^Jortlanò (Observer___________________________ PaseA7
August26,2009
Pandemic!
Business ow ners were ad­
pen.
The federal government has vised to develop a plan to keep
A key co m p o n en t o f the purchased the H1N1 vaccine afloat during the pandem ic,
state’s plan is the distribution and will distribute it through which might involve flex time
of a H 1N 1 flu vaccine that will local health departments. The or telecommuting.
Sandra M cDonough o f the
lik ely be ap p ro v ed by the state will monitor the vaccine
Portland B usiness A lliance,
FDA this fall. It will be dis­ for any side effects.
Throughout the summit, of­ citing figures from the Mexico
tributed to an unprecedented
City Cham ber of Com m erce,
said that the city lost $58 m il­
lion dollars a day last spring
when it had to shut down over
fears of H1N1 virus spread­
ing.
State Superintendent of Pub­
lic Education Susan Castillo,
said that schools will also be a
-S ta te Superintendent of
place where the virus is spread,
Public Education Susan Castillo
and stressed that sick children
two million people through­ ficials stressed that people who should stay hom e, and that
out the state. It w ill targ et experience flu-like symptoms public schools would be work­
pregnant women, people who should not come into work or ing closely with local health
departments.
live with or care for infants, school.
“Our schools have a vital role
Keeping sick people at home
h e a lth c a re w o rk e rs , and
in
helping prevent the spread
people betw een six m onths is considered one of the most
o
f
the d is e a s e ,” she said.
difficult
parts
of
preventing
the
through 64 years of age.
“That’s
where the kids are and
spread
of
the
virus
since
work­
“T h is is u n p re c e d e n ted ,”
we
know
how good kids are at
ers
and
em
ployers
alike
will
said Paul Cieslak, medical direc­
tor for the state’s immunization likely be reluctant to slow down spreading germs.”
The state’s biggest challenge
program. “We’ll really need all w ork d u rin g a stru g g lin g
may come in preparing the most
hands on deck to make it hap­ economy.
continued ^ ^ f r o m Front
Our schools have a vital role in
helping prevent the spread o f the
disease. That's where the kids are
and we know how good kids are at
Spreading germs.
PHOTO BY J a K e T h OMAS/T h E PORTLAND OBSERVER
Gov. Ted Kulongoski announces a statewide strategy to deal with the H1N1 virus to a
crowd o f health professionals from across the state. He holds a copy o f John M. Barry's
"The Great Influenza," a book about the 1918 flu pandemic that killed millions.
vulnerable and disadvantaged quired to meet the needs of
these populations.
for the pandemic.
At one point during the sum­
A 2008 state report on pan­
dem ic p re p a re d n e s s sta te s mit, officials were asked during
that people in group homes a question period about plans
and assisted-living facilities to help prepare the poor and
are at a greater risk, and addi­ m inorities. Kohn responded
tional planning might be re­ that most local health depart­
ments would be handling this
issue.
But throughout the summit
officials stressed a simple, yet
effective, strategy in prevent­
ing the spread of the virus:
wash your hands and cover
your mouth when you cough.
Fight for Equity
continued ¿ ^ f r o m Front
seven com m unity schools that will
serve 1,100 to 1,400 students in ad­
dition to m agnet and alternative
program s. Course offerings will be
largely consistent at each n eig h ­
borhood school. The open transfer
policy will also become a thing of
the past.
A lso in clu d ed in the p lan are
three to six m agnet schools. Their
sizes will range from 300 to 1,000
students, and will be open to en­
rollm ent from across the district.
"Some students really do truly
benefit from sm aller schools,” said
Singer o f why sm aller schools were
included as an option.
Carlin Ames also noted that the
redesign isn ’t aim ed solely at solv­
ing the problem s of sm aller strug­
gling schools, but also some o f the
inadequacies at better-perform ing
schools.
"The g rad u atio n rates are not
what they should be at any of our
high schools," she said.
As p ro p o se d , b etw een one to
three neighborhoods w ould have
its high school converted into m ag­
nets or face closure, which will cer­
tainly face com m unity backlash.
Carlin Ames is quick to point out
that sm aller schools that have dras­
tically lost their student population
w on’t be the first on the cutting
block. Instead, a holistic set of fac-
tors will be taken into account,
like the school’s proximity to pub­
lic transportation, and others that
are still being determ ined.
She also stressed that PPS will
be co n d u ctin g com m unity out-
reach to get a sense of what the
c o n v e rsio n o f a n eig h b o rh o o d
school to a m agnet m ight mean.
PPS h as y e t to h a m m e r out
many o f the details involved with
the redesign, like what the themes
o f each m agnet school will be,
how program s at existing schools
will be affected, and long range
planning for facilities. These is­
sues will be resolved in the fall,
after soliciting public input, which
could cause some hiccups for the
process.
C arlin A m es adm its that PPS
h as h a s tily im p le m e n te d top-
down changes in the past, such
as the reconfiguration o f some
m iddle schools to K indergarten
through 8th Grade program s, and
those actions have bred com m u­
nity distrust.
"There have been a lot o f things
done to the com m unity and not
done w ith the com m unity over
time," she said. "There is nothing
p e o p le c a re a b o u t m o re th an
schools."
!
1
]
I
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P or i land O bserver
A $2.85 million renovation is coming to North Denver Avenue, the Kenton Neighborhood's historic Main Street.
Kenton Street to Get Makeover
A streetscape makeover is coming
to the Kenton Neighborhood of north
Portland as a full range of improve­
ments begin on North Denver Av­
enue, the historic community’s main
street.
Construction is expected to be­
gin early next m onth on renovating
a 4.5-block stretch of D enver from
Interstate Avenue south to W atts
Street.
The improvements include wider
sidewalks, new street trees, storm
I
water planters, pedestrian lighting,
concrete street resurfacing, a granite
public art sculpture and seven carved
stone benches.
The $2.85 million North Denver
Avenue Streetscape Improvem ent
Project is funded by the Portland De­
velopment Commission in coordina­
tion with the Portland Bureau of
Transportation.
The city has been working with lo­
cal businesses, community represen­
tatives, and technical experts since
2006 to plan the right mix of attrac­
tive, functional improvements.
The project exemplifies the vision
of 20-minute neighborhoods called
out as a key element of the city's new
economic development strategy.
Related revitalization projects in­
clude Multnomah County’s remodel­
ing of commercial space at 8226 N.
Denver for a new library branch; reno­
vation o f the iconic Paul Bunyan
statue; and the opening of new busi­
nesses in the neighborhood.