PORTLAND -- Roughly 100 students walked out of class Tuesday at Marshall High School to protest the proposed closure of their school in the district's latest re-design plan.
The students marched from the campus quad to the corner of SE 82nd Avenue and Powell. The students want their community to know their school is important to them.
"There's just a lot of caring at my school. I'm bonded with all the people around me and they all care about me," said Moriah Hazeem.
"I've been to other schools and none of them have ever been like Marshall. To close Marshall is like closing a family," added Sam Keeling.
Built around a small school model, the Marshall campus is home to three specialized academies. Citing sagging enrollment and unpredictable revenue, Superintendent Carole Smith has proposed closing the campus next year and moving its students to Cleveland, Franklin and Madison.
"My parents have already told me that if I were to move I'd be moving houses too," said James Nealeigh.
"I'm in Renaissance Arts and it's like a really good art academy for people who like to draw and stuff and I just like always wanted to do that. It was like my life goal to come to Marshall," explained Taray Young.
Though Superintendent Smith believes Marshall's students will be well served at larger community high schools, students fear a lack of individualized attention and falling grades.
"I'm a special ed student and seeing that school go where I've gotten the best treatment possible is horrible.That school has given me hope to be able to go on to do what I want to do, becoming a school teacher. That school is helping me realize it," said Dominick Benham.
A vote on the proposed closure is slated for October 12th.
