Portland School Board Spotlights Efforts In Substance Abuse, Disabilities, Dyslexia

From Portland Public Schools:

October 21, 2019

The Portland Public Schools Board of Education, at its meeting last week, declared October as the district awareness month for three health and wellness areas, using the occasion to spotlight the district’s efforts to support our students in an equitable manner.

The declarations and district efforts:

October is Substance Abuse Awareness Month

By a 7-0 vote, the Board passed a new stand-alone policy on drug and alcohol use, excising it from a general discipline policy. The new policy, titled “Healthy, Substance Free Learning Environments,” incorporates nationally-recognized best practices in prescribing a less punitive focus than the “zero tolerance” tactics of previous eras.

“The changes are intended to incorporate an approach that prioritizes a supportive environment for students and makes sure students receive access to appropriate treatment options,” Director Rita Moore said.

In addition to the new policy, the district’s Student Success & Health department is addressing drug and alcohol use and addiction by offering a continuum of care, with regularly updated resources on its webpage, and drug and alcohol counselors and mental health supports in high schools.

The district also is partnering with Regence and the Oregon Health Authority on grants and prevention services, and providing training for K-5 teachers, student support groups and information sessions.

“We continue to work hard to break the stigma that is associated with substance use and addiction,” said Brenda Martinek, Chief of Student Support Services.

October is Disability Awareness Month

On Oct. 29, the district is holding a training for the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for Spanish-speaking families, at Rigler Elementary School. An IEP is a program developed to ensure that a student who has a disability receives specialized instruction and related services. The trainings will assure that Spanish-speaking families receive equitable supports.

On Nov. 6, PPS will hold a district-wide family training at Grant High School on understanding the IEP process.

On Dec. 6, the district will host a screening of the movie “Intelligent Lives,” a documentary by award-winning filmmaker Dan Habib. The film, which will be shown at Grant High School, is described as “a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility for the most systematically segregated people in American.”

“We want to make sure that our biggest impact is on people who are not impacted by disability,” said Noelle Sisk, a family engagement specialist in the PPS Special Education department. “Those are the people who make the biggest barriers, those are people who can be our biggest allies.”

The district will also hold an input meeting for the Student Success Act intended for families of students with disabilities or in special education. The Oct. 24 meeting, which is open to all community members, starts at 6 p.m. at Pioneer School.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

The Humanities department has appointed Elizabeth Martin as the Program Administrator for Dyslexia. Martin has years of experience working with students with reading difficulties and disabilities.

The district is providing professional development on dyslexia for every first- and second-grade teacher this year, and has established a community advisory team that will work with the Office of Teaching & Learning to plan family and community events.

“We believe these additional supports will significantly improve our efforts to help our dyslexic students reach their full potential,” Board Chair Amy Kohnstamm said.

The district maintains a full webpage of dyslexia resources.

This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.