Marshall in David Douglas District
From today’s Willamette Week:
The Lents Neighborhood Association wants the David Douglas School District to absorb Marshall High School from Portland Public Schools. The association says that would both give rapidly growing David Douglas a second high school in Southeast Portland and save Marshall from PPS’s proposed downsizing in its high-school redesign. Association President Nick Christensen says “the idea has been well received by all those we’ve talked to.” PPS is holding a community meeting at Marshall on Thursday, May 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
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Wouldn’t it make more sense to place a focus school at the old Kellog location? Think about it- if the focus school is only going to be kept at 400 students, why the need for a building that can hold much more? The commute for most students would be easier at Kellog and the Marshall students are already going to be split between either Madison or Franklin. Just give Marshall to David Douglas now, why wait a couple years from , because I personally don’t think PPS will get it’s 400 students IF it’s kept at the Marshall building. For many in other communities, especially Jeff and Roosevelt, it’s just too far away, and I thought the school district was trying to push this so-called ” 20 minute commute ” idea. Well, I guess that goes out the window when it comes to the couple of focus choices ( imagine if a junior or senior from Wilson were spending half their day at Benson- I highly doubt one could get from one school to the other in 20 minutes ). But see, the district wouldn’t consider putting the only real focus choice closer in because the intent is to make it as hard as possible for students from Jeff and Roosevelt to transfer anywhere( the ones with the NCLB status ) because in order for these schools to lose that status, and fast( which would completely end transfers) …the only real focus choice needs to be as far away from these 2 schools as possible. If they have no other choice, or if their only choice is a focus school on the other side of the city, and one that might be a collaboration with another school district, they are forced to stay at the neighborhood school, which is what the redesign is all about.
The David Douglas School Board has expressed no interest in buying or leasing the Marshall building. They can’t afford it anyway, as they are facing the same budget cuts that are happening all over the country. Carole Smith’s attempt to shop the building to them before releasing her redesign plan was not only premature but ill-advised and ultimately fruitless.
This secession plan is the only way that David Douglas will get Marshall. But it will mean that all children in the current catchment MUST attend Marshall, not Madison or Franklin or Benson or anywhere else, because that area would not be part of PPS any more.
Furthermore, something that hasn’t entered the discussion yet is how this would affect not only Marshall but all the schools that feed into it, including Lane Middle School, the three elementaries that feed into IT, plus four K-8s. Creative Science School might have to relocate or else work out some sort of agreement with David Douglas district.
So, a lot to consider in conjunction with this proposal.
Marshall parents and community members just want what everyone else does for their kids. We want a comprehensive neighborhood high school. The district has made it clear to us that they plan to forge ahead with Marshall’s closure despite what the community wants or needs. We’re left with no other options.
It looks like it’s time to revisit that 7 school model. Time for people to pull out those signs and put on their concerned faces.
Hmmm…this is an interesting proposal. How does the Marshall community feel about it? And the feeder schools-what do they think? It sort of makes sense. I bet DD would keep it as a large comprehensive and house a CTE program there. Might be a win-win for all. I’m interested to hear more.
Has anyone thought of the ramifications of this? Think about the feeder schools and all of the teachers in those schools who would have to find a new job/reapply through no fault of their own. If an entire cluster becomes another district, that new district would be hiring. Teachers would loose senority and benefits. These are wonderful, committed people who choose to work with some of the more difficult populations of students in the city…quite and asset to loose. And quite a slap in the face for their dedication. “Thanks for choosing to work here instead of Grant or Cleveland cluster, you’re fired!”
Thinking, I’ve thought about how a boundary change might impact the entire system. I agree that we have wonderful, committed teachers. One thing that was clear at the Marshall community meeting this week is that the students and parents are very happy with their teachers. The relationships between Marshall parents, students and staff are strong. While I empathize with any teacher or staff member who might be affected by a boundary change, I prioritize the needs of the students over the teachers. If PPS can’t give the students the education that they need, I’ll do everything I can to ensure they get it elsewhere.
It’s my understanding that the teachers wouldn’t automatically lose their jobs because of being in the Marshall cluster. The district would have to follow the same staffing process that they do when they staff for schools each year. Teachers would be assigned to positions based on their seniority, education and experience. Teachers from other clusters could be bumped for Marshall teachers.
I may have missed it but I haven’t heard much from the union on the redesign. How are they supporting students in the Marshall cluster?
The first thing that would happen within PPS is that teachers would be assigned to fill any vacancies for which they are licensed (which may be few and far between, given the bleak state budget forecast). No one would get “bumped” unless there were a layoff.
If the Marshall secession went through, then David Douglas would suddenly have 9 or 10 additional buildings to staff or close. I would think they would be glad to have the experienced PPS teachers. “Thinking” is correct that teachers starting over in a new district would lose their seniority. I don’t know how DDSD pay and benefits compare with PPS pay and benefits, but it would be a lot better than unemployment. PERS benefits would be unaffected.
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