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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2015)
North Portland’s Community Newspaper - Bi-Weekly - reviewnewspaper@gmail.com - www.stjohnsreview.com - 503-283-5086 Modernization project Wright Bros. Glass says good-bye for RHS breaks ground By Gayla Patton - St. Johns Review It’s the fi rst renovation of a high school in nearly 50 years “Go Rough Riders,” the famous spirit chant around North Portland, appears to be gaining momentum. Roosevelt pride is fl ourishing with successful sports teams, talented singers making music and students publishing books, and it comes at a good time as Portland Public Schools just broke ground on a $96 million modernization of their School. It all happened on Saturday, May 2, 2015. This is the fi rst time that Portland will (in essence) have a new high school since 1966 when Jackson, now a middle school, was com- pleted. The Roosevelt project is just one aspect of a $482 million, eight- year School Building Improve- ment bond that is bringing 21st century learning environments to PPS students. Already, 17 schools across the city have received such upgrades as new roofs, seismic and accessi- bility improvements, and another 27 schools (listed below) are slat- ed for work this summer. At the groundbreaking Super- intendent Carole Smith said, “To- day we take our biggest and most visible step yet toward bringing to our students the learning environ- ments that each one of them needs and deserves.” She continued, “The rise of a new Roosevelt with a central stu- dent commons, larger classrooms, career learning spaces, a new li- brary and wrap-around communi- ty services is a tribute to the Port- land community, which stepped up, despite a harsh economy, to support this bond that is beginning to transform our schools and our neighborhoods.” Smith noted that the Roosevelt project is also a tribute to the ac- complishments of students, teach- ers, staff and leaders at the school. “When I became superintendent in 2007, Roosevelt’s enrollment was W right Brothers Glass has been a staple in the St. Johns Business District for 36 years. Now owners, Mike and Vic Wright have decided, “It’s time to retire.” Body aches and pains prompted their decision. But, they want to extend a big “thank you” and “good bye” to the citizen of St. Johns. “We had a lot of interest in the building,” said Vic. “But no interest in anybody buying the glass business. They sold their building to Linda Webb, owner of It’s a Dog’s Life, next door. Vic and Mike bought out Peninsula Glass in October 1978, (see St. Johns Review article in photo, page 4 & 5.) It was originally their dad that got them into the glass business. He owned a glass shop in Clackamas. “That is where we both got some training,” said Vic. He went into the service and had been out about six months be- fore going back to work at his dad’s shop. Mike was in Canada working at a glass shop when Vic contacted him to see if he was interested in coming to Portland to open a shop together. He did. “Glass needs aren’t needed as much now,” said Vic. Continued on Page 4 Photo: Gayla Patton: The Review Mayor Hales withdraws Pembina support As this issue goes to print Jennifer Levy, co-chair for the St. Johns Neighborhood Association, sent the following email around: I have FANTASTIC news!! I just got off the phone with the mayors offi ce. “Charlie Hales has offi cially WITHDRAWN his support for Pembina, effectively KILLING the Pembina project. Please spread the word!!” Hales said in his press release, “I do not believe Pembina has made the case as far as Portland’s environmental stan- dards are concerned. And for that reason, I am asking Pembina to withdraw.” This is great news for the citizen’s of North Portland who once again successfully banned together to stop a major project they believed had the potential to negatively impact the area. Right: Dignitaries breaking ground at the Saturday, May 2, 2015 event at Roosevelt High School. St Johns Review PO Box 83068 Port. OR 97238 #10 May 15, 2015 Photo Courtesy PPS 515-840 at 730 students on its way down to 681 in 2009,” Smith said. “Five years later, the school boasts an enrollment of 947, new and ex- panded programs and partner- ships, and an 11-point graduation rate gain, with one or more Gates Millennium Scholars each of those years – including two – Isaac Kel- ly and Hawi Hussein - announced this week.” In fall 2016, Roosevelt students will start moving into new educa- tional spaces – including a new auditorium, gymnasium and li- brary/media center – after spend- ing 2014-15 in classrooms not yet under construction. On May 16, 2015 PPS breaks ground on the modernization of century-old Franklin High School Below: Michael Verbout, always active in the community for the betterment of North Portland, speaking at the event. and this fall, Faubion PK-8 will be demolished and rebuilding will be- gin in partnership with Concordia University. Next comes the mod- ernization of Grant High School, and soon master planning will be- gin for the modernization of Ben- son, Lincoln and Madison high schools. All of the high schools will retain aspects of their histor- ic structures, but the insides will be fully transformed and, in some cases, new buildings such as gyms and performing arts centers added. Twenty-seven other Schools will receive facility improvements in the summer of 2015. Nine schools: Ainsworth K-5, Buckman K-5, Creative Science/Clark K-8, Hay- Continued on Page 5 “RHS Modernization” Photo Courtesy PPS Photo Courtesy PPS