City Commissioner #4 (incumbent)

(This is part of PPS Equity‘s Election ’08 coverage. Some questions are abbreviated here. Please see the main Election ’08 page for the full questions, the full list of candidates and election information.)

1. When was the last time you visited a public school in Portland? What was the purpose of your visit?

I was at Jefferson High School last month. The entire city council went to hold our regular Wednesday session in addition to a night hearing we held that same evening.

2. Do you have any children or other relatives enrolled in Portland Public Schools?

No.

3. Did you attend Portland Public Schools?

Yes.

4. …If elected, will you do anything to hold the school district accountable to the Flynn/Blackmer audit?

I am happy to discuss the rationale of the district continuing this policy with the superintendent and school board members. I would want to know more regarding the districts’ reasoning of continuing a policy that appears to cause harm to some students before I took a firm position.

5. …If elected, how will you work with the PPS Board of Education to ensure their policies do not work at cross purposes with city policies?

As I said in the previous answer, I would be happy to talk with the district and learn more about their reasoning in continuing a policy that your question suggests causes harm to families and kids in poorer neighborhoods. I would start by talking with the superintendent.

6. School closures and school facility decisions heavily affect the livability of the city. What is the role of the city council in
influencing these decisions?

I have commented at city council sessions that while PPS has experienced an enrollment decline, other school districts in Portland — notably in east-Portland — have experienced a student population explosion. I think it is time we revisit whether or not six school districts within the city limits of Portland make sense any more. If there was agreement to have that discussion, I think a fresh look at school locations along with modern facilities could create a school infrastructure that would match our current economic and social demographics.

7. If PPS puts forth a facilities bond of around a billion dollars, what will be your position on this election?

I would support it on the condition that the factors I have addressed in my previous answer were considered.

8. What is the specific role of the City Council in helping children in the lower income neighborhoods of Portland?

We should make sure there are sidewalks and safe areas for children to walkand bike, something not happening in Portland’s poorest neighborhoods. We should also make sure there are enough open spaces and/or parks for children to recreate in, also not happening in Portland’s poorest neighborhoods. We need a new income source to create sidewalks and safe roads along with new funding for parks to make the improvements needed to Portland’s poorest neighborhoods. I will be working towards those new funding sources in my text term.

9. …Would you support permanent city supplementary funding, or some kind of local option tax, to bring Portland school funding back to pre-Measure 5 levels?

I have successfully advocated for multi-million dollar packages for all of Portland’s school districts since I have been on the council. While the city cannot afford to be a permanent source of funding for schools, I would support a local option to fund our schools.

10. Do you have any other thoughts on the roll of city government in the governance of our public schools?

This discussion cannot be exclusively about Portland Public Schools. Some of the greatest challenges for children in school within Portland are happening in the other school districts within the city. I hope all school advocates in each of Portland’s school districts are pushing for solutions that benefit all children within Portland.