Portland, Ore. – Hundreds of parents and students gathered Friday at Mike Bennett’s Art Studio on NE Fremont to launch a grassroots letter‑writing campaign aimed at stopping the Portland Public Schools (PPS) board from approving a plan that could close as many as 14 schools next year.
Letter‑writing event draws community support
Armed with pens, markers and construction paper, families wrote heartfelt appeals to board members, signing their letters with the rallying cry, “Save PDX Schools.” The letters ask the board to defer the closures and give the community more time to consider alternatives.
Two closure scenarios under review
Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong presented two possible scenarios earlier this fall. Scenario A would shutter 14 schools – 13 elementary schools and one middle school – and trigger 38 boundary changes. Scenario B would close 11 schools – 10 elementary schools and one middle school – with 34 boundary adjustments. Both plans would reconfigure seven K‑8 schools (Beverly Cleary, Laurelhurst, Sunnyside, Bridger, César Chávez, Faubion and Vernon) to serve only kindergarten through fifth grade.
Parents raise equity and logistics concerns
“PPS says this process is about equity, but the process is anything but equitable,” said Elly Milder, a parent representative from Buckman Elementary. Families also worry about the speed of implementation. “We are talking about a massive transition that will impact 70 % of students in this district in less than one year,” warned Matt Coolidge, a Rieke Elementary parent and volunteer with the Save PDX Schools coalition. He called the lack of infrastructure and logistics planning “alarming.”
Impact on dual‑language immersion programs
Many parents highlighted the threat to dual‑language immersion programs. Eleven of the 13 immersion schools are on the closure list. “These Latino students, these Vietnamese students, these Mandarin students – we don’t know what these outcomes are going to be when they go somewhere else. That’s pretty horrific,” said Emiliano Vega, a Beach School parent. He added concerns about transportation, noting that some children could be forced to travel five miles farther to a new school.
Growing opposition from officials and board members
Opposition to the closures is building. Several Portland city councilors have voiced concerns, and state legislators have joined calls for PPS to pause the plan. Some board members also expressed reservations. “Scenario A, I’m a hard no. It’s too many buildings. I don’t believe the city of Portland can absorb that kind of sweeping change to our neighborhood infrastructure,” said PPS board member Virginia La Forte. She added, “Scenario B, I am not convinced we have captured the right buildings there.”
Next steps for the district
Superintendent Armstrong is scheduled to present a final recommendation to the board on November 17. The board will hold its final vote on December 15 to decide whether to move forward with the closures or defer them to the following school year.
Why this matters to Portland families
The proposed closures affect not only school buildings but also neighborhood cohesion, family routines and the educational continuity of thousands of students. By mobilizing parents, teachers and community members, the Save PDX Schools campaign seeks to ensure that any decision reflects the needs of families and preserves the quality of education across the district.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
