Tonight I'll be phone banking in support of Portland Public Schools. Strong public schools are an integral part of any effort to reduce poverty and foster strong communities. A new bond is needed to support school infrustructure and additional funding is neded for teachers in our local schools and that is why I'll be joining other parents on the phone tonight. We'll be drumming up support for these critically needed initiatives that the voters will consider in May. Both have support from the business community, community groups, faith leaders, and parents across the city. Visit Portlanders for Schools to learn more (below is some basic information from their website). As a parent of two first graders in Portland Public Schools, I cannot stress enough how important schools are to the common good of our great city.
Good public schools are the foundation of our community.
But our schools need help — today.
Our public schools prepare our children to be successful adults and citizens. They are a key element of a vibrant economy. They are the heart of livable neighborhoods, supporting and protecting property values.
For our schools, our children and our neighborhoods to succeed, students need both good teachers and schools that are safe, in good repair and with up-to-date learning environments.
You can’t have one without the other, and Portland’s public schools are in dire need of both.
Right now, that is a real — and urgent — problem for Portland’s Public Schools. As Portlanders, we own 85 school buildings that average 65 years of age: more than ½ of our schools were built during or before World War II.
Thanks to years of tight budgets, many are crumbling. All are out-of date.
Portland has had virtually no money for facilities for a long time: nearly every dollar has gone into funding teachers and learning materials. Every day, our children are going into schools with serious safety issues. And they are trying to learn in classrooms that have never been updated — often without science labs, technology, or even adequate electricity and lights.
- In one elementary school, a ceiling leaks so badly that ten 50-gallon barrels are stationed to collect water every time it rains.
- Almost half our schools depend on antiquated oil furnaces the size of RVs that are expensive to run and are fire safety hazards, and often require 7 hours of maintenance a week just to keep them operating safely.
- Electrical systems are out of date and cannot support current technology. Some school staff must take turns plugging in equipment to use.
- Teachers must cart water down the hall to conduct science experiments due to the lack of functioning labs.
- Every school needs significant updates to classrooms, fire and life safety, mechanical, heating, ventilation and security systems.
- Many schools need to be rebuilt or replaced — it would be far more expensive to repair them.
We Can Repair Our Schools and Protect Our Neighborhoods
Nearly every other neighboring school district currently has a bond to improve their schools. Portland has none; its last bond was approved in 1995. That’s harmful to education and the strength and property values of our neighborhoods. We have to act today.
The bond for Portland Public Schools will make critical repairs to increase safety and update classrooms in every school. It will also rebuild or replace schools in most immediate need across our district.
Learn more at http://portlandersforschools.org/.
