Liveblogging PTA meeting

At the PTA meeting, Ruth Adkins attended to talk about the various issues facing PPS. After the jump, there's more about what was discussed at the meeting. One good thing: Apparently the portable is definitely "in" for Rieke as well as several other schools in the district.

She is going to address the budget; stimulus, capital plan, and talk about various action items. Rick H. asked Q's re splitting funding between high schools and elementary schools. Sup't Smith is going to report on staffing formula proposals between the various schools. They're not at that point yet.

Big issue is cuts in state budget. Risk is that it may be as much as $20M for this year; next year is going to be at least as bad, even if it goes well. State probably won't make decisions until June, so PPS may be in a situation where they have to have a "budget A" and "budget B," with the latter a worst-case scenario. Risk is $25-35 million next year. Supt. Smith said that they "cannot protect the classroom," so there will be a combination of layoffs, program cuts, and more days off. See her presentation here.

At the federal level, the Senate pulled out education funds; to get the money back,
it would be great for people to call their representatives in Congress. At this point, the House is the best hope -- Rep. David Wu is 202-225-0855.

Once we get to the point of making PPS-specific budget decisions (which will be much easier with federal money, if it comes through), there is a "listening session" on 2/26 at Wilson, 7:00pm. Come and share views, and learn more about the budget (the state will have updated budgets by that point).

Part of the discussion regarding budget cuts will obviously require labor involvement; for more on that topic, see this page. On school year length, we do need an exception / waiver from state to go shorter, but Oregon is already short and we really need to try and avoid that -- but it might not be possible.

On facilities: Last night, PPS established a capital fund for the first time in a long time. Capital money is separate from general operations fund. They will borrow against cash on hand at the moment, and raise some for basic needs; $25M will fix roofs, get some portables including one here at Rieke (see p. 11 in the Board book from the 2/9 meeting here); prepare planning for bond funds -- "momentum work." There's still a lot of urgent work.

PPS has $87M in "shovel ready" projects that could be implemented within 18 months; that's out of $270M.

In terms of budget crisis, closure of schools is not on the table. Esp. at K-8 level -- if anything, we're overcrowded. On school size issue, it's a little moot because the newer buildings will look very different than "a school of size x." Very flexible space. Mixed use, etc., will help with flexibility. Conventional wisdom is still 400-500, but Ruth says she tries to remind the staff that we're not a cookie cutter district. Sup't Smith is from an alternative education background, which helps a little bit.

Nominating committee (Cathy, Cindy) report: "We need to fill an awful lot of spots." Need to fill all but Treasurer (Dick has indicated a willingness to stick around).

Rieke run -- Charlene wants to do "Run for Technology." Wants new computers. Maintain some art in the school. Something more low-key. Still keep art in school , but not as big. April 29th / Rain Date May 6. Principal Russell indicated that they don't have a particular plan for which computers to use, other than one supported by the district, and other than a general need for laptops (or something else that's consistent with the electrical system in the lab). After the run, there may be a further meeting to discuss this issue.

Principal Russell indicated that we should have staffing from the district assigned in the first weeks of March. That's when we will need to make further decisions regarding tradeoffs. At K roundup, we have 57 Rieke addresses, or siblings of current students. That number will increase (might lose 5, gain 20, based on history). Should be 3 full day.

Cindy Duley -- not enough interest for a spring play here; but Capitol Hill and Bridlemile will take people.

Lisa Nelson -- will create a "service club" here at Rieke. Idea is parents, kids and siblings will come one day a month; first project -- March 2 -- will be to help create cards to take along for Meals on Wheels. Will announce in Rapper. We will also help do a food drive for Neighborhood House following on the March 2 meeting. Some funding / supplies will come from various community groups that already do this work. Assistance, perhaps, with dropoff of cans in the morning might be useful. Principal Russell pointed out that there is a project "Second Wind" that's done a food drive in the past, and Sturges plans to do it again this year.

12th Preschool Story Hour
26th Listening Session
26th Science Fair 6:30-8:00
26th Listening Session on Budget at Wilson 7:00.
March 10 next PTA meeting

Email to Congress

After the jump, I set out the email I sent to Senators Wyden and Merkley, as well as Rep. Wu, addressing the risk to the school reconstruction funds in the federal stimulus bill. See this post. I'd encourage similar emails...

