Comments on: The K-8 Transition http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-334 Steve Buel Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:57:06 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-334 Neisha, the school board is chosen by the PSF and Stand for Children (they support certain candidate's campaigns monetarily and with their volunteer time) and they are the main activists in the district and have most of the personal resources. Since their time, focus, and money is spent on the schools where their kids go they support candidates who they believe will favor their schools. This is what has created the inequities. It wasn't always that way. Neisha, the school board is chosen by the PSF and Stand for Children (they support certain candidate’s campaigns monetarily and with their volunteer time) and they are the main activists in the district and have most of the personal resources. Since their time, focus, and money is spent on the schools where their kids go they support candidates who they believe will favor their schools. This is what has created the inequities. It wasn’t always that way.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-327 Neisha Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:44:46 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-327 Or did your colleague mean that once PSF was created it opened the door and created a favorable climate for further inequities in funding? Sorry, to be such a newbie, but the more I look at this, the more mystifying it becomes. Or did your colleague mean that once PSF was created it opened the door and created a favorable climate for further inequities in funding? Sorry, to be such a newbie, but the more I look at this, the more mystifying it becomes.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-324 Neisha Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:21:12 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-324 Yeah, that makes sense, PSF is inherently inequitable. But, what about Steve R's point that PSF funds count for a fraction of PPS $? Some of it (maybe most of it) is the transfer policy, but there also has to be something else going on. Basically, we feel lucky on the east side to have Algebra 1 for 8th graders, and to get more, most of us have to enter the lottery for very few slots. On the west side you just have to go to your neighborhood middle school. This can't all have been paid for through PSF funds? Or can it? What am I missing here? And isn't *anyone* embarrassed about this? I mean, this isn't happening in other big districts, and Beaverton may be more diverse at the middle school level, so what gives here? Yeah, that makes sense, PSF is inherently inequitable. But, what about Steve R’s point that PSF funds count for a fraction of PPS $? Some of it (maybe most of it) is the transfer policy, but there also has to be something else going on. Basically, we feel lucky on the east side to have Algebra 1 for 8th graders, and to get more, most of us have to enter the lottery for very few slots. On the west side you just have to go to your neighborhood middle school. This can’t all have been paid for through PSF funds? Or can it? What am I missing here? And isn’t *anyone* embarrassed about this? I mean, this isn’t happening in other big districts, and Beaverton may be more diverse at the middle school level, so what gives here?

]]> By: Zarwen http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Zarwen Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:27:50 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-314 Neisha, The concept of being "one school district" died when the PSF was born, in the mid-90's. I remember a teaching colleague, who was about to retire, telling me that there would be two school districts--one eastside, one westside. Sadly, her prophecy has come true. Neisha,

The concept of being “one school district” died when the PSF was born, in the mid-90′s. I remember a teaching colleague, who was about to retire, telling me that there would be two school districts–one eastside, one westside. Sadly, her prophecy has come true.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-308 Neisha Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:21:37 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-308 I will keep an eye on that! The main point I was making is that there are only a couple of schools on the east side where a middle school student can take Algebra 2 or Geometry. However, these options are available to every single middle school student on the west side. This is odd to me, because we are supposed to be one school district (and most kids live on the east side). Plus, it's not like this in other large Oregon districts (e.g. Beaverton). I will keep an eye on that! The main point I was making is that there are only a couple of schools on the east side where a middle school student can take Algebra 2 or Geometry. However, these options are available to every single middle school student on the west side. This is odd to me, because we are supposed to be one school district (and most kids live on the east side). Plus, it’s not like this in other large Oregon districts (e.g. Beaverton).

