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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2013)
October 2013 NEWS The Southwest Portland Post • 3 Southwest elementary school students get increased arts funding, more classes ARTS EDUCATION By Melinda Hasting Special to The Southwest Portland Post Opportunities for arts instruc- tion for students in Southwest Portland increased in each public elementary school in the Portland Public Schools (PPS) system this fall. The controversial Portland Arts Tax passed by voters last Novem- ber has survived legal challenges, thus allowing the distribution of approximately $4.5 million for PPS to hire arts teachers this year. Local elementary schools were informed of the new funding just before the onset of fall classes. All elementary schools were to be im- pacted, according to PPS. The $35 per person tax generated between $9.9 and $10.8 million in collected revenue by the City, ac- cording to Mayor Charlie Hales’ office, an amount that was over $1 million less than officials had projected. The Portland City Council agreed to disburse the originally budgeted funds for the Art Education Access Fund to local school districts. PPS, the largest school district in the Pacific Northwest, will receive the bulk of the revenue. Here in Southwest, Maplewood Elementary School received fund- ing to hire one half-time music teacher to teach students in grades K-5. The teacher hired by Maple- wood Elementary also teaches half time in Southeast Portland’s Kelly Elementary. Maplewood Principal Annie Tab- shy said she is grateful. “We feel blessed to provide all 330 of our students with the opportunity for music instruction twice a week,” she said. Other neighborhood elementary schools, Stephenson and Capitol Hill, both received additional funding for arts teachers from the Fund. Stephenson has a music teacher and also offers orchestra and choir; Capitol Hill now has a full-time art teacher. Southwest is also home to the high-performing Jackson Middle School, whose focus on arts and music through the implementation of The Bernstein Artful Method of Learning is highly regarded. Though middle schools will not receive additional funding from the arts tax, elementary schools like Maplewood will now have opportunities to instill passion for the arts in the primary grades. Markham Elementary School received funding to hire music in- structor David Erickson full time. In addition, the school will partner with local puppet theater, Tears of Joy Theatre Company, to provide kindergarten through second graders with puppet mak- ing and performance instruction. Older students will participate in a ten-day intensive performance residency. Markham School is a participant in The Right Brain Initiative, a pro- gram launched in 2008 in response to arts funding cuts in local public schools. The initiative incorporates Wilson Cross Country Spaghetti Feed the arts into children’s daily learn- ing processes through the core curricular subjects. Both Markham and Jackson schools’ programs seek to improve students’ performance in the STEM subjects (science, technol- ogy, engineering and math) by weaving arts activities into the hard sciences (STEAM). The idea is gaining ground throughout the country as private sector employers claim shortages in American STEM job candidates. The National Science Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts, along with members of Con- gress, have expressed support for the concepts of ingenuity and cre- ativity as important components for the future economy. PoSt ClaSSifiedS adS Advertise in Post Classifieds! Just $2 per word or $39 per column inch. Email your ad to Don Snedecor at don@ multnomahpost.com or call 503-244-6933. All major credit and debit cards accepted. Deadline is the 20th of the month prior to publication. There is more info at www.SWPortlandPost.com. Help Wanted Help Wanted Freelance Reporter The Post is seeking a freelance writer/ photographer to cover Southwest neighborhood meetings, happenings, etc. E-mail cover letter, up to three clips, and current resume to: Don Snedecor, Publisher, The Southwest Portland Post, don@multnomahpost.com. Snail mail or fax OK. No phone calls, please. Advertising Sales Rep. The Post is seeking an advertising sales representative. E-mail cover letter and current resume to: Don Snedecor, Publisher, The Southwest Portland Post, don@multnomahpost.com. Snail mail or fax OK. No phone calls, please. Miscellaneous Wanted CA$H for unwanted cars, trucks, vans and motor homes. Call David, Massage 503-975-9280. Office for Lease Office Space For Lease Local residents Stu and Judy Ellis hosted Wilson High School Cross Country Team's first spaghetti feed on September 9. Over 100 carbohydrate-eating youth attended and came in second at the invitational meet held the next day in Hood River. "They were all very well behaved and hungry! We cooked over 16 pounds of spaghetti and over 300 meatballs," said Stu Ellis. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) Multnomah Village. 1000 square feet above 7832 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-295-7889 or 503-880-1408. Massage for Health & Wellness Sports Massage • Hot Stones Reflexology • Relaxation A dv ance d rapy Massage The #3 9 27 David Klick LMT • Experienced Treatments 503.977.3454 www.advancedlmt.com
