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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1980)
Portland Observer January 31, 1880 PAga 3 Do plans deseg address the issues? Last fall a school boycott was threatened by the Black United Front and the School Board re sponded with short-term and long term policies for resolution o f the problems indicated by the Black United Front. On January 30th, the School Board adopted for the purpose of public discussion two plans, out of which is expected to come the Board’s final response. Concern has been expressed in the community over .how well the Board’s plans respond to their own long-term policy. 1. The developm ent of a c o m prehensive plan on all aspects of the d e s e g re g a tio n /in te g ra tio n program. This plan w ill reflect the Board's affirm ative duty to m a in ta in in d iv id u a l school populations of not more than 60 per cent minority students. This plan should be c o m p le te d no later than January 31. 1980. Response: The Board no longer calls its plan “ Comprehensive” . Plan I provides m inor boundary changes that w ill lower m inority percentages at Sabin, relieve over population at King and Humboldt, allow voluntary transfer o f Black children out and white children in, and assigns upper grade children to middle schools. I t ’ s desegregative character will depend on the volun teerism of whites and although all Black children can remain in neigh borhood schools, the plan w ill depend on heavy recruiting o f Blacks to other schools. Plan II reorgnizes the Lincoln Cluster schools but adds little to desegregation. King and Humboldt children would be assigned to west side schools in a mandatory one way pattern. This plan does not ad dress the equity issue - unfair bur den on Black children. Pacific Power / I 2. The in v o lv e m a n t of a w id e cross-section of the community - B la c k , w h its and o th e r minorities - Including the Black U n ited F ront, the C o m m u n ity Coalition for School Integration, and parents w h o w ould be a f fected. In the consideratione and planning, although the primary function of the development of th e c o m p re h e n s iv e plan w ill rem ain w ith the Board and its staff. As pointed out by Steve Buel, there has been no input in the plan by the Black United Front or other Black organizations, and the Board has had no formal contact with the BUF since the adoption o f the long term policy. The period from today u n til February 25th w ill feature public forum s and other public meetings to allow citizens to express concerns. 3. The establishment of primary grades. K-5, at all A lb in a schools, which are not conver ted to m id d le schools or for o th e r a p p ro p ria te standard a ss ig n m en ts fo r stu d en ts at each grade level. P rim ary grades have been established at Humboldt and Eliot. Plans provide that Humboldt w ill go through the 5th grade and Eliot through the 4th. 4. The com pletio n of planning for and implementing of at least one in teg ra te d m iddle school, and perhaps tw o , in the Albina com m unity. A m iddle school w ill be established at Adams high School. For the Black United Front, “ in the com m unity” meant in the Boise, Eliot, King, Humboldt, Sabin, Ir vington, Vernon, Woodlawn neigh borhoods. The Board and some others consider Adams to be “ in the community” . Citizen o f the Week ■ 'I ' AJ a* John Craig is one who quietly contributes to programs for senior citizens and children. One of his lesser known con tributions was to provide meat for the monthly luncheon meeting of Albina area senior citizens for the period of a year, while releasing staff members to help prepare and serve the food. An added surprise was Mother's Day corsages. Among his youth interests are Little League and Jefferson High School. Craig is the ow ner o f C om plete G ardening Service, established in 1972. The com pany does landscape in stallation, sprinkler installation, maintenance, indoor foliage and building remodeling. A native of Washington, D.C., Craig studied his profession in Maryland After moving to Oregon he attended Mt. Hood Community College to familiarize himself w ith local con ditions. He is a member of the National Landscape Association, the American and Oregon Landscape Associations; the American Nurserymen's Association and the Oregon Nurserymen's Association; the International Association of Arboriculture; the Northwest M inority Contractors Association and the Senior Adult Service Center Advisory Board. A resident of Portland, Craig has four boys, ages 20 to 13. A second middle school w ill be testing, supported by diagnostic established at the old Monroe tests and other psychological building, which is to be a magnet measurements as needed. “ Students school to attract students from would be allowed to challenge their throughout the district. placement and to attempt higher The developm ent of e process achievement level classes but would by which parents, m em bers of have to demonstrate a continuing c o m m u n ity o rg a n iz a tio n s . In level o f proficiency to remain there. cluding the Black United Front, and civic leaders can be involved in the selection of staff to w ork in schools that are part of the d eseg reg atio n /in teg ratio n p ro cess. This policy has not been ad dressed. 