Jan. 23, 2006: Final comments on Superintendent's revised proposals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —January 23, 2006

NSA comments on Superintendent’s proposals for Jefferson cluster—Lack of accountability, reckless reconfigurations put Jeff’s future at risk

NSA CONTACTS: NE-Lakeitha Elliott, 503-484-4930; SE-Cindy Young, 503-232-6559; SW-Ruth Adkins, 503-977-2933 Portland, Ore. - After studying Supt. Vicki Phillips’ revised proposals for the Jefferson cluster, the Neighborhood Schools Alliance (NSA) has many concerns, particularly about the radical reconfiguration of Jefferson and Tubman. With the removal of the controversial uniforms requirement, these proposals are very likely to receive the “rubber stamp” of approval by the Board on Monday night. However, many serious issues remain:

Same-sex programs will be costly, put PPS at risk for lawsuits.

The Board’s resolution makes sweeping claims for the potential benefits of same-sex schooling. In supporting these proposals, they are falling into line with the agenda of ultra-conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation, which promote same-sex programs (along with uniform dress, strict focus on discipline, and emphasis on testing) as the best way to close the achievement gap for “minority” students. Racist, segregated, right-wing approaches are not the right direction for Portland or the Jefferson cluster. There is no demonstrated demand for same-sex schooling in the Jefferson cluster. Why embark on this radical experiment without first surveying families to assess the level of interest? There is still no plan to gather input from Jefferson families to determine the level of interest for various proposed configurations/programs. How many students does PPS expect to enroll in the single-sex schools? How many students must they attract to justify the cost of establishing and running a separate program? (Remember that PPS recently closed 6 successful neighborhood schools, claiming we can’t afford to run a school that is “too small,” no matter how high-performing it may be.) What about the traditional 6th-8th middle school, available in every other area of Portland? Are we sure that Jeff families don’t want this choice any more? What happens if the lack of a middle school drives yet more families out of the area, further decreasing enrollment? Will the girls at Tubman truly have equal access to athletic and other facilities? We must see the specifics. Hastily establishing separate-sex schooling puts PPS at risk for a costly lawsuit under Title IX. The last thing we need is yet another huge legal bill for PPS.

Jeff’s 9/10 and 11/12 small schools were heading in the right direction—why throw away this hard work?

The 9/10 School of Pride and 11/12 School of Champions (created after the most recent “redesign” of Jeff) were on the right track. As teachers, parents and students testified at Jeff last week, test scores were increasing, staff and students were engaged, and there was positive momentum. Abandoning this effort and starting all over again—with four separate, vertically organized schools spread over two campuses—will be very costly and makes little sense. Why not simply enhance and strengthen the 9/10 & 11/12 small schools with additional teacher development, AP/IB, more course offerings, and student/family support? Simply restoring band, choir, journalism, and yearbook to Jeff would go a long way toward leveling the playing field with Portland’s other high schools and would help draw back students. The proposals offer no specifics related to curriculum, and nothing related to equity in course offerings. We know the names of the "academies," but what specific programs/courses will be offered? How can parents be expected to enroll their children without specifics? The recommendations include spending $635,000 in one-time implementation costs and $227,000 in continuing annual costs, yet they allocate no money focused on achievement and they don’t include all the costs of the new configurations. Will each of the four vertical small schools require its own principal (at $100K+ each, including benefits)? In what way will the Jeff and Tubman buildings be upgraded/remodeled to accommodate the new configurations? The $315,000 estimate mentioned in the proposal only covers costs for “floors, white boards, walls, ADA, painting and signing.” What about high-school caliber labs, equipment, and athletic facilities at Tubman? Will the four separate schools at Jeff require four separate administrative offices and other retrofitting?

Taking uniforms off the table and looking at a citywide policy is a step in the right direction.

However, we are troubled by the language of the Board resolution, that “the dress codes at Jefferson and Harriet Tubman will be firmly enforced during the remainder of the 2005-06 school year and in 2006-07.” Why are Jeff and Tubman students being singled out for “firm enforcement” of a citywide issue? Every high school in town has dress, behavior, and achievement issues. It is inequitable to allow bare midriffs at Benson or Wilson but not at Jefferson. Selective enforcement is not only inequitable and illegal, it will drive students from Jefferson.

