Ruth Adkins's blog

It's time for residents of Portland to speak out against the 400-600 "school size policy" -- I put it in quotes since there is no official school size policy, just a philosophy. This size requirement is being used to disrupt, uproot, consolidate and/or close great schools simply because they have fewer than 400 students.

Please sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/smallsch/petition.html

This petition will be presented to the Board and Superintendent at an upcoming meeting, so please add your voice:
http://www.petitiononline.com/smallsch/petition.html
 read more »

It's time to make some noise for schools! Hope everyone can come to the rally that Stand for Children is organizing in Salem, Monday Feb. 19. This is a holiday for kids and also many adults. There are buses being organized from schools all around town. You can go for just the rally (12-1) or do an optional meet-your-legislator before or after the rally.

This is a once-in-our-kids-school-career opportunity to get some gains in school funding. For the first time in 16 years, the political climate in Salem as well as the economy are favorable for schools-but money is still tight and we must make our voices heard! Let's have a big NSA presence at this event.
 read more »

In today’s Oregonian, Scott Learn reports on last night’s school board meeting: "Portland postpones shuffle in Southeast."

It appears the “reshuffling” of Clark, closure of Binnsmead, and forced growth of Winterhaven and Creative Science School will simply be delayed, but the basic decisions are unchanged. Giving communities more time to make transitions is nice, but the plan itself is deeply flawed.

The Neighborhood Schools Alliance has been begging for nearly 2 years for PPS to treat neighborhood schools and focus options equitably. But you know what? We meant treat neighborhood schools with the same respect and consideration that had traditionally been shown to focus options. We didn’t mean, start treating focus options just as badly as you do us. But sadly, that is what PPS has started to do.
 read more »

In today's Oregonian article "Parents of magnet schools' kids mystified by siting proposals," Scott Learn writes that Superintendent Vicki Phillips "said....that the district has a clear mandate that all schools must reach a certain size"--namely, I assume, the 400-600 size that is being imposed on some (but not yet all) schools.

When was this "clear mandate" developed, and by whom? At what point was there a public process to discuss this "mandate" that is changing our entire system of neighborhood schools and thus our city?

Like the sudden, seismic shift last spring to a world in which K-8 is the "preferred" model, this "mandate" lacked any meaningful public input or Board deliberation.
 read more »

Below are comments submitted by the Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) Schools Committee in testimony to the School Board on Nov. 30, 2006. Please post a comment with your thoughts!

You can read the Lincoln recommendations here.

SWNI Schools Committee Comments on Lincoln Conversation Process

In January, Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI), formed a Schools Committee, made up of representatives from our member neighborhood associations and business associations. The charge of this committee is to enhance communication between schools and neighborhoods. Issues like school closures, sale of school properties, and school district decisions that affect neighborhoods would all benefit from increased communication with neighborhoods.
 read more »

Below is the Dec. 8 press release from PPS communications--can anyone in these affected schools post a comment or blog with your thoughts, explaining what this all means? What do folks think of the options? Decisions will be made at the Mon. Dec. 11 Board meeting.

BINNSMEAD AND WINTERHAVEN OPTIONS
In a facilitated conversation over the summer and fall, parents from Binnsmead Middle School, Bridger and Clark elementary schools and the Creative Science School focus program (now at Bridger) grappled with the charge of finding a way for each elementary program to grow to K-8 while phasing out the Binnsmead middle school program.
 read more »

Here are my thoughts related to the Sellwood boundary discussion at the Oct. 23 Board meeting, which I sent to the Board and to the Oregonian's Paige Parker— 1. I totally agree that boundary changes/adjustments should happen regularly as needed. David Wynde alluded to other districts simply sending out announcement letters regarding boundary changes (i.e. not having elaborate & lengthy community deliberations). I have to say, this sounds like a good idea — as long as staff are absolutely certain they have redrawn the boundaries accurately and appropriately. Community input should still be considered (and in the case of Sellwood, the community was essential to coming up with this creative solution), but would not be a requirement before the District takes action.
 read more »