PORTLAND -- The Portland School Board Tuesday night approved a resolution to reorganize the high school system.
Now, the superintendent has 45 days to develop a plan with specific recommendations. The resolution also cited a series of problems that must be addressed, including inequities in access to educational programs, low graduation rates, gaps in achievement among students of different ethnicities and a prolonged dip in enrollment.
School Board director Bobbie Regan supported the resolution, saying, “Now is the time to move forward. This resolution provides clear admission of the inequalities in our programs. I have not heard from anyone that things should remain the same.”
Superintendent Carole Smith was charged with developing a proposal which describes:
• The number, size and location of community comprehensive schools.
• The uses of campuses not utilized as community comprehensives.
• Proposed changes to the school district’s enrollment and transfer policy that can be implemented in 2011.
The resolution will also outline criteria to determine optimal site locations for community comprehensive schools, including proximity for students, enrollment diversity, student stability and optimal campus utilization.
In addition, the resolution must contain the following key elements:
• A well-rounded core program at community comprehensive schools that provides both advanced and support classes, world language and arts and music classes, as well as on-line learning and credit for proficiency opportunities.
• School district-wide focus schools for students who want more specialized choices, personalized learning environments or access to post-secondary opportunities.
• Changes in the transfer policy to bring enrollment parity and stability to community comprehensive schools.
• Operating comprehensive programs at fewer locations than the current nine neighborhood campuses.
More information on the process to design a PPS High School System is available online.
