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High school redesign plan heads for a Monday vote

By Jennifer Anderson

The Portland Tribune, Mar 4, 2010, Updated Mar 5, 2010 (6 Reader comments)

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Will the Portland School Board vote to close schools or not?

The board takes up the issue – and others related to redesigning the high school system – at its Monday evening meeting.

The board will vote on an updated resolution by Superintendent Carole Smith, the details of which are posted here: www.pps.k12.or.us/news/3028.htm .

In the meantime, the grassroots group that’s been fighting the redesign effort for the past month, “Close the gap, not the schools,” will continue its outreach. Their alternative resolution to the board is posted here: www.closethegapnottheschools.com/ .

Smith will undoubtedly be hounded with questions Friday when she addresses the Portland City Club at its noontime lunch series. In her 2 1/2-year tenure as schools chief, setting the course for the high school redesign initiative is by far her most controversial undertaking yet.

Here’s one thing Smith can’t be blamed for: As of Thursday, Oregon got the official word that the state lost its bid for federal Race to the Top funds, the $4.35 billion chunk of school improvement money for which 41 states competed. The U.S. Department of Education has announced its 15 first-round finalists, all of which are Midwest or East Coast states except Colorado.

Oregon’s absence from the list isn’t a big surprise. Among other things, the application required that states be able to link student performance to teacher evaluations. For the most part, the teachers unions here adamantly oppose that practice.

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Reader comments

Re: High school redesign plan heads for a Monday vote

PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ALWAYS VOTE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS NO MATTER WHAT ANY ONE SAYS!

AND HOW MANY KIDS GO TO THEM! THEY ARE MAKING A WASTE LAND OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALWAYS WILL. THEY JUST DO NOT CARE WHAT THE PUBLIC OR PARENTS SAY!

"MIKE"

(email verified)

Thu, Mar 04, 2010 at 04:23 PM

Re: High school redesign plan heads for a Monday vote

Maybe we can solve the problem by voting in more taxes?

"Geoff"

(email verified)

Thu, Mar 04, 2010 at 09:27 PM

Re: High school redesign plan heads for a Monday vote

No, you solve the problem by not passing the bond measure Portland Public wants in the November election. This district has no long term vision and has done nothing but turn their last attempt of redesign, the K-8 fiasco, into an effort of futility. The high school redesign is also heading in the same direction. Instead of helping schools with creative solutions, the district continues to tune out parents and go their ill advised merry way.