Interim school chief may seek permanent job Jim Scherzinger, interim superintendent of Portland Public Schools, says he'll probably seek the permanent job. From The Oregonian 11/27/01

Public schools may face budget shortfall close to $16 million. Portland public school leaders are bracing for a budget shortage that could approach $16 million in the next school year. From Oregonian 11/28/01

Alternative schools proposals impress panel. Several alternative schools and special-focus programs show promise for opening in fall 2002, a Portland School Board committee reports. From The Oregonian 11/27/01

posted by Mental Health Portland at 11:16 AM

Sunday, November 25, 2001

Jury awards $1 million to fired special ed teacher A federal jury on Friday awarded $1 million to a former special education teacher who was fired from Portland Public Schools after persistently complaining that disabled students got unfair treatment. From The Oregonian 11/17/01

Thursday, November 22, 2001

Oregonian Education News Updated regularly!


Oregonian Rates Portland's Schools - 1999 and 2000


Portland textbooks get old  The 54,000 students in Oregon's largest district regularly use the same textbooks, maps and globes that students used in 1986. Administrators blame years of belt tightening that have made building maintenance, employee salaries and other operating costs higher priorities. From The Oregonian 11/20/01


The Oregonian Special Issue Oregon School Superintendent Stan Bunn  08/30/01

The Oregonian Special Issue - Derry Jackson -  8/22/01

Fight Over Portland Schools Agreement A fight erupted at a press conference called today to unveil a new agreement on improving Portland’s public education system. A community group called the Education Crisis Team was ready to make public a deal that it had hammered out this summer with the Portland Public School Board. But just after both sides hailed the agreement, arguments broke out about whether it was binding and exactly what had been accomplished.   From OPB 8/17/01

A SORRY MESS After more than two weeks of community pressure, Portland Public Schools board member Derry Jackson apologized Tuesday for recent anti-Semitic comments. From WW 8/8/01

The Oregonian Special Issue Ben Canada. From 6/24/01

Contentious Portland School Board Meeting The Portland School Board last night passed a resolution re-affirming the district’s ban against military recruiters on its high school campuses. The ban was first enacted in 1995 in response to the government’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy regarding sexual minorities in the military. It took the school board three hours to vote on the resolution, that’s because a group called the Education Crisis Team disrupted the meeting twice. At several points the meeting disintegrated into chaos and the board chose to leave the room until order was restored. From OPB 5/22/01

Portland School Board Approves Budget Faced with rising costs, and a drop in revenue, the Portland School Board passed an operating budget last night that cuts the number of teachers, puts more students in each classroom, and reduces funding for special programs. The board unanimously adopted the cuts, which were recommended by a three-member committee that has scoured the district over the last few weeks looking for ways to trim $20.5 million from the budget. From OPB 5/8/01

The Oregonian Special Report Why Not The Best From 4/18/01

IS PPS LOSING ITS PRINCIPALS? Portland Public Schools may be losing another highly respected principal. WW has learned that Charles Hopson, who for the past six years has served as principal at Tubman Middle School, is a leading candidate for the top job at McNary High School in Salem. From WW 3/14/01
What, Me Worry?  Ben Canada isn't on the ballot, but Portland's schools superintendent is the issue in the current board elections.  From WW 2/28/01

Canada: THE CHAOS CONTINUES There's scant evidence that Ben Canada's presence now or in the future adds the "stability" the school board touts. from WW From 2/6/01

So long, Ben? Portland's schools chief has alienated key groups of education boosters. From WW 1/31/01

Crisis Team Calls for Equal Schools from OPB 1/11/01

The Wrath of Ben Although he blew up at teachers, Portland's schools boss was really ticked off at the board. From WW 10/1/00

The Canada Option In May, Portland voters agreed to raise taxes to hire more arts and music teachers. Now confused board members try to follow the money. From WW 7/19/00

The Oregonian Special Issue Missing Class of 2000 6/25/00

Crisis CONTROL Dear Mrs. Canada, your son, Ben, seems to understand the assignment he was given, but his reluctance to turn it in on time could cause a big disturbance. Please talk to him. from WW 4/26/00

Portland's school board approves school's shift to charter status Portland's first application for a charter school has been approved. The school board voted Monday night to allow McCoy Academy, a Northeast Portland alternative school for students who have dropped out of high school, to convert to a charter school. From The Oregonian 1/11/00

Letter from Jefferson High School principal Kevin Bacon
Carolyn Leonard's response to Bacon's letter 1/29/00

Good As Goldschmidt? Ben Canada has assembled an impressive team in his first year as Portland Public Schools superintendent, but one job he's been unable to fill is that of human resource director. from WW 10/13/99

Head of the Class Linda Harris' rise to the top of Portland Public Schools doesn't quite add up. The opening of school doors this week marked the second year of Ben Canada's tenure as superintendent of Portland Public Schools, but his first with his own team in place--a team, he pledged, that would help him improve academic achievement and fiscal accountability. from WW 9/8/99

Oh, Canada Ben Canada's lawyers think he may be making a big mistake. In a confidential memo sent to Portland Public School board members and administrators last week, the district's outside counsel, Miller Nash, suggested that the schools could face litigation over a proposal to reallocate desegregation funds. From WW 5/19/99

CIMsuit Competition The state's education mandates have angered local parents and teachers. Now, the Portland School District has legal headaches as well. from WW 5/12/99

Mixing It Up - For years Portland school officials have taken pride in their voluntary desegregation program. The district's new boss, however, seems poised to ask some tough questions. From WW 4/7/99

Readin', Writin' and Ritalin Thousands of kids are taking drugs in Portland schools every day--with the blessing of parents, educators and doctors. From WW 2/17/99

Where's Canada? The new PR-savvy school chief has been noticeably absent from the negotiations between teachers and the school board. From WW 12/22/98

Candid Candidates - Why can't the Portland School Board find a new superintendent? In part, because it can't keep a secret. From WW 5/13/98

Portland schools face more cuts in staff. The interim superintendent tells the board that the Portland district needs to have 50 teachers retire voluntarily. From The Oregonian 1/9/98 via PDXnorml.

Teachers get word on layoffs Monday and again today, Portland Public Schools principals are handing out 278 notices to those with little seniority. From The Oregonian from 4/2/96

Back to the Blackboard from The Oregonian From 3/27/96

Teach Your Children Well - Lunch Money Leading Indicator Portland's school woes could send affluent residents to the suburbs From WW 3/27/96 via PDXnorml.

Oregon dropout rate increases - Members of the high school class of 1995 cite irrelevant classes when asked why one out of four left without a degree From The Oregonian 3/19/96 via PDXnorml.

Storm clouds gather over school budget Portland board members prepare to cut next year's spending $15 million below current budget levels as various special interests rally to defend their turf. From The Oregonian 3/14/96 via PDXnorml.

Leadership 101 - Unlike many high-school students, Jason Franklin knows what he wants to do with his life. From WW 3/13/96 via PDXnorml.

Portland schools face budget cuts The system, which is in tough contract talks with the teachers' union, may be forced to lay off more than 400 employees. From The Oregonian 12/15/95 via PDXnorml.

Layoffs may hit Portland schools The district faces a reduced budget and less state aid next year, and officials are looking for ways to trim outlays. From The Oregonian 12/12/95 via PDXnorml