when it includes a real public process instead of hiding behind a budget crisis for goodness sakes. Last point, I have heard nothing but "close the achievement gap" for years now, so I find it inconsistent (and disappointing) that "Exceptional" schools (in decent buildings) are being dismantled instead of prized. Disgruntled parent #44,000—Susan

School DazeI'm fed up with newspapers like the Willamette Week for jumpstarting another round of hysteria and frenzied debate about Portland Public Schools -- students and their families at these schools have had no chance to hear from their own superintendent that closures are forthcoming. You failed to point out that the District will be allowing public comment on these closures. You also failed to point out that the plan you describe in "School Daze" is but one of SIX (yes, SIX) to address the issue of school closures and budgetary savings. Your reporting reminds me exactly why we despise the media in times like these -- rather than helping the public make sense of the larger issue of inadequate funding for schools, you exacerbate everyone's collective angst at how educating our kids is a distant priority in this state. Way to go, WW.—Kathy Cooke

School DazePublicizing this document has two serious problems. First, it implies that a "what if" draft is "THE Plan", as though the Superintendent has already made up her mind and is not really listening to the public, but this is clearly a working scenario, not a final plan. Second, it warps the discussion of how to build a robust education program into a fight over school closures, which is only a small part of the budget picture (about $2 million out of $24M in needed savings to get a budget which can be sustained with no more money from Salem). The other $22M needs careful review.I have been watching Portland Public Schools budget reviews since 1992, and the current one is the most open I have seen. Of course the Superintendent has to plan scenarios for her recommendations on April 4, but I believe her when she says no decisions have been made. I encourage everyone to do what I did: visit the Portland Public Schools website at pps.k12.or.us, and look at the budget information there. Also, go to a budget forum and give your feedback. There is one tomorrow (Thursday) at Roosevelt, another next Tuesday the 21st at Lent, and one Wednesday the 22nd at Wilson. All run from 6:30 to 8:00 in the evening. There are other opportunities as well. The full calendar is on the PPS website. Take part. Get your voice heard.—Will Fuller

03.15.2006 at 10:00 Reply

School DazeI do not understand why it is so much more difficult for Portland then other school districts to manage the school district. When other districts can build new schools year after year and Portland is hanging by a string. If the district is so inefficent then maybe schools need to closed and administration/teachers fired.—Mary

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School Daze

WW gets a look at the Portland school district's proposed closures.