School Board weighs ideas to improve Portland Public Schools high school system
Portland, Ore., March 8, 2009: For more than three hours on Saturday,
the Portland School Board discussed new approaches to improve the
Portland Public Schools high school system.
Board directors shared both their enthusiasm and concerns about five
different conceptual models - by their nature defined as extremes - to
help refine and improve the options to be presented for broad
community feedback in late April.
Each of the five high school system models explored a different idea:
Offering only large campuses, each with themes for 11th and 12th grade students;
Assigning all students to a large neighborhood school, with transfers
available only to district-wide magnets;
Carving the district into three regions, with students choosing among
one large school, smaller themed schools and other options in their
own region;
Doing away with attendance boundaries altogether in favor of an open
choice system, where all students could apply to any school;
Providing large comprehensive schools for every student, with
transfers available to magnets located either with the large school or
with community partners.
Each model could incorporate at least one magnet school serving the
entire district that would be a hub for career and technical programs.
Board members shared what intrigued them about the models, their
concerns, and suggestions for issues to address. With that feedback,
and continuing input from principals, teachers, students and parents
and community organizations, staff will develop three models to move
forward.
The community and PPS employees will be invited to offer advice and
thoughts on three different options for the high school system later
this spring:
Monday, April 20, evening meeting
Wednesday, April 29, evening meeting
Saturday, May 2, day meeting
(Times and locations, as well as a separate session for PPS employees,
to be announced.)
The three system designs presented in late April might look different
from any of these initial models, and could mix and match elements of
each.
Superintendent Carole Smith said the proposals were deliberately
conceptual, to allow a discussion about designing a system to improve
achievement for all students, rather than immediately devolving into a
debate about which programs to consolidate or which buildings to
renovate.
"We want to have a conversation about what we want to have happen for
all kids, versus a conversation about what happens at specific
schools," she said.
Superintendent Smith will propose a model for PPS high schools in
June, along with the beginning of a three-year implementation plan and
a recommendation for the first high school buildings to renovate or
build under a long-range facilities plan. The implementation plan will
be further developed by fall, at which point the School Board will be
asked to incorporate the high school plan into the school district's
long-range facilities plan.
Read a more detailed update on Saturday's School Board discussion
on-line at
www.pps.k12.or.us
