Monday, June 12, 2006

PPS School Closures - Admitting Mistakes Will Be Too Late

I'm reflecting on the recent news by auditors (one since quit because of the lack of transparency of the School Board) of Portland Public Schools:
  • School Choice option and magnet schools are causing more segregation.
  • Administration mistakes put poor at the bottom of list for having a choice.
  • Superintendent admitting that this is serious and will get fixed.

So, parents blindly accept PPS decision to close schools and to be involved in a "Community Discussion" of school reconfiguration and academic improvement options (discussing the possibility of solutions that include keeping all neighborhood schools open -- NOT an option allowed by the PPS).

Should we maybe be concerned that the PPS is not really getting the best advice from outside consulting firms? Should we not be concerned that the Community Process is being heavily facilitated by someone not from Portland, OR or any community in Oregon?

I can hear the voices 2 years from now -- Vicki Phillips saying, "Yes, the closure of neighborhood schools and the impact to our neighborhoods and larger community -- this is a serious problem that will be addressed".

People are out there with best intentions to "leave no child behind " while trying to solve the school budget problems; being steered by outside influences --- the "consumers", parents and citizens of Portland, need to put on the emergency brake. A reality check is needed and an evaluation of the impact of closing neighborhoods schools needs to measured and monitored by an organization representing US.

No comments: