8 • The Southwest Portland Post
FEATURES
June 2014
Wilson High School principal outlines future for students
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Beginning in September, Wilson
High School will undergo a fresh coat of
ideas, changes, and courses. Besides the
required credits needed for graduation,
there will be an assortment of classes
normally offered at a community center.
According to Principal Brian Chatard,
for the first time in 12 years, the school
budget was not cut. Instead, he has been
busy hiring.
Chatard gave his “State of the School”
report to the Southwest Neighborhoods,
Inc. Schools Committee on May 15. Cha-
tard was asked to speak on the changes,
challenges, and the future of Southwest
schools.
“There is a lot of interest in Portland
Public Schools right now,” Chatard said.
“Class sizes are lower. Amazing can-
didates have applied, and due to many
retirements, fresh, new teachers will be
in the building this coming fall. I have
15 openings.”
Chatard replaced long-time Principal
Sue Brent who retired in June 2012. Cha-
tard was a vice-principal at Grant High
School and began his stint at Wilson the
following September. While at Grant, he
partnered with the Hollywood Theatre in
documentary film and film as language
classes.
According to Chatard, not all students
excel at the three Rs (reading, writing, and
‘rithmetic). “Instead, one student may
thrive in the arts, others in technology,
and some in the core areas. We have to
offer diverse topics that will be market-
able in the 21st Century.”
Take physical education and health. Ac-
cording to Chatard, a third of the students
excel, a third does okay, and the rest hide.
It’s his goal that students become more
physically active beyond the minimal P.E.
requirements.
P.E. curriculum will eventually include
lifestyle activities such as rock climbing,
hiking, physical fitness, and ultimate
Frisbee, not just team soccer or basketball.
“My wish is to encourage everyone
to be fit and healthy,” stressed Chatard.
“There are over 850 student athletes here
at Wilson but we need to compete with
24 Hour Fitness.”
Wilson received a sizeable grant to
convert two classrooms into a fitness,
yoga, and mindfulness center. Educators
emphasize that students who practice
yoga remain healthier spiritually, physi-
cally and emotionally.
For this reason Wilson has partnered
with One House of Peace (Zen medita-
tion and awareness). An Oregon Health
and Science University research study
will follow 90 students regarding the im-
pact of yoga, nutrition and healthy eating.
Chatard also has to face the common
core standards which are directed from
Salem. With more than 1230 students
enrolled at Wilson, the state is concerned
about all students passing.
After four years of high school, the state
accounts for students in one of eight cat-
egories: regular diploma, adult diploma,
modified diploma, extended diploma,
alternative certificate, GED, continued
enrollment or dropout.
Wilson’s graduation rate is 84.4 per-
cent. “Assessment is a hot button,”
Chatard went on. “It’s not written in a
user-friendly way. The tests are the most
controversial and the state is not helping”
An astounding 40-60 percent of stu-
dents are not expected to pass the exams.
Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills involves a lot of writing and inter-
acting on computer.
If a student does not pass OAKS, teach-
ers and staff need to remediate in order
for students to pass. It begins in May
2015. “What do you do with kids that
don’t ever pass?” one of the committee
members asked.
“The Oregon Education Association
is calling for a moratorium until this is
properly vetted,” answered Chatard.
“Private schools are not held accountable
to the assessments.”
“Who benefits?” someone else asked.
“The corporate test makers,” replied
Chatard.
Beyond faculty, resources for schools
are on the back burner especially on
the west side. The budget for basics like
books, furniture, and computers hasn’t
been raised in over 10 years.
Principal Brian Chatard
“At $72 a student, it doesn’t amount
to much,” Chatard said. “There has been
a lot of fundraising by parents but advo-
cacy is needed here in Southwest Port-
land. Workstations need to be replaced,
students need new computers. My
furniture is from the early ‘70s!”
A ground breaking event for the new
Wilson turf field will be held on Thursday,
June 5, at 5:00 p.m. It will be the last event
on the old field and there will be a spring
football intra-squad scrimmage.
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