Portland families are now confronting a second controversy involving Portland Public Schools (PPS). In addition to the superintendent’s plan to close up to a dozen schools, a local news outlet has reported that Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong and other district leaders have been using Signal, an encrypted messaging platform, to conduct official business.
Signal use raises public‑records concerns
Willamette Week says it has seen images of Armstrong employing Signal’s “disappearing message” feature while discussing district matters. The publication did not release the screenshots, but it says the images show district officials deliberately using a tool that erases messages after they are read.
Public‑records attorney Alan Kessler argues that the practice could violate Oregon law. Under state statutes, any communication that pertains to public business must be retained as a public record. Kessler explained, “If the messages are not archived in the public record, it is a crime.” He added that using Signal to bypass the district’s archiving system would constitute a breach of that law.
Parents voice frustration
Parents, already unsettled by the proposed school closures, say the Signal issue adds another layer of distrust. PPS parent Adam Seidman described the report as “another bomb in the kind of stories that we’re hearing.” He emphasized that families want open, transparent communication rather than secretive channels.
“It doesn’t have to be antagonistic and they don’t have to be hiding their messages,” Seidman said. “They can communicate directly with us and be open and transparent and that’s what parents want.”
District response
PPS issued a brief statement acknowledging the concern. A spokesperson said, “Signal is not a district‑approved platform for conducting official PPS communications. PPS is taking action to determine whether any messages would constitute public records and, if so, whether they can be recovered.”
The district’s response places the issue near the top of its agenda, indicating that officials recognize the potential legal implications and the need for clarity on communication protocols.
Legal background
Oregon’s public‑records law requires that all official communications—whether email, text, or other electronic formats—be retained and made accessible to the public. The law is designed to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations, especially in education, where decisions directly affect families and children.
Attorney Kessler, who also has two children enrolled in PPS, said he first learned of the allegations through a viral social‑media post from a recent board meeting. He recalled seeing a photo of a phone being photographed during the hearing, suggesting that someone was using Signal to discuss district business.
What’s next?
The district has not indicated whether it will discontinue the use of Signal or adopt a different secure platform that complies with public‑records requirements. PPS officials are expected to consult with legal counsel and possibly the Oregon Department of Education to determine the appropriate course of action.
For parents and community members, the key takeaway is that transparency remains a priority. As the district reviews its communication tools, families are urging administrators to keep dialogue open and to document decisions in a manner that complies with state law.
Stakeholders will be watching closely as PPS works to balance the need for secure communications with the legal obligation to preserve public records.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