Will “partnering” with PCC, Emanuel pave the way for a takeover of school property?

The proposals talk about “partnering” with nearby PCC and Emanuel. While we applaud the idea of bringing higher education and medical/biotechnical curriculum into the school, we are wary that in the context of the Jeff redesign, such “partnerships” are paving the way for outside entities to take control of our public school properties. What will happen, for example, if the girls-only academy at Tubman fails to attract sufficient students? Tubman’s proximity to Emanuel and to downtown makes it an extremely attractive and valuable property. Once public school properties are privatized, they can never be regained.

Troubling lack of accountability.

The proposals do not specify how the District will be accountable for the outcomes of the proposals. For example, what is the mechanism for reporting back to the public on the outcomes of efforts to beef up the TAG program at Jeff? The implementation plan is being left entirely up to the Superintendent, apparently without Board or public oversight. In last year’s March 28th resolution, the Board was directed to implement the proposed changes based on the District’s policy for “implementation for major school changes.” However, this document deals with school closures. The current resolution reads "That the Board of Education agrees with the Superintendent on the importance of an effective implementation strategy for these changes and directs the Superintendent to establish an implementation plan in line with the District revised Procedures for the implementation of Major School Changes." What will this plan contain? No one knows. The plan should include checkpoints and written reports to the public at specified periods throughout the implementation process. As it currently stands, the proposals require the public to take it on trust that the District will carry out all the reforms and improvements as promised. Unfortunately, even the best of intentions do not always get carried out. It is only common sense to demand accountability and specifics before launching a reform effort of this magnitude where the stakes are so high for the children of Portland.

Additional comments and questions:

• Why were the many carefully considered and detailed recommendations of the Jefferson PTSA not included in the final document?
• According to the 06/07 school choice packet, Jeff, Roosevelt and Marshall will not be given priority transfers and the district will no longer pay for students to attend schools outside of their district. But if you read the 9th paragraph in the proposal it says the complete opposite. Furthermore, the transfer policy is racist in that it provides co-enrolled sibling priority for students. However this does not apply to NCLB. In this same paragraph the district references resolution 3019. Resolution 3019 does not speak to transfer issues.
• Why is Chief Joseph not included in the list of Jefferson cluster schools? What is the plan for Chief Joe?
• Jeff Dancers currently bused in and out for dance classes should be immediately required to attend Jefferson High School as enrolled Jeff students. Otherwise, to call this elite group the “Jefferson” Dancers is a sham.
• Boise Eliot must specifically be restored to Jeff cluster. The proposals do not include a timeline or any indication for when the Boise-Eliot feeder pattern will be changed back to Jefferson.
• The implementation team must specifically include parents from each school, not just “community.”
• Where will the money come from? Some of the proposals appear to be unfunded mandates—for example, the required interview and application process for all students at Jeff and Tubman.

More information regarding concerns about the benefits and the legal risks of establishing single-sex public schools:

Although single-gender settings may help avoid gender bias and the distractions of coeducational classrooms, some experts question whether they are the best remedy. They acknowledge the urgent problems single-gender programs are meant to solve; they also express concerns, however, about the risk of a separate and unequal allocation of education resources and the reinforcement of stereotypes that certain groups are low achievers and need extra help. Whatever the effectiveness and desirability of single-gender programs, single-gender public elementary and secondary education is limited by law. Restricting enrollment in a public school program to either gender may discriminate on the basis of gender and, thus, be contrary to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It may also violate the equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions. GAO's Report to the House Budget Committee, "Public Education: Issues Involving Single Gender Schools and Programs" (May 1996), pp. 6-7. http://www.gao.gov/archive/1996/he96122.pdf

The Neighborhood Schools Alliance is a diverse group of parents, teachers, and community members from all areas of Portland working together to support and strengthen our neighborhood schools. For more information on NSA and to sign up for NSA updates & info, visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSANews/