Portland Public Schools "Restructuring"
So I went to my first real school meeting last night.... Portland Public schools are in disarray --- they are consolidating (AKA closing) certain schools and trying to restructure a lot of our neighborhood schools. So for anyone who is interested -- here are my notes form the meeting.... (If you're interested in meeting schedule --it is here)
Format was quick overview of what the plan is
Powerpoint slides giving some details (selling benefits of K-8; test scores for the schools, trending of scores once kids went to Fernwood etc)
Map of new proposed boundaries for our local schools (Watch out its a 3MB .PDF file)
Then lots of discussion and questions -- the meeting was about 2.5 hours long and was very informative for me (remember I am still getting used to how the school system here works)
Here is my synopsis of the meeting and interpretation of the evening based on questions and comments from the audience:
Plan is not well worked out -- and does not have the detail it should have. No goals for how much $$$ it'll save and no goals for how test scores will increase
Plan does not have any idea as to what it'll cost to retrofit Fernwood for younger kids, neither does it take into consideration what will need to happen to Irvington and Laurelhurst to ensure the 6th-8th graders have their needs met.
Overwhelming support for questions like "how can a board of directors be made to vote on a proposal that does not have the appropriate detail?"
One comment that stuck with me which came from a parent was "I have two words for the Board -- due diligence"
I think there was an undertow of support for the K-8 initiative
People (parents + teachers) felt it was being rushed too much -- not enough time to plan transitions and curriculum changes
- A lot of discussion about Fernwood and how viable it'd be for young kids. One other very interesting point was made about it.... That is:
If they move 3rd graders into Fernwood in Sept -- there will be no 4th or 5th graders there -- so the closest class would be 6th graders. There was a lot of concern about introducing young kids into an environment like that where the next class is 3+ years older. If I had a kid slated to move into Fernwood in Sept -- I'd be pissed.
Some topics I hadn't thought about included what about brothers and sisters -- if someone is going to Laurelhurst now and their sister is slated to go to Fernwood -- why can't we grandfather them into Laurelhurst. "Keep families together". Also what about transfer students?
The overall feeling of the meeting was -- Laurelhurst and Irvington are OK to go with K-8 but not Hollyrood. And the message was very clear -- please don't do this for Sept 06.... For all the feeder schools for Grant.
All in all, an eye opening meeting for me.