Jefferson HS PTSA Proposal For Jefferson Schools
Regarding today's Oregonian editorial and recent school board decisions, it was correctly stated by Will Fuller: "Some areas will have community decision-making. Others will be carrying out changes that were largely handed down to them." It is this very system of inequity of opportunity that is morally unacceptable. That these decisions have, in some cases, resulted in further inequity and segregation will render endorsement of them in their current format impossible.
Until the blatant inequities existing in PPS in terms of respect/value of parent voice and educational opportunities for students are corrected, we as a district and city cannot, in good conscious, move forward.
Jefferson High School, its students and families (as the "pilot" of these "reforms") have suffered the greatest harm. Enrollment has further declined and implementation is in chaos, largely because the "genuine" voice of families, students and staff was first bypassed, disrespected and ultimately ignored.
Jefferson schools and their families, therefore, must be provided the same sensible opportunity afforded the Rieke community to "grow" their enrollment, and we fully support Rieke's efforts. The Jefferson cluster families, in the spirit of the "need to influence the changes to benefit our children, and to work out the details in ways that strengthen our school system", charge the school board and residents of Portland to endorse the (draft) plan set forth below in an email sent this morning to the Portland Schools Foundation and school board co-chair David Wynde.
How the Portland Schools Foundation can play a positive role to undo some of the damage that has befallen the Jefferson cluster as a result of years of inequity and being a "pilot" of the Gates grant "reforms":
1. beginning immediately, partner with Jefferson families, students and staff, not community "leaders", who may or may not represent the voice of families
2. beginning immediately, partner with the Jefferson High School PTSA/Site Council to give voice to halting the undesired splitting of Jefferson High School into two small vertical academies for 2006-2007 (note: PPS has already decided the Young Men and Women's academies will not go forward for 2006-2007); instead,
3. Now through December, 2006: offer strategic and financial support (via a New Vision or Parent, Family, Community Involvement grant) to the Jefferson High School PTSA and Site Council, along with the Jefferson cluster elementary PTAs/Site Councils and other interested community partners, to devise and implement a comprehensive market research project to gather meaningful and genuine input from staff and EVERY family in the Jefferson cluster for the purpose of raising enrollment and neighborhood capture rates; no hidden or predetermined agendas
4. December 2006 - September 2007: offer strategic and financial support (via a New Vision or Parent, Family, Community Involvement grant) to the Jefferson High School PTSA and Site Council, along with the Jefferson elementary PTAs/Site Councils and other interested community partners, to design and implement desired curriculum/programs/activities for each school, based upon input collected from the market research above
5. By April, 2007: offer financial assistance to purchase additional FTE, as needed, for curriculum, programs and activities for the purpose of EQUITY of offerings, and so that every Jefferson school will be representative of the desires of its residents (for the 2007-2008 school year)
6. By January 2007: offer strategic and financial support to the Jefferson cluster (via a New Vision or Parent, Family, Community Involvement grant) for widespread promotion and marketing of the improvements to each Jefferson school in the areas of curriculum, programs and activities
7. For the 2006-2007 school year: offer financial assistance (via a New Vision or Parent, Family, Community Involvement grant) to purchase FTE for a district-wide Volunteer Program and Coordinator, for the purpose of assisting all PPS schools seeking help in this arena
8. consider offering financial assistance for student scholarships (PSF may already do this)
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Jefferson HS PTSA Proposal for Jefferson Schools
Nancy,
The phrase "Will Fuller of CPPS" may lead some to think I was speaking for CPPS. I want it to be clear to your readers that my comments are my own, and I am not representing CPPS. I also want to add what I said following what you quoted:
"Whatever the specifics of the plan, there are opportunities for citizen involvement, and we need to make the most of those opportunities."
Even when the opportunities are unequal, or people feel they are unfair, citizens need to use these opportunities in addition to asking for help from places like the Foundation. Inequities in Jefferson, Roosevelt and Marshall come about partly because the voices in those communities have difficulty in getting heard. Whenever there is an opportunity, speak up.
Regards, Will
No, Listen Up.
Will,
I believe the inequities to Jeff, Roosevelt & Marshall have less to do with a lack of people speaking up and more do to with people in positions of influence and authority who Do Not LISTEN, or who do not want to hear what those community voices have to say and design their decision-making processes accordingly.
My perception is that over the years many people in those communities have learned that they can take better care of their children by staying home and looking after their families rather than making efforts to be heard by the decision-makers and policy setters. I can't tell you how many times I have heard community members say "the district is going to do what the district is going to do." In some ways it's surprising that so many people keep trying to be heard. Immediately prior to the Board vote on the Jefferson reconfiguration, there were 4 public meetings in the space of about one month; 1 meeting at Ockley Green, 2 at BESC, and 1 at Jefferson. (For the first meeting we were instructed by PPS to ask questions only, not provide comments or testimony about the plan.) Every meeting had a big turnout (parents, students, community members, teachers) most of whom raised questions and concerns about another plan to re-re-re-configure Jefferson. What a waste of their time.
I second "Listen Up"
Nicole,
I agree with you " People in positions of influence and authority do not LISTEN"
Zuleyma
NSAenEspañol
Correction
Will: good point about you speaking for yourself and not CPPS.
I have adjusted the original post to reflect this by editing the language.
The reason you were quoted initially is that I wanted to give you credit for speaking the truth about how some communities will get to provide input and some will not.
Thank you for the feedback.
Nancy
Public input in PPS--a myth
There seems to be a big difference between a "public hearing" and actually "hearing the public". For example, when Edwards closed last year, the original proposal actually included a hearing scheduled AFTER the Board's final decision. When we pointed that out it was changed. But in reality, the Edwards closure and the other closures were done deals. Data was manipulated and implementation began before the final vote. PPS actually put out the "Major School Change" Document in the middle of all that. It is full of policies that were NOT followed, such as notification of site councils before any major school changes. I like to call it a fictional document by a fictional administrator.
And then there's Jefferson. Hundreds and hundreds of testimonies from the public were IGNORED. The Jefferson Design Team met, some members gave input that was ignored, and then Phillips announced that there was a "huge Consensus" and the four academy plans were voted on by the Board. There was NOT a huge consensus, there was no attempt to gather community input and that has created much acrimony and a plan that obviously failing as I write.
Other examples: parents at Humboldt were told they could not use an overhead projector to present their case. Then parents at Rieke were allowed to give a powerpoint presentation. Translation of proposals and meeting notices into other languages is spotty and an afterthought. Some schools were given the opportunity for public input and Site Council and PTA were incorporated into the plans for that process. In other schools, especially in the Jefferson cluster, PTA and Site Council are bypassed and ignored.
Many parents are skeptical when phrases like "ample oppurtunity for public input" are bandied about. We have been patronized at best, ignored and demonized at worst. We must take this into our own hands, as the Kellogg community is doing tonight. . PPS has proven too many times that they are not reliable or democratic.Only a united movement of parents, teachers and other workers, and students can take back our PUBLIC schools.
I'll Back You Up
Anne,
I support you on this one and you are totally correct when you say "Only a united movement of parents, teachers and other workers, and students can take back our PUBLIC schools."
Zuleyma
NSAenEspañol