Dear Senator Wyden/Sen. Merkley/Rep. Wu:

Please ensure that Primary and Secondary School Reconstruction funds (section 9301, $14B) remain a part of H.R. 1. Based on my reading of tonight's news, I understand that the "compromise" reached with Republican senators may well include a decision to eliminate the $14B in reconstruction funds for primary and secondary schools. I strongly believe that such a move would be a mistake.

The decision to eliminate these funds seems short-sighted and contrary to the purpose of the overall stimulus package. As you are well aware, the states have long struggled with ensuring that their public schools are the child-safe, environmentally-friendly, and technologically-advanced kinds of schools that will take us through this next century. Most school districts, including Oregon's, have fallen far behind. Portland Public Schools, for instance, has identified $270 million in immediate investments that are "shovel ready" and that would provide not only the immediate jobs that will get us out of the current economic mess, but the kind of long-term investment that will help keep us on track to future economic growth -- growth in the hands of our children.

So keeping this part of the package makes sense. On the other hand, dropping these funds from the stimulus package reinforces the concern that many people have that the entire package will risk our children's future. When so much future economic burden is being placed in their hands in order to get us out of the current mess, shouldn't we be taking particular care to ensure that in return they receive tangible benefits that will last throughout their lifetime? The school reconstruction funds are necessary, appropriate, and important, and should remain in any stimulus package ultimately enacted by Congress.

Thank you for your attention to this, and for your long hours in D.C.

... yes portable ... but storm clouds

OK, so if anyone else feels a little whipsawed, I concur.

First, Rieke Parents got an email on Tuesday entitled "Portable for Rieke," in which Principal Russell told us that despite the news from last month's PTA meeting, and despite concerns regarding the general fund, the stimulus package was yielding results (see my post below)

I'm very happy to let you know that Rieke will receive a new modular unit (portable) with two classrooms for the 2009-2010 school year. Earlier in the winter, we were told we were not getting a portable, but funding for PPS capital improvements was re-prioritized due in part to the addition of federal stimulus funds. ... For now, we can celebrate the addition of more classroom space.

This was great news, and yet ... Congress hadn't actually agreed to the stimulus money. Indeed, hints abounded that maybe things weren't as certain as one might have hoped. First, despite the extra space, there were suggestions that the school would take no transfers (though that was perhaps partially alleviated by the Principal's suggestion at K roundup that there might be possibilities for transfer spaces).

And now, the suggestion from DC is that the "compromise" reached Friday night that will allow the stimulus package to pass the Senate included an agreement to "cut nearly $20 billion proposed for school construction." (See this New York Times piece.) While we've yet to see the final bill, this almost certainly means cutting the $14B for primary and secondary school reconstruction as well as cutting $6B for higher education capital improvements.

So that's not so good, even if it doesn't directly lead to effects at Rieke. To be sure, this will have to go to the Conference Committee in which the House bill (with the $14B) and the Senate bill (without) will have to be reconciled. So it could get in (or stay in). But given the mood, I'm not entirely hopeful.

In any event, it might be time to call or email Senators Wyden and Merkley and encourage them to keep those school construction funds in the mix. I'll post later whatever I send.

Kindergarten Roundup

It was a nice event at Rieke tonight for Kindergarten roundup. The critical information: There were 80 packets prepared, and all but 7 or 8 had been taken by the end of the event. I don't know historically how number of packets converts to actual applicants, but I think that's a good sign, and consistent with the ongoing growth that we've seen.

... or portables.

While another portable for Rieke is apparently (and quite short-sightedly, in my mind) not near the top of the District's short-term priority list, all eyes turn to DC and, in particular, to the stimulus package pending before Congress. Could it mean more money to use for this and other purposes of benefit to PPS schools?

More after the jump...

I expect that the District is paying particular attention to section 9301 in Subtitle C of the proposed bill (H.R. 1). From the House Committee report (scroll to p.61):

The economic recovery bill includes $14 billion for school modernization, renovation, and repair, to be allocated to States based on their FY 2008 allocation under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Act, after a one percent reservation of funds for outlying areas and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. State educational agencies would distribute these funds, less an administrative set-aside, to school districts for school facility projects. Charter schools are eligible to receive this assistance. Allowable projects may include health and safety repairs, facility modifications to provide access for disabled students, and educational technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as projects to improve energy efficiency.

