Portland Public Schools taps climate curriculum architect to lead Lent
Updated Feb 02, 2021;
Posted Feb 02, 2021
Portland Public Schools tapped Lent Principal Richard Smith to lead Kellogg Middle School when it reopens this fall. Nichole Berg, who led the district s efforts to develop a climate curriculum two years ago, will take over on an interim basis as the future of her previous role remains unclear.Photo courtesy Portland Public Schools
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Portland Public Schools has announced a pair of new principals as it prepares to open newly rebuilt Kellogg Middle School.
The fact that one of them is the educator hired to develop what the district has said would be the nation’s first kindergarten through grade 12 climate curriculum, with an emphasis on racial and social justice as well as the underlying science, could slow or derail that development.
A look at COVID-19 safety measures inside one Portland school
As Portland Public Schools moves closer to limited in-person instruction, a lot of people are wondering what it ll look like and how safe it’ll be. Author: Christine Pitawanich Updated: 7:53 PM PST January 22, 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. Portland Public Schools (PPS), the largest district in the state of Oregon, is getting ready to start limited in-person instruction at more than a dozen schools.
Initially the plan was to start on Monday, January 25.
Now, the district says the majority of those schools will start limited in-person learning the week after, for students who need the most help in reading, math, as well as social and emotional needs for the youngest kids.
First PPS students will go back to school Thursday January 22 2021
Madison High School will open to about 20 kids who could use some extra academic support
A small group of Madison High School students will be back in school beginning Thursday, Jan. 28, the first group of Portland students to return since March when school buildings were shuttered.
In a letter to Madison parents, administrators said Our first group of students will be less than 20 (two classes of 10 or less) and they will come in for 2-4 hours per week in the afternoon.
The letter explained LIPI (limited in-person learning) is optional for students and voluntary for staff. The students coming into Madison will still be required to attend their current online courses and schedule getting support from their LIPI staff member.
The proposal was discussed at a recent Gresham-Barlow School Board meeting and greeted with skepticism.
Director Kris Howatt said that at a meeting with state officials and educators where the student self-test plan was outlined, we had a high level of disbelief that was going to be something that was actually going to be practical and possible.
Gresham-Barlow Superintendent Katrise Perera said that because of liability and other issues, I would not volunteer our staff or students to participate in those types of things.
Perera said at another meeting of agency and school officials, the self-test proposal was a bone of contention.
Some Southeast Portland parents feel left out of PPS enrollment balancing plan
One of the main goals in the first phase of the rebalancing plan is determining which schools will send kids to the newly-renovated Kellogg Middle School. Author: Christine Pitawanich Updated: 8:44 PM PST January 12, 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. Parents in Southeast Portland are in the middle of a heated debate over where their kids will spend 6th through 8th grades.
The Southeast Guiding Coalition, a community group made up of parents, educators and students, presented a proposal to the school board Tuesday night as part of the Portland Public Schools plan to balance enrollment and redraw boundary lines.