Action Alerts

My Words to the Mayor, PPS Superintendent, Jefferson High School Principal, and State Superintendent

There is a survey available to provide feedback on the Mayor's week at Jefferson High School. It's easy. For the sake of Jefferson's children, and all children of Portland Public Schools, please take a few moments to fill it out:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=a8KClIp7lT6yUKDySnFBMw_3d_3d
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Here's a link to an Oregonian / Steve Duin article stating that PPS is proposing a 30% pay cut for our SEIU custodians and food service workers.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news...

"And as the opening salvo in negotiations over a new contract with its custodians (who average $14 an hour), Portland Public Schools proposed a 30 percent pay cut." -- Duin

The custodians are actually facing a 27% pay cut, with the starting wage going from over $14 an hour to just $10.70 per hour. With food, energy and health care costs spiraling upward, this is unconscionable.
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It's time for residents of Portland to speak out against the 400-600 "school size policy" -- I put it in quotes since there is no official school size policy, just a philosophy. This size requirement is being used to disrupt, uproot, consolidate and/or close great schools simply because they have fewer than 400 students.

Please sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/smallsch/petition.html

This petition will be presented to the Board and Superintendent at an upcoming meeting, so please add your voice:
http://www.petitiononline.com/smallsch/petition.html
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It's time to make some noise for schools! Hope everyone can come to the rally that Stand for Children is organizing in Salem, Monday Feb. 19. This is a holiday for kids and also many adults. There are buses being organized from schools all around town. You can go for just the rally (12-1) or do an optional meet-your-legislator before or after the rally.

This is a once-in-our-kids-school-career opportunity to get some gains in school funding. For the first time in 16 years, the political climate in Salem as well as the economy are favorable for schools-but money is still tight and we must make our voices heard! Let's have a big NSA presence at this event.
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Below is the petition to improve schools in N/NE Portland. Monday, June 12, this petition will be presented to the school board with the first round of signatures. Please add your name to the dozens and dozens of other people who have signed.
It's easy! Just send a message to npdxparent@yahoo.com stating that you support the petition to Strengthen all Jefferson Cluster Schools. Please include your NAME and ADDRESS. You can also list the school or organization that you are affiliated with (optional).

Feeling ambitious? Feel free to print out the attached petition file to help us gather signatures. (Contact npdxparent@yahoo.com to submit any signed petitions.)

We will be collecting petition signatures after Monday's date. However we have a goal of getting 100 new signatures by the time we present it Monday evening. Please help us meet our goal! Add your voice to those calling for justice, equity, and common sense.

Thank you!

Strengthen ALL Jefferson Cluster Schools – Beach, Boise Eliot, Chief Joseph, Faubion, Humboldt, Jefferson, King, Ockley Green, Tubman, Vernon, Woodlawn – And do it NOW!

FACTS:
* The Jefferson cluster has the largest number of high school students in the District
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Some of you are familiar with the article below "Who's Behind the Money?" But what you may not know is that the GATES FOUNDATION (the force behind the Jefferson "re-re-re-re-resdesign" and "reform" of the district) monetarily supports both the strong voucher-oriented BLACK ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM (coming to Portland later this month to mess with Jeff) and the CRISTO REY NETWORK, of whom De La Salle High School (who wants to lease Jefferson's Kenton Elementary) is a member. See bold text below:

Coincidence? I think not!

And of course our friends at the Broad Foundation are mentioned in the article as well.
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A couple days ago (4/20/06) City Commissioner Eric Sten put forth a proposal that could reverse the problem of declining enrollment in Portland public schools.

You can access the statement called "Commissioner Eric Sten puts schools, healthy neighborhoods and affordable housing on center stage," as well as the accompanying resolutions through this link
http://www.portlandonline.com/sten/

Here's a quote from Sten's statement:
"We must find ways to increase the number of children in Portland Public Schools so that schools are funded at a level where they flourish not falter. Increasing families in the inner neighborhoods will not only help Portland Public Schools but will take some of the pressure off outlying districts confronted with overcrowding."
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