Parents, students rally to protest Jefferson Cluster proposals
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Parents, students and teachers rallied to keep their neighborhood schools open in Northeast Portland on Saturday.
They met outside a forum with Superintendent Carole Smith at Jefferson High School to protest proposals by Portland Public Schools that would consolidate or close schools in the Jefferson Cluster.
Hundreds of people attended the rally, pleading that schools stay open. But the district said there’s no other way to balance enrollment in the Jefferson Cluster.
“It’s all about numbers and money. That’s it,” said parent Lauren Andronici. “They’re saying we’re under-enrolled, and the money follows the students, so our programs are weak and the schools need to be strengthened, so let’s ship all these students over here…”
Many chanted and held signs at the rally. Inside the forum, Smith tried to explain that there may not be an easy solution to this enrollment imbalance.
“The options that have put out were designed to really look at how we are able to offer robust programs to every student in the cluster to prepare them for high school,” said Smith. “And we don’t currently have it.”
Smith said she wants to hear from every parent who has a concern.
She will make a single recommendation to the school board after considering feedback on the options. The school board will hold a public hearing and vote on the recommendation next month.
A group called Portland Area Social Equality Educators organized the rally.
"...so letâs ship all these students over hereâ¦"
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Yeah Jefferson is "under enrolled" because no one wants to go to that area. It has been a bad neighborhood all my life.
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When I played baseball there, I first had to go through the outfield and clean up the liquor bottles and needles. When I played football it was part of the process that each team "walk the field" from the 50 to one side picking up condoms, 40 oz bottles and needles. We even had a gun battle that happened on the field DURING a game. A guy shooting at someone chasing him ran right in front of me (I was left field), and toward the school.
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The same thing happened to Marshall. A project school that never got off the ground. No matter how many times to try and revive it, Jefferson is a failed project and no amount of money will convince kids who have college aspirations to ship themselves into an area that has one of the highest crime rates.
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Fix your neighborhood up first, then look at the district.
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Yup! Sure looks like a cluster alright!
Easy fix: slow down on the procreation. You probably can't afford it anyway.
Do you want control over your child's future? Make the time, and check them into online public charter schools.  Just to name a few benefits: Kids are no longer bullied.  You know at all times what they are learning.  And they don't fall through the cracks. With the flexible schedules, teens can even work part-time during the day. As the parent would be entirely responsible for the child's learning, there would be no one to blame but themselves. And if the parents care that much about their kids' education, then they would move heaven and earth to make it better than what the public school is making it out for them. Â
I have three friends involved in programs like these. While the parents above, are wasting their time on a lost cause, these three kids are in their homes, GETTING AHEAD. The decision has already been made. Â You can picket until you are blue in the face, but it's not going to produce the money needed, to keep the other schools open. These parents need to prioritize their time, and use it, educating their children, if it's that much of a concern to them. Â Seriously though. Â Check into these programs. Â Unlike homeschool and the reputation it's had, online charter school is based exactly on how students in college do their work from home.
Time to start a "Save the Paycheck" movement by the working taxpayer.
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The Paycheck, once a robust animal that was a direct reflection of the efforts of its maker; is now a sad, pale shadow of its once great self.
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Please, do it for the Paycheck
"âThe options that have put out were designed to really look at how we are able to offer robust programs to every student in the cluster"Cluster is right. PERFECT word for it. PPS doesn't give a rat's patootie about the students, however. MONEY is all they care about, and how can they get more of it. Makes me sick.
 @AmiM Blame the Unions.Â
Silly peasants. The decisions have all been made for you and your children. You can protest and complain all you want. And what's best for your child(ren) doesn't matter, either. PPS makes the choices for you and yours.
You voted for it?
Sounds like Sam is running this...
This propaganda is from the district's website:
PPS is projecting a $16.9 million shortfall for the 2013-14 school year, based on an updated budget
forecast that reflects a âtrueing upâ of PPS revenues and spending in the current school year.
The updated projected gap is approximately $5 million less than the $22 million gap earlier projected.
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How about just budgeting for the amount of money that you take in?
It's an old idea, but has been proven to work perfectly.
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This is why the Kennedy School is such a cool McMenamins....
I voted No because My parents taxes on there farm keeps going higher and we have nothing to show for it. So screw them. I believe in education not loss of. Propperty.
I can't believe the wasted monies from property taxes. They raised the taxes then schools bleat for more people losing homes because of crap like this.
