Event reports

The following is a letter from Lynn Schore to Jefferson High School principal Cynthia Harris regarding their exchange at an Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs meeting Saturday.

September 17, 2007

Dear Dr. Harris:

I attended the public Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs (OABA) meeting on 9/15/07 at AME Zion Church. I have been an OABA member, as well as a Jefferson High School PTSA member and volunteer, for three years. The Saturday OABA meeting was described as a chance to get to hear the opinions of key PPS administrators on schools issues, and to ask questions.

The meeting was attended by PPS administrators Leslie Rennie-Hill, Willie Poinsette, Judy Elliott, Cynthia Harris, and Barbara Adams. Other people present included OABA president Calvin Henry, Ms. M. Henry, Ms. Lulu R. Stroud-Johnson, Mr. Sam Jackson, Ms. Loretta Smith, Mr. Robert Phillips, Ms. Nicole Breedlove, "in-house Oregonian reporter on contract at Jefferson High School" Kimberly Melton, myself and others. Arriving later were Sheila Warren and Colleen Davis.
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1. Link to Roosevelt High's School Report on the incidents:

http://www.kgw.com/education/localeducation/vitindex.html

2. Racial slurs probed at HS basketball tourney
March 15, 2007
By kgw.com and Associated Press Staff

EUGENE, Ore. -- Students, coaches and administrators from Portland's Roosevelt High School say they were subjected to racial slurs and harassment at last week's Class 5A basketball playoffs in Eugene.

In a statement requested by the state Department of Education, Roosevelt Principal Deborah Peterson wrote that black female students from her school were called "whores" by white female students after the March 7 game against Eugene's Churchill High School. It's unknown if Churchill students were the alleged name-callers.
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Here are my thoughts related to the Sellwood boundary discussion at the Oct. 23 Board meeting, which I sent to the Board and to the Oregonian's Paige Parker— 1. I totally agree that boundary changes/adjustments should happen regularly as needed. David Wynde alluded to other districts simply sending out announcement letters regarding boundary changes (i.e. not having elaborate & lengthy community deliberations). I have to say, this sounds like a good idea — as long as staff are absolutely certain they have redrawn the boundaries accurately and appropriately. Community input should still be considered (and in the case of Sellwood, the community was essential to coming up with this creative solution), but would not be a requirement before the District takes action.
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Note: WASL is a Washington Assessment for Student Learning test.

Press Release- For Immediate Release

Mothers Against WASL to Sponsor Race Car in Rose Cup

Contacts: Lisa Sampson, Executive Board Member, Vancouver, 360/608-4896

Juanita Doyon, PEN Director, Spanaway, 253-973-1593

In their quest to diversify word-spreading strategy, Parent Empowerment Network/Mothers Against WASL will raise WASL awareness by sponsoring race car driver Steve Sampson in this weekend's Rose Cup at Portland International Raceway.

Steve, who has taken first place in his past two races, will be driving his '94 Camaro Z 28, freshly adorned with the traditional red slashed WASL symbol of Washington State's most outspoken high-stakes test resistance group, Mothers Against WASL.
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Glenda from the Jefferson PTSA writes about the Jeff Grad Nite Party:

"It is well to be advised that we have received statements from the YMCA Metro Administrators and Attendants that in all their 16 years of hosting Grad Nite Parties that the Thomas Jefferson High School Graduates were the most well mannered young adults that they have ever had in that facility! And that they particularly encourage us to consider them 1st for any event in the future.

That s saying something that we who work with these kids aren t surprised by but others may be!"

Here is a re-post of a blog entry I made last night at:

http://tinyurl.com/pctq2

PDX PPS Slick SE Community Discussion Tonight.."BAAAA...BAAA"

First PPS Professionally Facilitated SE Community Discussion a success? "BAAA...BAAAA"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Portland, OR
CONTACT: Jim Dow, 503-502-0113

A little background on the Portland Public School District Conversations (partial re-print of the news release):

NEWS ADVISORY - May 24, 2006
Contact: Sarah Carlin Ames, 503-916-3212, sames@pps.k12.or.us
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Very good Oregonian story on last night's Board meeting and the final round of votes on Supt. Phillips' sweeping reconfiguration/closure proposals.

Some random quotes/comments:

Bobbie Regan on Hollyrood (after she finished a totally uncalled-for and disrespectful attack on the quality of their building):
"This is not OK for one community in one part of town to have a 215-student school when no other community will have that opportunity," she said. "It's totally inequitable."

All right then--let's apply that same standard to the small focus options and charter schools around town. Why should students at these programs enjoy the many benefits of a small school program, while all neighborhood students are forced into Supt. Phillips' cookie-cutter 400-600 model? That is totally inequitable.
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