lune 23. 2010
ìl!' Portland (Dbsrrurr
Page 15
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betters td the (3cditor;
Neighbors
Support
Jefferson
has becom e the very em bodim ent o f
unsustainability. The school is one o f the
things in which our diverse neighborhood
takes pride; the current proposal, announced
without sufficient opportunity for adequate
com munity input, takes advantage o f a
manufactured crisis to close not just an
historic landmark, but what is and must
The Humboldt Neighborhood Associa­ continue to be an essential part o f the fabric
tion opposes the plan to close Jefferson o f public education in Portland.
High School. We strongly support a high
We are convinced that if Jefferson is
school redesign that will include Jefferson closed as a neighborhood school, the re­
as a comprehensive neighborhood high vised high school boundaries will divide our
school.
neighborhood between two or more schools,
The perennial issues at Jefferson have further fragmenting our community iden­
been created by Portland Public Schools, tity. Jefferson is the heart o f our neighbor­
and Portland Public Schools has a respon­ hood, a community that sees our diversity
sibility to repair what it has damaged, not as one o f our most treasured assets, and we
walk away from its own mess. Within living believe that with proper leadership, funding
memory, Jefferson was one o f the finest and programs it can thrive. As described in
schools in the state. But over the last 30 the modified plan proposed by Superinten­
years, the revolving door o f leadership at dent Smith, specifically increasing the pro­
Jefferson, along with funding issues, has jected number o f students advanced to the
stigmatized this fine school. Academic life school and reinforcing its core program
at Jefferson has regularly been disrupted by would be a great start in rebuilding Jefferson.
trendy, untested programs, poorly imple­ The parents o f young children in our neigh­
m ented, with no continuity or follow- borhood are committed to their children,
through. Under your leadership, Jefferson their local schools, and to sending their
children to Jefferson.
We believe that Portland Public School’s
treatment o f Jefferson High School through
the last 30 years, culminating in its current
proposal to close the school, is disgraceful.
The School Board cannot justify its leader­
ship credibility while leaving one o f the most
populated areas in the city and state without
a comprehensive neighborhood high school.
As parents and as com m unity m em ­
bers, we w ant Jefferson to be a strong
and healthy neighborhood school, the
center o f a m ulticultural, diverse and
vibrant neighborhood. The district should
follow up on the S uperintendent’s pro­
posal to m ake m ajor investm ents to im ­
prove Jefferso n ’s academ ic offerings and
support an environm ent that will enable
Jefferson students to succeed. The op­
portunity to bolster Jefferson as a com ­
prehensive school is also an opportunity
to bolster pride in our neighborhood and
unite our com m unity.
We insist you support a high school rede­
sign that will include Jefferson as a compre­
hensive neighborhood high school.
Humboldt Neighborhood Association
Paul Anthony, chair
MNNNMM
History of Disrespect
Your editorial (Saving Jefferson High School, June 16 edition)
against the recently-announced proposal put forth by the majority
o f school board members to close Jefferson High School, was an
excellent, thoughtful, and informed one, and I applaud you.
Y ou did a great job illuminating how high the stakes are at this
moment; that their vote is not merely today's intent, but is a
continuation o f the history o f disrespect and thoughtlessness that
has contributed to Jefferson's current difficult moment.
It is public record that Portland Public Schools has a less than
enviable history in response to the needs and aspirations o f
students o f color, low-income and poor students and, particularly
African-American students. As a result, the public education o f
our children includes numerous sorry chapters, with Jefferson HS
bearing constant witness to ideas for change that never material­
ize for the betterment or benefit o f our students.
The anticipated move by the board to close down Jefferson,
challenges the recommendations o f a thoughtful Superintendent who
has given evidence that she is trying to do differently than her
predecessor; which certainly should count for more than a quick
"hands down!"
That Carole Smith has recommended a new starting point for
Jefferson - and Benson - although flawed in a num ber o f aspects,
provides room for consideration and negotiation to benefit the
many families and students in our community who have histori-
(Obscrlier
Established 1 9 7 0
USPS 9 5 9 -6 8 0 ______________________________________
47 4 7 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
E ditor - in -C hief . P ublisher : Charles
H. Washington
E d ito r : M ic h a e l L e ig h to n
D istr ib u tio n M a n a g er : M a r k W a s h in g to n
C r eative D ir e c t o r : P a u l N e u fe ld t
cally been ignored or dismissed, and we need that option.
I'd suggest to our school board that they be more transparent,
honest and brave enough to tell the truth about their quick and
sudden agreement; that they more clearly articulate the assumed
benefits and the implications for their choices.
I'd further suggest that they give the larger Jefferson HS
community the same level o f consideration and deference they
accorded to the more affluent and connected Grant High School
when suggestions for change, including closure, surfaced.
Anything less is simply unacceptable.
Sharon Gary-Smith, Community and Social Justice Advocate
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