School Change Scenarios Released, Feedback Sought

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scenPortland Public Schools has released six scenarios of suggested changes to schools in parts of North and Northeast Portland that have priority enrollment to Jefferson Middle College for Advanced Studies. This enrollment balancing process is tasked with resolving issues due to overcrowding at some schools and underenrollment at others.

King PreK-8, with 290 students in grades K-8 is the second smallest school in the cluster now that Humboldt was merged with Boise-Eliot and Tubman Young Women’s Academy was closed. A major consideration is whether to convert some schools back from K-8 to K-5 and add one or two middle schools. Some schools may be closed or merged, or be converted to split campuses, with different elementary grades in different buildings. While not necessarily intended as final options, the six scenarios were distributed to garner feedback from the public to help craft the final solutions. These, more refined proposals will be mailed to parents over winter break and posted to the PPS Enrollment Balancing page.

The deadline for feedback is this Wednesday, December 12th. The feedback form is available on the PPS site and can be returned to any PPS school or feedback can be emailed to enrollment-office@pps.net.

After winter break, public comment will be taken in January. Then, the Superintendent will make a recommendation to the school board who must approve the changes. If there is not a delay, the changes will take effect in fall of 2013.

A facebook group was begun to give parents, community members, and some school board members a forum to discuss the proposals and the larger issue of educational quality, programming, leadership, and transfer policy in the Jefferson Cluster. You can join in at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/291158914333031/

December KNA Board Meeting Agenda

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King Neighborhood Association – Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 6:30pm
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
4815 NE 7th Avenue, Portland, OR

Agenda

6:30 Introductions, approval of agenda and minutes

6:40 Discussion and Vote on Sherriff’s letter regarding immigration enforcement

6:50 Two Plum Park Kickstarter update

7:00 Open discussion of potential projects/initiatives for 2013

7:30 Community outreach strategy

  • Discussion around how to gain more participation from the community
  • Paper Newsletter

8:00 Adjourn

Support Holiday Meals in our Neighborhoods

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189838_2636435527200_1327170714_nThe Northeast Backpack Lunch Program, which serves needy students at Northeast Portland’s King, Harvey Scott, and Woodlawn schools, is seeking donations to provide families with turkeys and hams for the holidays.

The program, in its fifth year of operation, puts two lunches in the backpacks of needy children every week of the year to ensure they will have something to eat on Saturdays and Sundays. Volunteers have collected donations and packed lunchsacks to provide to children who are on the free or reduced price school lunch program; for some, the weekday school lunch is the only substantial meal they normally receive.

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Later this month, the Backpack Lunch Program hopes to provide each family that is part of the program with a ham or turkey. If you are interested in donating a turkey or ham, or would like to make a cash contribution to cover the cost of a turkey ham, please contact Alan at Fremont United Methodist Church, the sponsoring organization for the program. Donations are tax deductible; the church’s telephone number is 503-284-4647.

Emily Wilson writes us: We are raising funds to have a bench installed in Two Plum Park!

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photo-fullHi neighbors, we are working to have a bench installed in Two Plum Park to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the Park. Two Plum is in the King Neighborhood, between NE Shaver and Mason, NE 6th and 7th Ave, in Portland, Oregon.

 

Two Plum Park already has a lot to offer: a swing set, a play structure, a streetlamp, a mural… but no place to sit.

Maybe you want a place to sit and watch the kids while they play. Maybe you would like a place to sit and chat with a friend. Maybe you’d like a place to sit and read, enjoy your lunch, or just relax outside. You can help us make this a reality in the Park.

Our project team has approached Portland Parks about a bench for Two Plum Park and they recommended we use their Commemorative Bench Program to get a bench installed.

A Commemorative Bench with a plaque costs $5,200 and we are raising $6,000 to cover all our fees.

We’ve already raised most of the funds for a Bench, we want to raise the last bit with your help!

In the late 1990’s Two Plum Park was a vacant lot overgrown with weeds. Neighbor Joe Martin lived at the end of the block and decided to start mowing the grass. Soon other neighbors were helping to cut the grass and clean up the lot. As they continued their improvements they decided to work with the City to make the space an official Park. In 2001 the garden became Two Plum Park.

We plan to dedicate the bench to all the neighbors who cared for the space and worked to create Two Plum Park.

Please visit our Kickstarter campaign to raise the remaining funds needed, at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/818065431/a-bench-for-two-plum-park. Many thanks to all of our contributors and supporters!

 

Community Meetings Dec.3rd, 4th, to Collect Responses to Schools Concept Plans

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Proposed changes to North and Northeast Portland schools were released last week in the form of  six scenarios.  These are available here: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/enrollment-transfer/Jeff_PK8_Cluster_EB_Scenarios.pdf

There are two meetings this week that are important, but something everyone can do (even if you cannot attend the meeting) is to give your input. The best way to give input is by filling out the feedback form at this web link:
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/enrollment-transfer/Jeff_PK8_Cluster_EB_Scenario_Feedback.pdf
Please, share this with community members. They do not have to have children at the schools to have an opinion or valid ideas.   Specific points to think about were mentioned at the school board meeting last night:

  • how do you feel about the timeline being proposed (final decision by February, implementation Fall 2013)?
  • how do you feel about middle schools vs. K-8?
  • how do you feel about neighborhood schools (defined as 20 minutes walking or less)?
  • would you/do you send your child to your neighborhood school? Why? If not, why not?
  • do you believe that re-balancing efforts will solve the capture rate problem that PPS is trying to address?

The last two community input meetings will be held tonight at Beach School,  1710 North Humboldt Street 6-7:30 (in Spanish), or on Wednesday at Faubion School, 3039 Northeast Rosa Parks Way 6-7:30.  Many people of the general community, families with young kids who are not yet in school, etc., are not included in this conversation.