Jefferson Cluster school reps, NECN to address school boundary changes
Two meetings this week will delve into the long-term changes planned for the schools in North and Northeast Portland that lie within Portland Public Schools’ Jefferson Middle College dual-enrollment zones. Although Jefferson was converted from a neighborhood comprehensive to a middle college focus program in the high school redesign, PPS administers this area separately from the neighborhood high school areas.
At issue is the wide variance in enrollment between various K-5 and K-8 schools in this area. PPS has already closed Humboldt School and Tubman Young Women’s Learning Academy this spring. PPS seeks to resolve the issue of persistent low enrollment at King School and Ockley Green schools while possibly changing some school configurations from K-8 to K-5 and/or creating a new middle school. King’s enrollment of 285 is far short of the district’s goal of 500. PPS also does not project any growth in the PPS student population in King.
On Wednesday July 25th, from 6-8 pm at the King Neighborhood Facility will be thhe enrollment balancing planning meeting. Director of Enrollment and Transfer at PPS, Judy Brennan, will meet with school community members to discuss the public outreach process and identify stakeholder groups in the reconfiguration process. Light dinner and child care will be provided.
The purpose of the meeting is for District staff to share information about enrollment challenges and opportunities at schools in the Jefferson Cluster, and to receive advice from community members on conducting a respectful and productive community process around these issues/opportunities this fall. The overall goal is to have recommendations for School Board action by winter that will be implemented in September 2013.
More than 20 parents and community members representing numerous schools, partner agencies, and neighborhood representatives have been invited to participate.
On Thursday, July 26th, from 6:30-8pm, the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods’ Schools Committee will meet at the King Facility as well. This meeting will follow up on the discussion of the previous night. Special guests will include Rep. Lew Frederick and his staffer and former school board member, Sue Hagmeier, for a discussion about how to support inner North and Northeast Portland’s neighborhood schools.
Wanted: Community members for Metro review committee
Metro is seeking volunteers to serve on the agency’s new Public Engagement Review Committee (PERC). The committee will meet twice a year and serve as a key component of Metro’s ongoing efforts to develop and implement successful public engagement processes.
The PERC will include at least three at-large community members along with three individuals from local community organizations, either staff or board members. The committee will also include a public involvement staff member from each of the three metropolitan counties, Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington.
In selecting PERC members, the Metro Council will seek a mix of members that demonstrate:
• a commitment to community involvement
• skills, knowledge or experience that support the public engagement principles adopted by Metro
• an ability to represent the geographic and demographic diversity of the region.
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov/engage.
The PERC is part of a multi-track strategy to ensure that Metro’s public involvement is effective, reaches diverse audiences and harnesses emerging best practices. In addition to the committee, Metro will convene public involvement peer group learning sessions, hold an annual stakeholder summit, conduct online surveys and develop an annual report of Metro’s public involvement practices.
The updated public engagement review process was adopted by the Metro Council in May following a two-year process to replace the Metro Committee for Citizen Involvement that previously oversaw the agency’s public engagement activity.
Metro, the regional government, crosses city limits and county lines to build a resilient economy, keep nature close by and respond to a changing climate. Representing a diverse population of 1.5 million people in 25 cities and three counties, Metro’s directly elected council gives voters a voice in decisions about how the region grows and communities prosper.
Soul Stroll for Health at Wilshire Park, August 18th
Via the African American Health Coalition:
The upcoming Soul Stroll wellness walk on Saturday, August 18th is taking place at NE Portland’s Wilshire Park. We are hoping to gain the support of all NE Neighborhood Associations to help spread the word about the event. The following link will take you to the event page:
http://aahc-portland.org/?page_id=41
The walk typically draws anywhere from 400-600 people, but we are hoping to increase the numbers even further for this 10th year anniversary.
This is a fantastic event that is open to the public and all communities to help support the African American Health Coalition and raise awareness within the community about the benefits of exercise and wellness and health disparities amongst the African American population.
Monthly Collective Cooking Group at St. Andrew
via Kitchen Commons:
King Neighbors: Let’s Get Cooking!
Join a FREE monthly Collective Cooking Group
Every Second Wednesday, 6:00 -8:30 p.m. April through December
St. Andrew Church, 806 NE Alberta St.In the community center (enter through the parking lot on NE 9 th)
Save time, stretch grocery dollars and share recipes. Create new, affordable, and
versatile dishes while building friendships and skills. Engage the family!
Kids cooking activities will take place each session.• Free to register: Funded by Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
• Flexible attendance: Come for one month or all sessions.
• All levels welcome: Beginners to experienced chefsRSVP by a week before each monthly session to reserve a spot:
Rell@kitchencommons.netThe King Cooking Group is facilitated and organized by Kitchen Commons. Kitchen Commons matches kitchen resources with community needs, making it affordable and practical to cook healthy food, putting the dream of a food business in reach of low-income entrepreneurs, and promoting food justice. For more information or to get involved, visit http://kitchencommons.net.