Fortiani» (Obseruer
Maj, 16. 2012
IN S ID E
This page
Sponsored by:
Page 3
FredMeyer
What's on your list today?»
C areer
E d u c a t io n s
photo by M indy C ooper ZT he P ortland O bserver
A warm and sunny M other’s Day was the backdrop for the first Sunday Parkways event o f the
season as bicyclists and walkers fill the streets around Alberta Park in northeast Portland for a safe
family-fun environment.
pages 11-13
Unique Portland Fun
Sunday
Parkways begins
a new season
S ummer
F un G uide Ì
page 14-15
C lassifieds
pages 16-17
O pinion
pages 18-19
H ealth
pages 20-21
C alendar
page 23
F ood
page 24
loops, which were filled with ven­
dors, music, and activities at the
first Sunday Parkways event of 2012.
“I have never seen so many bikes
in my life,” said Kellie Haplon, who
was visiting northeast on Mother’s
by M indy C ooper
Day with her daughter at Alberta
T he P ortland O bserver
Paik.
In northeast Portland on Sun­
The fam ily-fun event closed
day, residents discovered what the streets to open up a designated
neighborhood was like when cars eight mile route, which connected
became the minority on the street’s Woodlawn, Alberta and Femhill
parks for people to roll, walk, and
bike all day, when residents enjoyed
a plethora of community activities.
Liliana Thirdgill, a resident of
northeast Portland, said the event
was the perfect way to spend time
with her son on Mother’s Day. “I
came for the Sunday Parkways, and
I brought my son. It creates an atmo­
sphere where you can take your kids
continued
on page 22
Schools Close, Teacher’s Jobs Saved
The Portland Public School board
passed a budget plan Monday night
that closes two local schools, but
preserves teaching jobs across the
district.
The $456 million general fund
budget would preserve 110 teach­
ing positions if the city o f Portland
comes through with a pledge by
Mayor Sam Adams to transfer $5
million of city revenues to the school
district.
H arriet T ubm an L eadership
A cadem y fo r W om en, and
Humboldt School, both serving low-
income and minority populations in
north and northeast Portland, are
being closed for low enrollment.
Humboldt’s program will be con­
solidated into Boise Elliot School.
School board members said they
are upset with the cuts, which have
catalyzed a high level of emotional
unrest from students, parents and
educators.
The budget preserved, however,
a full school year for students and
staff, with the help from the teachers
union and mandated furlough days.
Another $2.65 million dollars was
saved with 10 furlough days for
non-represented central office staff,
plus three furlough days for princi­
pals.
Pay increases negotiated for
teachers will have a six month delay,
along with text book and technol­
ogy purchases. High school staff
will give back $400,000from a recent
arbitration ruling on high school
workloads and schedules.
Although many residents are
upset about the changes in the
P o rtla n d ’s
sch o o l
d istric t,
Superintendant Carole Smith rec­
ognized their determination to show
how im p o rtan t e d u ca tio n and
schools are to the community.
Smith said she is hopeful that in
the future Portland Public Schools
can work with state leaders to find
solutions that deliver adequate
funding to all of Oregon’s schools.
The formal and final budget adop­
tion is expected June 25, after the
City of Portland’s budget is ap­
proved on May 30.