6 The purposeful allocation of fun d s so th a t m a jo r c o n c e n tra tio n s of lo c al, s ta te and federal m onies designated for purposes re la te d to In- te g ra tio n /d is a d v a n ta g e d s e r vices w ill occur in any cluster furthering the desegregation/in tegration effort. ESAA desegregation funds are allocated for 20 schools next year. This policy addressed the need to concentrate money in a few receiving schools so there would be enough for significant programs. This was tied to reduction o f scat tering of children. The plans do not specifically address scattering o f children or money. 7. The d ire ctio n by the Board that the Superintendent create a m ore e x ten s ive course o f in stru ction for teachers and a d ministrators in the subject areas of B lack h is to ry and c u ltu re , along w ith in s tru c tio n in the h is to ry and c u ltu e of o th e r e th n ic m in o ritie s and the p ro b lem s c rea te d by social class. T each ers assigned to clusters in the desegregation/in tegration program will complete such in s tru c tio n b e fo re the beginning of the 1980 81 school year. Pacific Power No Personnel Director has been hired. The D is tric t w ill fo r th w ith develop plans to seek modification in HEW's position concerning certificated minority staff distribution. The district has notified HEW that it will no longer adhere to the Singleton Rule and is prepared to legally challenge the rule. The district was put under the Singleton rule, which regulates the assign ment of minority teachers to schools w ith a m a jo rity o f non-white students, after the d istrict was found guilty o f discrim ination in teacher assignment. DES CONNALL Professional Corporation LEGAL CLINIC 8. The developm ent w ith in the c o m p re h e n s iv e p la n , of p ro grams and curriculum directed at enhancing the self-worth and c u ltu ra l id e n tity o f Black students. The administration has presented plans fo r im proving the A lbina prim ary schools. These include; Children w ill receive intensive in struction in oral language, listening, reading, handw riting, spelling, com position, and com putation. C hildren’ s progress w ill be systematically evaluated, parents and chldren will use “ learning con tracts” , teachers w ill use in- diviualized teaching plans. “ Staff excellence will be insured by recruitment and continuing staff development.” Aides and various support personnel w ill be added. Parent involvement will be a strong component. “ Extended homes" will provide after-school study and tutoring. Various middle school programs have been offered including a magnet middle school that would have entrance requirements, with enriched educational opportunities tor advanced students, a visual and perform ing arts school, a fu n damental school. One middle school option is the Academy Middle School organized into three levels representing high, middle and low achievement. A school of 600 with 200 at each level is envisioned. “ It is possible to provide common experiences across achievement levels if socialization among groups is desirable.” Students would be placed in a “ tra ck” through achievement The Black United Front will present its education plan to the community on February 7th, 7:00 at King Neighborhood Facility. Eddie Robinson protests A lam eda/Sabin boundary changes citing the burden of desegregation still remains on Blacks. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) The Morns Marks House 1501 SW Harrison Street Portland 97201 Telephone 227-26ÔÔ A teacher training component has been designed, dealing with school desegregation, the concept o f ethnic m in o r ity , A f r o - A m e r ic a n education, culture, social status and current problems; the desegregated school; cu ltural pluralism in education. Fifty staff members are currently enrolled in the course at Portland State University and they are expected to teach the course. Training w ill be provided on a voluntary basis, but principals may ask teachers to enroll. The current course does not ad dress specifically in any detail the history and culture o f Blacks and other minorites as was requested by the BUF. NOTICE BROUGHT TO YOU BY 8. The Im m ediate Inatruction of the S u p e rin te n d e n t to re c o m m end to th e Board th e e m ploym ent of a d irecto r o f per- aonnel w ho haa. as a akill and in te re s t, th e p ro d u c tio n of m inority hiring gains, and who w ill increase the D la tric t’s a p plicant pool of qualified minority teachers and o th er s ta ff. The D is tric t is p re p a re d to hire special recruitere if necessary. 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