 @lee986321 Yea, I cannot wait to see my end-of-the-month paycheck since my tax bracket doubled on 01/01/2013 and really can no longer afford the many teacher unions that whine, snivel and bark for higher taxes to afford them. Criminy, they make more than cops and firemen and get three months off - give me the farm any day, Lee!!
 @boned  @lee986321 I chose not to teach in Oregon. Pay varies depending on where you are, but it isn't very much for new teachers. In fact, calculating the cost to also get the REQUIRED masters degree, I couldn't afford to live on my own while being a teacher in Oregon. So, are they overpaid? Maybe some, but definitely not all.
Only eight comments on such an issue, and I agree with everyone of them - I cannot wait for the other side to comment. Wait a second, 'Mipsfer' is the other side!! Had a long talk with a female neighbor that is union and voted for The Kenyan because she said in essence that he supports unions and she still has a job. Being the ass I am, I reminded her that The Kenyan could care less about unions, he just wants them to believe he does so he can get their money. Needless to say, we no longer talk, but she is making overtures that perhaps I might have been right and I voted NO on my recent levy requests for the schools...
I'm almost universally against private enterprise taking
over most government functions,
but this cluster---- they call a school district
cries out for people who know how to handle money.
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Right now it's nothing short of a giant money pit.
Our hard earned money is being flushed down the toilet at an alarming rate.
This is nothing more than a straw dog, exploit the children, please don't notice the elephant in the room argument. When you people will organize against the majority of school funding going directly to PERS and teacher/administrator salaries and benefits, I'll be there (with) you.  Â
 @last boyscout Yeah, conservatives never created loopholes or used other tactics to create financial gain, never wars or used children for religious or political agendas.  Never, ever has this happened.
 @last boyscout Bingo. As is so often the case with 'inadequate funding' problems in the various state agencies. The problem is not now, nor has it ever been, on the 'income' side of the spreadsheet.Â
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PERS is one of the problems, as are benefits (although, I have to admit that the increase in the employee pickup has helped. It is still, however, a decidedly "golden" benefits offering), but look closely at the states education system overall, and all of the different areas where the finite revenue is spent. Hell... Lord Kitzhaber just ADDED a state board that will undoubtedly receive it's funding from the education budget...
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It's indeed a seriously f-ed up financial system desperately in need of some fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer, rather than beholden to the various unions.Â
@MarkKpic @last boyscout ......isn't it amazing that the posts here are all fed up with the money waste under the auspices of education? And we rightfully hold PERS responsible for the waste.
 @Rob C 503  @MarkKpic  @last I just about did a spit take with my coffee the other day when I read a headline in one of the local apologist fish wrappers. It read;Â
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"PERS unfunded liability down $2 billion"
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...then, once you read into the meat of the article, there's this little gem;
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"...early estimates show itâs probably about $14 billion. That means the fund is 78 percent funded status, up from 72 percent."
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Oh, well, since it's ONLY 14 billion... I guess I'm a happy taxpayer then.Â
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I have to stop and wonder how many school districts could remain open for a fully funded year, hire back teachers and restore programs with even a quarter of that amount.Â
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But, instead, the union inspired entitlement idealism will continue to bleed the system dry because we (the taxpayer) are contractually obligated to be the backup plan when unrealistic promises in retirement plans come to their inevitable fruition. These protesters, as well as any other protesters who are complaining about state funding, should be down at the PERS headquarters with their signs. THAT is where the single largest black hole in state funding is located.Â
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*facepalm*
 @last boyscout Those who use children as props
are pretty sick individuals.
@last boyscout .....couldn't have said it better.
Parents, teachers and students have to come to the reality that the tax payers are not going to continue to throw endless amounts of money at education without seeing quantifiable, tangible results. There are going to have to be some efficiencies and it may be inconvenient for some communities and our little darlings, but that's the new reality.
we need to cut out much more , close schools , cut spending , and cut taxes. before we are all with out the basics of life. sorry but it has to happen... sooner is better.
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 @Mike Smith Ahhh... yes. Let's get rid of education and ensure our downfall. Great idea.Â
Sorry kids, but taking care of PERS comes first.
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It is more important to keep the unions happy and bloated than to educate the children, or give them a safe place to be.
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Soon enough the entire budget will just go straight to PERS and benefits for teachers; no more money for actual buildings. Sorry kids, but you're on your own.
Common theme in protests lately. Children, everyone likes to use the children.
 @TreeWizard LOL... Yes, it's always 'fer the childruuuuuuuuuuun'.
Is that like Just Say No?Â