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Who could have anticipated that Portland Public Schools’ proposal to shutter about a dozen high schools would be met with horror and indignation from parents? Oh, you anticipated it? Sit down, Poindexter. Everybody anticipated it. Still, the size and variety of the outrage has been fairly dizzying (“A Is for Anger. B Is for Backlash. C Is for Closure,” WW, Oct. 28). At least 26 distinct advocacy groups have formed to ask the school district to slow, modify or even jettison school closures. Here’s what our readers had to say:
MtScottRumpot, via Reddit: “Even if PPS had limitless money, it doesn’t make sense to be keeping so many schools open for ever-dwindling numbers of students.”
dolphs4, in reply: “Agreed, but if PPS had the budget to keep those schools open a few more years without ending up in a death spiral, they could at least take the time to make informed decisions with community input. And give the community time to react.
“All that is to say that PPS probably should have seen this coming—but I think they were all desperately hoping we would rebound post-COVID.”
Dieter, via wweek.com: “I am mindful that my high school was so damaged in the 1993 Spring Break Earthquake, that large sections of it had to be razed and it now is largely a shell of what it was. [Editor’s note: Molalla High School partially collapsed in the Scotts Mills Earthquake of 1993, aka the Spring Break Quake.] I remember at the time feeling the loss, but it has passed. A lot of what is being presented here is classic change-theory dynamics. The School Board is succeeding at trying to make and implement some practical choices, but is failing to lead change.
“The board could always kick this to the voters. The board could advance a local option property tax levy to keep schools running at the status quo. If the voters want to send more money, then the world will remain unchanged. If the option fails, then that would be a clear message that the realignment should be implemented. Just an idea.”
Lisa Lowery-Pierce, via Facebook: “So most of the people clutching their pearls are parents who have ‘won lottery’ spots at coveted dual language immersion or focus option schools because they desperately want to maintain the status quo of their children getting a perceived better education than everyone else in the public school system. Or… Title 1 schools who are losing out because of the flight of kids in their neighborhood schools to focus option or DLI programs. It’s time to end the lottery, close some schools, and rightsize every school so every child gets to learn a second language, gets special art classes, gets environmental studies, etc. Not just lottery winners.”
D IS FOR DUNDON
Recent correspondence from (most of) the leaders of this city suggests that the $550 million Moda Center redevelopment (and blackmail job) will bring a wealth of new business to the Rose Garden District (do we still call it that?), including hotels, restaurants and other night spots for pre- and postgame fun. I recall hearing the same happy talk years ago when the arena was first built. An interested party can check out all that development themselves. Perhaps the new owners will share some of that money for things like, oh, schools [“A Is for Anger. B Is for Backlash. C Is for Closure,” WW, Oct. 28]. A good, or even decent, education might also have some payoffs. (Damn! I shoulda said playoffs!)
Mike Fitzpatrick
Northeast Portland
WILHELM’S IS FULL OF WONDERS
Wilhelm’s Portland Mausoleum is truly an amazing place [“Portland’s Best Graveyards, Ranked,” WW, Oct. 21]. I have a few generations of family members in permanent residence; my own eternal condo awaits. Despite its purpose, my visits as a child were happy occasions. We had fresh flowers to arrange and no trip was complete without a visit to the swans (who may no longer be there).
Your story omitted mention of the original Tiffany stained glass window in one of the “chapels” on the ground floor of the “main” building. These 10–12(?) gated chapels house crypts for prominent Portland families (Zehntbauer, Jantzen, etc.). The window serves as the back wall of a chapel on the west side of the wide hall.
Taking off from the chapels, if you venture downstairs and keep heading north, you encounter some indoor fountains and a beautiful wooden chapel (far north) large enough for services. The halls seem to go on forever. Besides the glass niches and marble crypts, there are some crypts which seem to be faced with particle board. A budget option? Wartime concession? Never asked.
And, it’s so quiet…!
Darr Durham
Southwest Portland
CORRECTION
Last week’s cover story incorrectly stated that Creston Elementary is a Title I school. It is not. WW regrets the error.
Letters to the editor must include the author’s street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words. Submit to:
P.O. Box 10770
Portland, OR 97296
Email: amesh@wweek.com
