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$2 million given to SEI and other organizations--what is going on here?

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This glowing press release below is from the PPS site.

What is really going on here? Isn't SEI a private organization? The School board needs to give the public a detailed explanation of the $2 million they awarded these groups.
And a no-cuts budget? Ask teachers, parents and students if their schools are not getting any cuts next year.

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Portland Schools budget helps students entering high schools, adds arts, music and PE

April 16, 2007

Portland School Board approves “no-cuts” budget; adds $2 million to
help students enter high school successfully, further enhance arts,
music and PE

Portland, Ore. The volunteer Portland School Board on Monday evening
approved a $412 million “no-cuts” General Fund budget for Portland
Public Schools for the coming school year, with two final amendments
proposed by Director Douglas Morgan and Co-Chair Dan Ryan.

Morgan won unanimous approval for his proposal to transfer $1 million
from reserves to help more students begin high school successfully, as
did Co-Chair Ryan, for his proposal to use $1 million to provide staff
and support for music, art, theater, dance and physical education
classes in schools.

"The transition from 8th grade to high school is a time of great
challenge for many students, when too many become lost and ultimately
drop out of school altogether,” said Director Morgan. “We are
fortunate to have great programs in Portland like Step Up and Self
Enhancement Inc., which other cities around the country are anxious to
replicate. This strategic investment of $1 million allows us to increase
the number of young people in Portland who can take advantage of these
programs and cross the threshold into high school successfully."

“Art, music, theater, dance and PE are critical to a well-rounded
education,” said Co-Chair Ryan. “They unleash creativity, provide
inspiration and engage many kids that might go adrift. They are a wise
investment in our children to foster student achievement. After years of
reductions, Portland Public Schools is finally able to take real steps
to add back these vital enrichment programs, while being wise stewards
of our public funds.”

Thanks to voters’ approval of a local option property tax in
November, the 2007-08 budget is the first in more than a decade that
does not make sweeping cuts. The budget outlines $412 million in General
Fund spending.

Over 71 percent of the budget directly supports students in schools -
paying for the teachers, librarians, counselors, school principals and
secretaries who work with kids every day, and the materials those school
staff use.

Superintendent Phillips had proposed that schools would offer students
more enrichment classes, whether arts, music, PE, library or technology,
at least 3 periods of enrichment each week, if not more. The additional
$1 million, proposed by Co-Chair Ryan, is enough to pay for more than a
dozen fulltime teachers and/or needed supplies and equipment, and will
significantly enhance enrichment offerings for thousands of Portland
students.

Superintendent Vicki Phillips had proposed a $1 million priority fund
to support efforts including: preparing low-income students for college
readiness and success, expanding International Baccalaureate and
Advanced Placement programs at targeted schools, providing professional
development for language immersion programs and helping 8th grade
students transition to high school.

Director Morgan suggested adding another $1 million to the priority
funds to greatly increase the support for students at that critical
transition point. Research shows that students who have a difficult time
as they start high school are far more likely to fail and dropout,
whereas targeted support can help them earn higher grades, increase
their commitment to school and graduate ready for work or college.

The budget also adds 24 full-time counselors in larger elementary,
middle and K-8 schools, and increases weekly in-school professional
development time for teachers, with most elementary and K-8 schools
building schedules allowing classroom teachers to meet for weekly blocks
of in-school professional development.

Director Sonja Henning was the sole vote against the budget, voicing
concerns about the policy and equity implications of shifting federal
Title 1 funding to support only high schools with at least 75 percent of
students qualified for free and reduced meals under federal income
guidelines. (PPS currently extends Title I funding to all schools with
at least 40 percent of students qualified.)

The Multnomah County Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission will
hold a public hearing on the approved 2007-08 budget on Monday, June 25,
before the School Board votes on its final adoption later that evening.

For more information, the School Board agenda and supporting materials
are on-line at www.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/_sid/13b6362c91db846ac5384bda8d389f73/pg/1079 (go to the School Board
postings, and click on “meetings”).

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