That description might call into question whether a portable could be funded directly from the appropriation, but taking a look at the actual language of the bill (see page 167 of the text) ... it's pretty broad:

(b) PURPOSE.—Grants under this section shall be for the purpose of modernizing, renovating, or repairing public school facilities, based on their need for such improvements, to be safe, healthy, high-performing, and up-to-date technologically.

That sounds more flexible than the report. There's even more detail in section 9301(e) (pages 171-74 of the bill) that reemphasizes that flexibility. At the very least, such funds would free up money that would make funding a portable or two a lot easier. It would also provide an opportunity for some much-needed repairs and "technology infrastructure upgrades" at Rieke and other schools throughout the district.

The money would be distributed (after various set-asides for administration and other expenses) in proportion to how Title I money is distributed throughout the nation. Based on my very quick reading of the data here, it looks like there was about $14B in Title I money in 2008; by coincidence (!) the bill suggests a $14B allocation for this part of the stimulus. So the proportions being the same, PPS received about $21M in Title I funds in 2008, which probably means we can expect $20M +/- $2M from the stimulus. Also note that 25 % of the funds has to be used in a manner that is consistent with LEED, Energy Star, or other environmentally-friendly approaches to whatever is purchased.

As a matter of economic policy, I have nothing more than a layman's view on the value of such a stimulus. From a purely local view, however, it looks good for the schools ... though not exactly an overwhelming windfall, once it's distributed nationally. Remember the PPS "short short term" list below gets us to $60M pretty quickly.

... or no portables

Despite the below post, Charlene announced at the January PTA meeting that apparently PPS is now -- something out of the blue, from my perspective -- considering not providing an additional portable at Rieke next year. The budget gaps are part of the problem, of course. Obviously, such a decision, if it holds, would be fundamentally inconsistent with the District's endorsement of the Rieke growth plan. Based at least on our observations of the surrounding neighborhood, it will be a full kindergarten class next year, and it wouldn't take much to fill three K classes once again. But if we don't have another classroom -- i.e., if we don't have enough space to add the third 2nd grade class (as well as three 1st and K classes) -- there's nowhere to put the kids while maintaining space for enrichment.

So that means probably no transfers -- and limited growth. Depending on the numbers, it may even be that it will mean that we can't guarantee a full day K. We'll see how this plays out over the next couple of months.

Rebuilding / Prioritization Delay; Portables?

As I discussed in this post, the School District is currently working on prioritizing the "21st Century" school rebuilding projects. That prioritization was originally expected in late winter of this year; the School Board now appears to have decided to put that decision off until the District is finished with its comprehensive review of the high school system in the district. (See here for more information from the Finance committee.) So the prioritizing won't be happening for at least another year.

On the "good news" front, the Finance committee and staff also presented the district with a budget for "short term / interim" facility expenditures. Both the long and the "short list" of those expenditures includes two portables for Rieke (at $320K each) -- consistent with the belief that the school will continue to grow. (BUT see the next post up...)

So Close

Until 9:34am, school was on this Thursday for the first time in a week -- albeit two hours late. Then, at 9:35am came this announcement from PPS:

ALL Schools WEST of the Willamette River - CLOSED;.... UPDATE - Posted: Thu. 18th, 09:35 AM

So it's another day off school. (Apropos of this Oregonian article from this morning). The article notes that Oregon already has a shorter school year than most states...

A Snowy Day at Rieke

Around 8:00 this morning, the snow began to fall... And by 4:15, the district announced that there would be no school on Monday... [Edited Monday: And no school on Tuesday either!...] [Edited Tuesday: And no school on Wednesday either!...]

The Field Reopens!

Two papers came home Wednesday with good news for all: The field is open for play once again! The documents were a press release from PPS and Parks, and a letter from Multnomah County Health conveying the information that parents heard at Tuesday's PTA meeting: There is no substantial risk of lead exposure from the field (certainly nothing worse than the kind of thing that our kids see everyday from background lead in the environment). Everyone is so pleased with the cooperation shown by all of the relevant agencies, and we thank them very much for their hard work.