Video of Saturday’s Board Work Session

by Carrie Adams

7 comments

1 Zarwen { 05.17.10 at 7:30 am }

Carrie, I tried to watch this, but the audio was completely garbled and unintelligible. Did anyone else out there have better luck?

2 Jeff K { 05.17.10 at 9:39 am }

Zarwen: The first few minutes are garbled, but it gets better after that – the audio that is – not necessary the discussions

3 Leah { 05.17.10 at 9:45 am }

This was an interesting session, to say the least. I was particularly taken with the suggestion to shift the Benson program to Jeff. It is quite apparent, at least to me, that Martin has a particular agenda and that would be to have a large student population at Jeff, regardless of how it affects other schools or the system as a whole. He made a comment about the vocal Alumni group at Roosevelt and it seemed to imply that this was some kind of factor is keeping us open. Is the fact that our community has rallied around the school somehow a bad thing? Many of the Alumni are also community members-I know many kids at Roosevelt who have parents who also attended RHS. We are really pretty small town out here and a lot of have roots that go deep. There has been a movement afoot at Roosevelt for at least the last 4 years to improve the athletic facilities and get the word out that good things are happening. It isn’t just the Alumni who have been involved with improvements at RHS-they are simply the most vocal. As in any effort, someone has to lead the way. Is the fact that Benson Alumni are speaking out in defense of their beloved school also a problem? I think not.

The shifting of Benson from 4 year to 2 year is clearly an effort to keep both Roosevelt and Jefferson open. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but given the fact that 1/2 the kids come from RHS and Jeff, I can see why, at least in the 8 school scenario, it was proposed.

If Benson is kept as a 4 year program, than either Jeff or Roosevelt needs to close. It will just siphon off to many kids to keep both schools populated. Which one is a matter of opinion. Both have positives and negatives. Jeff is next to PCC. That’s a real bonus and offers all kinds of possibilities. But 50% of the folks living there say they will not send their kids to Jeff, no matter what. I don’t see how Jeff can thrive if the community at large doesn’t get behind it.

The buzz I’ve heard here on the Peninsula is that, if Roosevelt were to have a full program with all the stuff people expect a high school to have, the majority of folks will give it a try. There is a lot of support for Roosevelt staying open and going Comprehensive again.

Obviously, my personal loyalties lie with Roosevelt. However, this isn’t about what I want or what I think is best for Roosevelt. It is about what is best for all of Portland’s kids. I may not like everything that the Board adopts. But I’ll always be there for our kids.

4 Carrie Adams { 05.17.10 at 12:30 pm }

It’s much better with a Beyonce song That’s PPS audio.

By the way, I noticed that the district censored a Marshall supporter who suggested that the district owe students more time since they gave Olczak over an hour. Classy.

5 Carrie Adams { 05.17.10 at 12:34 pm }

It was painful to watch…

6 Tom Brooks { 05.17.10 at 2:47 pm }

I am watching this entire presentation in my car with Comcast 4G..It is now coming across fine – audio and video..With ALL do respect to the School Board – I did not realize how “In flux” this who decision and Information they are using to decide the fact of Benson..Obvi

7 Tom Brooks { 05.25.10 at 5:07 pm }

Carrie,

Will you be carrying the Board meeting from Ustream for Monday May 24th..??

Thanks

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