Comments on: HS Redesign resolution: a few suggestions http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/ 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: Rita http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48652 Rita Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48652 Thanks, Neisha. I got the cite from OPB. It's a study sponsored by the Employers for Education Excellence group, conducted by EcoNorthwest. You can find it at: http://www.e3smallschools.org/ I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Thanks, Neisha. I got the cite from OPB. It’s a study sponsored by the Employers for Education Excellence group, conducted by EcoNorthwest. You can find it at:
http://www.e3smallschools.org/

I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48650 Neisha Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:13:14 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48650 Rita -- I think that probably refers to an ECONorthwest study of small high schools in Oregon. A couple of people from ECONorthwest presented their findings at the PPS Board work session on Focus Options. However, I can't find the report on the ECONorthwest website. Rita — I think that probably refers to an ECONorthwest study of small high schools in Oregon. A couple of people from ECONorthwest presented their findings at the PPS Board work session on Focus Options. However, I can’t find the report on the ECONorthwest website.

]]> By: Rita http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48574 Rita Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:41:15 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48574 I've heard a couple of reports on OPB about a study that was just published that analyzes small high schools over the last 5 years. But I didn't catch who released it and can't find any reference to it anywhere. Anybody else heard about this? I’ve heard a couple of reports on OPB about a study that was just published that analyzes small high schools over the last 5 years. But I didn’t catch who released it and can’t find any reference to it anywhere. Anybody else heard about this?

]]> By: Carrie Adams http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48572 Carrie Adams Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:48:33 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48572 Just to clarify I meant "uninformed" decisions. Two board members were smart enough not to make the high school redesign resolution a uniform decision. Just to clarify I meant “uninformed” decisions.

Two board members were smart enough not to make the high school redesign resolution a uniform decision.

]]> By: Zarwen http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48570 Zarwen Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:19:52 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48570 AND everywhere else. They'll tell us all about it come June. AND everywhere else. They’ll tell us all about it come June.

]]> By: Susan http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-4/#comment-48569 Susan Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:47:46 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48569 It's hard to believe there are four scenarios being considered for Roosevelt. If Roosevelt closes, the district doesn't get the money, does it? The hs redesign has planned to eliminate most of the small schools. If Roosevelt is going to become a special focus or charter, then how could that be implemented for the 2010-2011 school year? A new special focus/charter couldn't keep the neighborhood catchment one year and then disburse everyone to a neighborhood school the next with access to the special focus through the lottery. Or redraw boundaries before the beginning of the school year? Yeah, it would seem like the lottery would have to be a do-over. Hard to pass up $6 million, but come on, PPS, it's obvious there's a plan in place for Roosevelt. It’s hard to believe there are four scenarios being considered for Roosevelt. If Roosevelt closes, the district doesn’t get the money, does it? The hs redesign has planned to eliminate most of the small schools. If Roosevelt is going to become a special focus or charter, then how could that be implemented for the 2010-2011 school year? A new special focus/charter couldn’t keep the neighborhood catchment one year and then disburse everyone to a neighborhood school the next with access to the special focus through the lottery.

Or redraw boundaries before the beginning of the school year? Yeah, it would seem like the lottery would have to be a do-over.

Hard to pass up $6 million, but come on, PPS, it’s obvious there’s a plan in place for Roosevelt.

]]> By: Carrie Adams http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-3/#comment-48568 Carrie Adams Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:26:19 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48568 The high school application window closed on 2/26/10 and letters are supposed to be mailed out on April 9th but the major changes at Roosevelt were announced yesterday? Will parents ever be given an opportunity to make informed decisions in PPS or are parents expected to follow the board's lead and make uniformed decisions? The high school application window closed on 2/26/10 and letters are supposed to be mailed out on April 9th but the major changes at Roosevelt were announced yesterday?

Will parents ever be given an opportunity to make informed decisions in PPS or are parents expected to follow the board’s lead and make uniformed decisions?

]]> By: John B. Tang http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-3/#comment-48292 John B. Tang Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:45:12 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48292 Please forgive my naivety. But if my memory is correct, Steve Rawley has been complaining about PPS transfer policy for at least several years. Why was it that PPS never bothered to check it out and make modifications? Why are we paying big bucks to folks who are supposed to know what they are doing and the impact of their decisions. How did the Enrollment Transfer Center get to be so huge? It used to be the job of one person for many years. The ETC Director needs to be fired or demoted. She expanded that center like no body's business and her negative creativity has left this big mess to be cleaned up. What will happen to her department after HS Redesign and the decision to limit HS transfer? Who is going to hold her accountable? I also heard she was contentious, patronizing and arrogant as heck too. Please forgive my naivety. But if my memory is correct, Steve Rawley has been complaining about PPS transfer policy for at least several years. Why was it that PPS never bothered to check it out and make modifications? Why are we paying big bucks to folks who are supposed to know what they are doing and the impact of their decisions. How did the Enrollment Transfer Center get to be so huge? It used to be the job of one person for many years. The ETC Director needs to be fired or demoted. She expanded that center like no body’s business and her negative creativity has left this big mess to be cleaned up. What will happen to her department after HS Redesign and the decision to limit HS transfer? Who is going to hold her accountable? I also heard she was contentious, patronizing and arrogant as heck too.

]]> By: Bill http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-3/#comment-48139 Bill Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:47:34 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-48139 A comment or two on Steve Duin's Thursday column on the HS redesign: He makes a good point about partnerhips with PCC and other entities. Schools should not operate in a vacuum, and partnerships can help to stretch taxpayer dollars in addition to helping schools engage with the surrounding community. But I was taken aback by his comment about the District's stated goal of balancing school enrollment. PPS's logic was not "pursuasive" because we can't "clone the Lincoln Booster Club." In other words, because we can't eliminate all inequalities, we shouldn't bother to fix any of them. I've seen this same logical fallacy, in various forms, used over and over to justify the status quo by those who benefit from it. Balancing enrollment will not fix all of PPS's problems. But as Steve Rawley and others have argued for years, quite "pursuasively", it is an essential first step. A comment or two on Steve Duin’s Thursday column on the HS redesign:
He makes a good point about partnerhips with PCC and other entities. Schools should not operate in a vacuum, and partnerships can help to stretch taxpayer dollars in addition to helping schools engage with the surrounding community.
But I was taken aback by his comment about the District’s stated goal of balancing school enrollment. PPS’s logic was not “pursuasive” because we can’t “clone the Lincoln Booster Club.”
In other words, because we can’t eliminate all inequalities, we shouldn’t bother to fix any of them.
I’ve seen this same logical fallacy, in various forms, used over and over to justify the status quo by those who benefit from it.
Balancing enrollment will not fix all of PPS’s problems. But as Steve Rawley and others have argued for years, quite “pursuasively”, it is an essential first step.

]]> By: Neisha http://ppsequity.org/2010/02/26/hs-redesign-resolution-a-few-suggestions/comment-page-3/#comment-47973 Neisha Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:22:11 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=1618#comment-47973 I think people have been sending it in without that information. I think people have been sending it in without that information.

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