In the news: foundation announces eligible schools
May 22, 2009 12:10 pm
Nineteen schools are eligible for non-competitive grants under the Portland Schools Foundation’s streamlined formula, reports Jennifer Anderson in the Tribune today.
Under the new rules, these schools will not have to write competitive grants. The will automatically be awarded funds if they submit the proper paperwork along with a school improvement plan.
The eight eligible high schools include: Madison, Benson, Franklin, Roosevelt Campus, Jefferson High School/Young Women’s Academy, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter High School, and Portland International Community School and Alliance High School (both alternative schools).
The 10 eligible elementary and K-8 schools include: Scott, Woodstock, Lee, Lent, Clarendon-Portsmouth, Clark at Binnsmead, Rigler, Ockley Green, Sitton and Bridger.
One middle school – Beaumont – is eligible for the grants.
Steve Rawley published PPS Equity from 2008 to 2010, when he moved his family out of the district.
filed under: Equity, Fundraising, Grants, Media, PSF
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I can NOT believe that Beaumont is eligible for these grants and Lane is not!
Maybe there are a few bugs in the new system?
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I have that same thought about Marshall. Why aren’t they on the list?
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I too was surprised to see Beaumont (34.9% free and reduced) on the middle school list but not George (88.8%) or Lane (83.3%).
But then I noticed that Lane and George each have 2 FTE from “Other Grants” (no idea from what or where). Also keep in mind that the PSF grants will be significantly less than 1 FTE per school ($20K-$55K).
It sure would be nice to see a complete accounting of how these 19 schools were selected.
May 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Well, I can’t believe Ockley Green is eligible, given all the grant money that has poured into that school. Astor, where I teach, is still a barebones k-8. Our technology is so bad teachers can hardly do the mandated computerized testing. A grant might buy a computer or 2. WHAT A JOKE! Dan Ryan, I am deeply disappointed in you.
May 24th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Speaking of which, the new district library services mandate has done more harm than good at our K-8 school. We used to have an all-volunteer-run library. (Some of the volunteers are or were professional librarians.) Now that the principal has to devote some of our precious FTE to a library position, the upshot is that the K-5 students will no longer get computer instruction, as the computer teacher’s hours have been cut in half! Would someone please explain to me how this is an “improvement”?
May 24th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I should have added that the only other “enrichment” our kids get is PE. There is a half-time counselor, a kindergarten aide, and a full-time position for writing support. Drama and Spanish have also been cut at the middle school level. Music, art and foreign language are provided solely through parental efforts, frequently as an after-school activity.
May 24th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
One of the arguments used to justify added funds for the more middle income schools is that they don’t have either extra funds from parent fund-raisers or federal funding through title one etc. Trouble with that argument is the schools that get federal funding do so for a reason.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Excuse me do the charter schools and alternative schools in their fund raising contribute a portion of their proceeds to the PSF like the rest of the school foundations do?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Not that I know of. I don’t think any of them have a “Foundation.” PTA fundraising at any school is exempt from PSF rules too. Only schools with “Foundations” that raise tens and hundreds of thousands are really affected, as far as I know.