January 10, 2024
Page 3
Martin Luther King Jr.
2024 Special Edition
INSIDE L ocaL N ews
PPS Superintendent Update
Arts &
page 12-13
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MLK EVENT
SPOTLIGHT
January 13th
MLK Day of Service at BHOB
Bethlehem House of Bread
9055 SW Locust St, Tigard, OR
9AM - 12PM
Don’t Shoot Portland:
Reclaim MLK Community Printmaking
PNCA
511 NW Broadway Portland, OR
11 AM - 2PM
January 14th
King Clean-Up Day!
Portland Covenant Church
4046 NE MLK Jr Blvd, Portland, OR
10 AM - 12 PM
January 15th
The Skanner Foundation,
38th Annual MLK Breakfast
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr Blvd, Portland, OR
8:30AM - 10:30 AM
Annual Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Highland Christian Center
7600 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR
1PM - 4 PM
Annual MLK Jr. Tribute Screening of KING:
A FILMED RECORD (1970)
The Clinton St. Theater
2522 SE Clinton St.
7PM
MLK Day of Service at Lents Park
Lents Park
4808 SE 92nd Ave, Portland, OR
10AM - 1 PM
School Board
appoints Veteran
Educator
The Portland Public Schools
Board of Education unanimously
voted to appoint Dr. Sandy Husk,
who has 18 years of experience
as a public school superinten-
dent and a track record of pro-
moting and supporting student
achievement and equity, as the
interim superintendent for Port-
land Public Schools. She starts
February 12 providing a short
transition before Superintendent
Guadalupe Guerrero wraps up
his tenure on February 16.
“I’m pleased to be in a posi-
tion where I can use my profes-
sional experience to contribute
to student success in Portland,”
Husk said. “My job will be to
provide continuity and support
for policies, programs and a
budget that strengthen learning
for all students in Portland Pub-
lic Schools. I believe the central
office exists to support what goes
on in every school.”
Immediate tasks awaiting
Husk include working with the
Board and PPS staff to rebuild
relationships after a month-long
teacher strike and implementing
the new contract in partnership
with the Portland Association
of Teachers, finalizing contracts
with other represented employ-
ees, managing the Spring bud-
get adoption process, including
advising on needed budget cuts,
continuing the modernization
of Benson and the planning for
Jefferson High School as well
as the Center for Black Student
Excellence. Portland Public
Schools also is expected to ask
voters in May to renew a local
option levy to pay for at least
800 teachers annually.
She has maintained active
involvement in national educa-
tional organizations, including
as interim CEO for the Associa-
tion for Supervision and Curric-
ulum Development, which helps
classroom teachers, principals
Dr. Sandy Husk Brings Track
Record of Supporting School
Teams to Improve Student
Achievement and Equity
and superintendent learn and
apply new teaching strategies.
During 2023, Husk served in ed-
ucation-related executive-in-res-
idence roles while working re-
motely from her home in Sisters,
Oregon. She plans to live in
Portland while serving as inter-
im superintendent.
Strengthening Public Safety
PCC Names
New Director of
Public Safety
Portland Community College
has announced the appointment
of Jace Smith as the Director of
Public Safety, effective Janu-
ary 29, 2024. With an extensive
background spanning non-profits,
private sector, NGOs, and gov-
ernment agencies, Smith brings
a wealth of experience and lead-
ership to his new role. He said
he is excited to join the college
and further strengthen the public
safety effort.
“I applied to PCC because I love
Oregon and the position seemed a
good fit for my skills, talents, and
experience,” he said. “There is an
opportunity to build on the work
that has already been done and to
serve a new community.”
Smith's career highlights in-
clude leadership positions in po-
lice departments, teaching at col-
leges and universities, and notable
contributions to public safety and
law enforcement. His most recent
role was as the Public Safety Se-
nior Director of Patrol Operations
at Broward College, where he
oversaw more than 70 employees
across seven cities and 11 sites,
focusing on patrol operations,
Jace Smith is excited to join the college and previously served
as Broward College’s Public Safety Senior Director of Patrol
Operations
crime prevention, community en-
gagement, and training.
Prior to Broward College,
Smith served as the Chief Public
Safety Officer at Lane Communi-
ty College in Eugene, holding the
role for eight years. His responsi-
bilities included serving as the Di-
rector of Emergency Management
and making significant contribu-
tions to the college community’s
safety and security.
At Portland Community Col-
lege, Smith will focus on enhanc-
ing the safety of the educational
environment, maintaining a vis-
ible presence on campus proper-
ties, and strengthening relation-
ships with college staff, students,
and visitors. His diverse skill set
and commitment to public safety
make him a valuable addition to
the college community.
“Jace Smith is incredibly en-
thusiastic about joining Portland
Community College and is eager
to contribute his expertise and
passion to bolster our commit-
ment to Public Safety at PCC,”
said Eric Blumenthal, Executive
Vice President of PCC’s Admin-
istration & Finance.