Superintendent Offers New Plan for School Boundaries

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith presented a new draft plan for changes to the school boundary map Wednesday night.

The proposal - which is still just that, a proposal - backs off some earlier plans to make extensive changes to schools on the west side and focusing more attention on schools in North Portland.

Smith is expected to make her formal recommendations to the school board on April 5.

The new plan would turn Ockley Green into a middle school over the next two years starting in the fall while Beach, Chief Joseph, Peninsula, and Woodlawn would become K-5 buildings feeding students to Ockley Green.

The following fall, Roseway Heights and Harriet Tubman would become middle schools. Tubman would draw from Boise-Eliot/Humboldt, King, Sabin, and Irvington schools, which would all be converted to K-5.

One big change comes on the west side where the Spanish immersion program at Ainsworth would remain there. In previous proposals, it would have moved.

The next steps are two chances - one on the west side and one on the east side - for parents to give feedback on the new proposal.

• Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 to 8 pm, Robert Gray Middle School, 5505 SW 23rd Ave. Interpretation in Spanish and Somali. Childcare provided.

• Wednesday, March 16, 6:30 to 8 pm, Hosford Middle School, 2303 SE 28th Place. Interpretation in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali and Russian. Childcare provided.

Here is the district-provided summary of the new proposals.

The new boundary maps are here.