^porilmth (Obseruer
Page 6
lune 22. 2011
Cully Sidewalks
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3
federal money for the Cully project,
nearly half the project budget,
starting in 2002.
“To make the most of these lim
ited dollars, the region has focused
on making our streets safer for pe
destrians and bicyclists,” Metro
CouncilorRex Burkholder said. “It’s
especially important for us to put
these investments in minority and
low income areas that have been
overlooked by urban planners for
too long.”
The Cully project cost approxi
mately $5.4 million for design, right
of way acquisition, and construc
tion. It received approximately $ 1.9
million from the City of Portland’s
general fund, $ 1.2 million of City
of Portland Sewer System Devel
opment Charges, and $2.4 million
in federal funds through M etro’s
Metropolitan Transportation Im
provement Program.
THE GRAND OPENING
OF
THE NEW MIRACLES BUILDING
photo by
C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
Jefferson High School Principal Margret Calvert and two of her students, sophomore Bridgette Lang
and junior Melaku Arega, help announce a new partnership establishing the Jefferson High School
Middle College for Advanced Studies, a pre-college focus school for students across the city.
Tuition Free Magnet
c o n t i n u e d f r o m fron t
PLEASE COME JOIN US
ON THIS DA YOF CELEBRA TION
WHEN: Friday, July 15,2011
WHERE: The M iracles club. 4 0 6 9
N E M .L.K Portland, OR
TIME: We w ill gather on Garfield & M ason
at 10:00 Cerem ony starts at 1-4 pm
sity of Oregon that gives many of its
graduates a path to college tuition-
free.
Jefferson students will earn a
three-year scholarship to the Uni
versity of Oregon under two condi
tions; they earn 45 college credits or
a full year at Portland Community
College under the middle-college
program, and their family has an
income of less than $50,000 a year in
order to qualify them for a Pell grant.
“The Jefferson Middle College
program is an important extension
of the University of Oregon’s mis
sion to ed u cate O re g o n ia n s,”
Lariviere said, “Many of the stu
dents who will take advantage of
the program will be the first in their
families to graduate from college, an
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V
V Û V
Se habla español: other interpretation by ap poin tm ent.
accomplishment I know firsthand.
It is for that reason that I am espe
cially pleased to participate in this
program.”
Calvert expressed gratitude and
excitement for the partnership that
would offer kids “a well-defined
path” and “take away a certain anxi
ety for kids to make the transition to
college”.
With access to aspects of a tradi
tional high school experience, includ
ing performing arts, athletics and
campus activities, Jefferson students
will have the opportunity to earn
Jefferson graduates with families
that make them eligible for a Pell
grant and an Oregon Opportunity
Grant can qualify for as much as
$7,500 a year and the typical recipi
ent gets about $5,500, reports the
Oregonian. UO would cover the rest
of student’s tuition and fees, cur
rently $9,200 a year.
One year ago in June, a differ
ent scene took place on the steps
o f Jefferso n am ong education
leaders. Outspoken advocates o f
the African- American community
resisted Portland Public School
Many o f the students who will take
advantage of the program will be the first
in their families to graduate from college,
an accomplishment I know firsthand. It is
for that reason that I am especially pleased
to participate in this program.
- university of Oregon President Richard Lariviere
college credits tuition-free at PCC,
ranging from several classes to a full
year by the time they graduate.
“The Jefferson Middle College
partnership with PCC is a vital part
of our focus on graduating more
students who are ready to succeed
in college or in a competitive career
field,” said Superintendent Carole
Smith, “This partnership makes the
college experience a reality for many
more of our students and helps us
narrow the achievement gap.”
All high school students who
live in the Jefferson boundary are
able to attend the school. Students
from elsewhere in the school district
can apply to attend through a lot
tery.
“Having the University of Or
egon offer full scholarships to quali
fied students really motivates me to
take more rigorous and difficult
classes at PCC," said Bridgette Lang,
an incoming sophomore at Jefferson
and one of two students who spoke.
board vote to close Jefferson and
M arshall to provide a m ore robust
curriculum at the rem aining seven
high schools.
“It’s amazing what all can hap
pen one year later,” said Tony
Hopson of Self Enhancement, Inc,
“Je ffe rso n d e serv e d a n o th e r
chance. It was the right thing to do.”
Marshall High School’s closure
became a reality last week. Students
and faculty at the southeast Port
land campus ended the year with
disappointment as they signed their
last yearbooks and make difficult
ch o ices to m ove to M adison,
Franklin, or elsewhere.
Mayor Sam Adams along with
other education leaders, said the
partnership with Jefferson was a
new beginning for north and north
east Portland residents and part of
a city-wide initiative addressing
education for every kid, from kin
dergarten to college and cradle to
career.