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Volume XLVI • Number 44
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Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
photo by D anny p eterson /t he p ortlanD o bserver
Portland Public Schools wanted to reopen Harriet Tubman Middle School to expand options and build a stronger program to serve more students, especially from
the African American community, but those plans are now on hold pending a review of the physical condition of the school and from environmental impacts like air
pollution.
School board wants
more study; not sure
on re-opening
D anny p eterson
t he p ortlanD o bserver
Long awaited plans to reopen a middle
school with deep ties to the African Amer-
ican community and one that can expand
options and build a stronger program to
serve more students are once again put in
limbo, drawing opposition from communi-
ty advocates.
The Portland School Board voted last
week to defer action on the opening of
Harriet Tubman Middle School as part of
by
Tubman
in
Limbo
a plan to bring equal access and quality
academic programs to schools across the
district.
Board members indicated they wanted
more time to study pollution and other en-
vironmental safety concerns at the former
school site, and also give more attention
to proposed boundary changes that would
impact several east side schools that feed
students into the Grant and Madison High
School attendance areas.
The district will now conduct safety
tests to evaluate potential pollutants and
toxins both inside and outside of the Tub-
man school site, located at 2231 N. Flint
Ave., items such as lead, radon, asbestos,
C ontinueD on p age 4