Parents Urge Superintendent to Slow Down Portland Public School Closure Plans

Concerns Grow Over Possible School Closures in Portland

Thousands of families within the Portland Public Schools (PPS) district are voicing concerns as the school board considers plans that could lead to the closure and consolidation of multiple elementary and middle schools starting next year.

Community Meetings Address District Proposals

PPS Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, alongside the school board, held a series of community meetings during the past weekend, including events at Grant High School and McDaniel High School. These meetings provided a forum for parents, teachers, and community members to question district leaders and express their apprehensions regarding the proposed closures.

During one discussion, a teacher described the process as sudden and lacking adequate preparation, stating, "I feel like a bomb was dropped on a lot of students suddenly on a random weekday night, and then they had to proceed to go to school the next day and teachers had no plan for how to address this." Others echoed worries about the impact such actions would have on students and the broader community.

District Leaders Cite Declining Enrollment

The PPS administration has pointed to declining enrollment as a key reason for exploring the possibility of school closures. Margaret Calvert, PPS Executive Director of School Planning and Modernization, emphasized that the district aims to strike a balance by focusing resources on as many schools as possible, with the goal of attracting families and supporting student success even as some campuses may close.

Superintendent Armstrong has engaged with stakeholders for months and is actively considering feedback as she evaluates three proposed plans. Two proposals would involve closing either 13 or 10 elementary schools, with both also calling for the closure of Sellwood Middle School. The third option, favored by many parents, suggests no closures.

Community and State Leaders Call for Slower Process

Many parents are urging the superintendent to slow down the process, expressing skepticism that closing neighborhood schools would make PPS more attractive to families. One parent reasoned, "If our problem is that people are not choosing the schools, then our solution should encourage people to choose the schools. I just have a hard time envisioning how closing a neighborhood school increases people’s desire to go to the school."

Calls for greater transparency and more time to consider the impact of school closures have extended beyond local families. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently sent a letter urging Superintendent Armstrong and the school board chair to take additional time before making decisions. During the community meeting at Grant High School, Armstrong responded, "I don’t think she said ‘pause,’ but I heard, ‘slow down, take the time to consider feedback. That’s absolutely what we’re doing.’"

Equity and Special Programs Among Key Concerns

Three of the elementary schools being considered for closure are located in Northeast Portland: Rose City Park, Irvington, and Sabin. At the McDaniel High School meeting, several parents expressed fears that dual language immersion programs, such as Vietnamese, could be lost if their schools close. Others emphasized the need for the district to employ an equity lens in its decisions, particularly regarding the impact on underserved communities.

Next Steps for Portland Public Schools

Superintendent Armstrong is expected to recommend one of the three plans to the PPS school board next month. The board will then make a final decision in December, determining the extent of school closures, consolidations, and resource reallocations for the 2027 academic year.

Source: koin.com.