Portland parents launch pro-school lobby Parents frustrated about school funding problems have launched a lobbying group that aims to become one of the biggest political contributors in Salem. Oregonians for Schools, organized by Portland parent Frank Selker, is a new political action committee fishing for cash to back legislative candidates, pour money into pro-school ballot measures and mobilize volunteers to help win close races. KATU 12/25/02

Students walk out over budget cuts Hundreds of high school students walked out of classes Thursday in a citywide protest against education cuts that threaten class time, academic programs and sports across Oregon this school year. Oregonian 12/20/02

Cover Story | Anywhere, U.S.A. Lots of cities have something Portland lacks. But Portland has something that virtually no other major American city has--a public-school system supported by the middle class. WW 12/11/02

Lots of talking but not listening loud enough Five minutes. Hardly enough time for a good simmer, let alone a heated exchange. Monday night went something like this: Chairwoman Karla Wenzel calls the Portland School Board meeting to order about 6:30 p.m. The mood is tense, expectant. Oregonian 12/11/02

Tensions Rise in Portland Teacher Contract Negotiation Portland School Board members and the teachers union say they're not sure how the abrupt halt to last night's board meeting will affect upcoming contract negotiations. Board chair Karla Wenzel put an end to the meeting after people in the crowd of nearly 500 people jeered and yelled at board members. OPB 12/10/02

Sports heaved into budget hole Team sports and the long-running Outdoor School will be tossed from the Portland School District budget next spring as part of a new batch of cuts Superintendent Jim Scherzinger disclosed Monday night. Oregonian 12/10/02

School board walks out on teachers A crowd of protesting teachers convinced all but one member of the Portland School Board to abandon their meeting Tuesday evening, shortly after hearing a contract proposal that features benefit cuts and wage caps. KGW 12/10/02

PIL Spring Sports In Jeopardy Could it get any worse for Portland Public Schools? Monday night Superintendent Jim Scherzinger said the Portland School Board will cut funding for spring sports to slash $12.8 million from the budget for the 2002-03 school year. KATU 12/10/02

Shortening school year puts funding, student credits at risk Shools that cut teaching days this year to plug a budget shortfall must avoid doing the same next year or the state will withhold funding and deny high school credits, state education officials said. More than a dozen Oregon school districts, including Portland's, are considering cutting days from this school year to balance their budgets in the wake of state funding cuts and diminished local tax collections. KATU 12/7/02

KATU TV News - Portland District looking at closing more schools First Portland school administrators said they may cut school days to help balance next year’s burgeoning budget. Now, Portland Public Schools are looking at closing more schools as well. KATU 12/6/02

Fraction of proficient grads grows The percentage of high school graduates earning Oregon's certificate of academic proficiency inched up this year, rising from 24 percent of the class of 2001 to 27 percent of the class of 2002, new state figures show. Champions of Oregon's high academic standards said they were disappointed that nearly three-fourths of students completed high school without proving they could meet all state standards in reading, writing, math and public speaking. Oregonian 12/2/02

Schools may seek regional tax A group of high-level Portland, Metro and regional school leaders is quietly studying the possibility of a new regional tax to bolster Portland-area schools. The idea is tentative, incomplete and hasn't been pitched around the Portland region, the group's leaders say. Oregonian 12/2/02