]]> By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Steve Buel Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:59:03 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-263 Neisha, you are right on the money. Mt. Tabor does get close to fiefdom 1. Though I think they have done it with a lot of hard word, not so much just an upper middle class clientele. They also don't get the attention within the city government which helps bolster the schools. All one big system, including the editors of The Oregonian. Watch what the support is when they start working on a new school at Lincoln. Neisha, you are right on the money. Mt. Tabor does get close to fiefdom 1. Though I think they have done it with a lot of hard word, not so much just an upper middle class clientele. They also don’t get the attention within the city government which helps bolster the schools. All one big system, including the editors of The Oregonian. Watch what the support is when they start working on a new school at Lincoln.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Neisha Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:36:52 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-260 Steve, I can't speak for Cleveland, although Sellwood and Hosford middle schools seem to have some inequities between them, and Mt. Tabor Middle school in the Franklin cluster could easily be in "fiefdom 1". What I can tell you about Grant is that: the K-8s are split (compare Laurehurst with Boise-Eliot); the remaining elementary (Alameda) and the high school are "fiefdom 1"; and Beaumont is a fine middle school, but doesn't have quite the course offerings of Jackson, Gray, West Sylvan, Sellwood or Mt. Tabor. Although, it may get there in a few years. So, a bit of a mixed bag, similar to Franklin and Cleveland, IMO. Steve, I can’t speak for Cleveland, although Sellwood and Hosford middle schools seem to have some inequities between them, and Mt. Tabor Middle school in the Franklin cluster could easily be in “fiefdom 1″.

What I can tell you about Grant is that: the K-8s are split (compare Laurehurst with Boise-Eliot); the remaining elementary (Alameda) and the high school are “fiefdom 1″; and Beaumont is a fine middle school, but doesn’t have quite the course offerings of Jackson, Gray, West Sylvan, Sellwood or Mt. Tabor. Although, it may get there in a few years. So, a bit of a mixed bag, similar to Franklin and Cleveland, IMO.

]]> By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Steve Buel Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:04:27 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-249 Neisha, splitting hairs can be interesting. I pretty much count the upper economic areas of Grant and Cleveland in fiefdom 1, but the less afluent areas of those two schools are in other fiefdoms. When they are mixed at the H.S. and M.S. levels there is some dilution of the education. Does the theory hold? Pretty good -- over the years. Neisha, splitting hairs can be interesting. I pretty much count the upper economic areas of Grant and Cleveland in fiefdom 1, but the less afluent areas of those two schools are in other fiefdoms. When they are mixed at the H.S. and M.S. levels there is some dilution of the education. Does the theory hold? Pretty good — over the years.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Neisha Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:14:00 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-240 That makes sense, Steve B, except I live in the Grant cluster and we don't have the middle school math offerings that they have on the West Side or at Sellwood, either. I think Lincoln and Wilson are in a separate fiefdom from Grant, Cleveland and Franklin. All of which, I realize, is splitting hairs considering the outrageous inequities at the high school level between Jefferson and pretty much everyone else. That makes sense, Steve B, except I live in the Grant cluster and we don’t have the middle school math offerings that they have on the West Side or at Sellwood, either. I think Lincoln and Wilson are in a separate fiefdom from Grant, Cleveland and Franklin. All of which, I realize, is splitting hairs considering the outrageous inequities at the high school level between Jefferson and pretty much everyone else.

]]> By: Steve Buel http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-233 Steve Buel Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:33:38 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/2008/02/20/the-k-8-transition/#comment-233 Neisha, there are 4 fiefdoms. 1) Wilson, Lincoln, parts of Cleveland and parts of Grant 2)the Jefferson cluster 3) Roosevelt, Madison, and Marshall clusters and 4) Everything else, which is basically Franklin. If you use this as your guide you can much more clearly see the inequities and the background behind the various issues. Neisha, there are 4 fiefdoms. 1) Wilson, Lincoln, parts of Cleveland and parts of Grant 2)the Jefferson cluster 3) Roosevelt, Madison, and Marshall clusters and 4) Everything else, which is basically Franklin.

If you use this as your guide you can much more clearly see the inequities and the background behind the various issues.

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