Portland observer., April 11, 2012, SPECIAL EDITION, Page 23, Image 23

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High Emotions on Schools
continued
from front
every year we have been getting
letters saying this is a failing school,
and you need to transfer your child
out. But I never did because I really
believe in this school.”
. According to Pulla, the closure
of Tubman is not a matter of saving
funds. “It is not a cost saving mea­
sure,” she said. “So if it is not, then
what is it?”
According to Portland Public
S ch o o ls, e n ro llm e n t at both
Humboldt and the Young Women ’ s
Leadership Academy cannot sup­
port access to core academic offer­
ings without a subsidy of teaching
positions, which the school district
can no longer afford.
Pulla said, however, enrollment
is low because the school is still
new, and many residents through­
out the city have yet to learn about
what many call a “hidden gem.”
“She (Superintendent Smith) said
it is an issue of enrollment, but we
have 220 kids,” she said. “And we
don’t have the history, the commu­
nity support or a champion in the
photo by M indy C< x ) per /T he P ortland O bserver
district like other schools.”
Emotions are running high at Harriet Tubman Young Women’s Leadership Academy over a school district proposal to close the school
Pulla compared Tubman to be
because o f low enrollment. Critics o f the plan say the lack o f students was not a result o f a lack o f interest in the program, but by
like that of a planted seed.
constant threats o f closures in the past.
“If it grows, it will provide shade
to the entire community,” she said. com m unity partners, including rican American community has not county, and enrolled them in the get on Wednesday, April 11 at 6
“They say they are pouring so much Intel, Project Lead the Way, Youth shown ownership like they have academic program. “This school p.m. at Roosevelt High School, 6491
water and money, but if you keep Employment Institute, PSU and Or­ with Jefferson or Roosevelt. “But draws people to the city,” she said. N. Central St. On Thursday, April
digging the ground underneath, how egon Tradeswomen, students are this school will be an asset to the “You can’t just look at the current 12, Superintendent Smith and school
can you grow roots?”
exposed to college level academics, community, the city and in the long- numbers.”
board members take feedback spe­
Every year kids come and go, and small personalized learning environ­ run, it will benefit the economy of
She said one student felt the cifically on her recommendation to
we can’t build a community, she ments, a four-year engineering path­ this county,” she said.
potential closure of the school was close the Harriet Tubman Leader­
said. “The community needs to step way program, a media lab and full
In spite o f the lack of support the the board’s way o f saying the ship Academy for Young Women
library.
up. This school is unique not just
school has received from the sur­ school has failed. “But we haven’t and consolidate Humboldt PK-8
because it’s an all-girls school, but
“I am proud of our school and so rounding community, Pulla said they failed,” she said. “So why would School at Boise-Eliot PK-8 School.
it is an all-girls school focused on very proud of our girls,” said YWLA have maintained the numbers. “The you close a school that is success­ The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at
math, science and leadership.”
Principal Bonnie Hobson on the students here are very talented girls ful?”
H u m b o ld t S c h o o l, 4915 N.
Although Pulla said she is proud school’s website. “I am also deeply with high aspirations,” she said.
“They haven’t done this to other Gantenbein Ave.
of her girls, both who will attend grateful for the support of their fami­ “And this school is different. The schools without giving it time to
“Tubman has the potential to be,
college next year once they receive lies. We have built a unique commu­ girls come from all over the district.” grow first,” she said. “We want to if they will only let it be,” said Pulla.
their high school diplomas, she said nity that has served so many girls so
Hobson said even parents of in­ show our protest, because we have
H obson agreed. “We want
it is unfair that other young women well.”
coming students have been calling not been heard,” she said.
people to know that we matter,” she
might not have access to the same
There is such untapped poten­ the office to see if there is any way
The Board of Education will hold said.
q u ality o f e d u catio n like her tial in these girls, said Hobson. “I’ve to help the school remain open.
another public meeting on the bud­
daughter’s received at H arriett seen so much growth in just the
According to Pulla, only two
Tubman.
short time I have been here.”
percent of girls who graduate from
“There are several reasons why
According to Pauline Celino, who boys and girls schools pursue a
this closure is different from other works in the main office at Tubman, career in the sciences and math.
B a lfo u r B e a tty R a il, In c . I E ic o n C o r p o r a tio n J o in t V e n tu r e
schools,” she said. “This school Hobson is a wonderful administra­
She said, however, 13 percent in
Request for Quotes for equipment, supplies, construction and services from all
isn’t even five years old.”
tor, who cares deeply for academics all-girls schools go onto math and
Qualified Subcontractors and Suppliers including C e rtifie d D B F's for
At first glance, Tubman doesn’t and the well being of the girls and science careers.
T riM e t PM LR LIGHT R A L S Y S TE M S RFP NO. R H 1 1 0 4 9 4 B W
appear like most public schools in the staff.
Both o f Pulla’s daughters are
To d o w n lo a d P lans. S pecifications, and C o n tract D o cum ents: Copy and paste ftpV/ftp.
Portland.
“My heart is attached to this going on to study engineering in
elconcorp.com in the address bar of Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer)
Inside the main building, where school,” she said. “But life is what college, which was inspired by their
Username: pmlr Password: zeke@ep9u
the all-girls student environment it is, and it is a difficult economic experiences at Tubman, where they
prepares young women to seek ca­ time.”
Q uotes R e q u e sted fo r scopes of w o rk including: Environmental Monitoring • Quality
both became interested in the field.
Control • Permit Coordination • Security • Temporary Fencing • Pole Painting •
I have tremendous respect for
reers in math and science, images of
When Pulla moved with her fam­
Excavating - Trenching • Signage • Trucking • Flagg ing/Traffic Control • Saw Cutting
Harriet Tubman decorate the walls, Portland Public Schools and the ily to Oregon, she said they initially
next to hung slogans, which read decisions they have to make for the planned to live in Beaverton be­
DBE OUTREACH MEETING W l± BE HELD AT THE OREGON ASSOCIATION OF MWORTTY
“Change Starts with a Girl.”
well-being of the entirety of the or­ cause a real estate agent warned her
ENTREPRENEURS (O AM E) ON
Students are required to come to ganization, said Celino. “But it’s of the Portland public school sys­
A P R IL 1 7 , 2 0 1 2 FR O M 4 -6 P M .
4 1 3 4 N . VANCOUVER AVENUE, PO RTLAND, OREGON 9 7 2 1 7
school every day in uniform, which hard, and I think a lot of the staff tem.
For all other questions, please contact our estimating department:
consists of a white polo shirt for feels the same way.”
She said, however, when she
Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc. I Eicon Corporation Joint Venture
middle school or a yellow polo shirt
According to Pulla, more than 40 heard of Tubman, the plans for her
5300 SE Johnson Creek Blvd. Bldg. B
for high school, and navy blue, khaki percent of the students at Tubman daughter’s education changed.
Milwaukie. OR 97222
Brian
Myers
at
Phone:
971-279-2391
or André Baugh at 503-736-2569
or black bottoms.
are A frica n A m erican young
That same year, Pulla and her
At Tubman, which has several women. She said, however, the Af­ family bought a home within the
A n E qual O pportunity a n d A f f l r m a t o A ction E m p lo yer
S*""""’ INVITATION TO BID