Four more years? Not for this school board.

At least I hope not. 

But the four board members up for relection this May are sounding downright cocky.  Bobbie Regan, for example, responded this way to "school officials" saying that they haven't heard anything about "outsiders throwing their hat in the ring", nor any talk emanating from "school circles":

"Hopefully, that’s a good sign things are going well” with the current board, said Regan, who represents Southwest Portland’s Zone 3, around Lincoln High School."

Outsiders?  Is that a reference to those who don't believe things are going particularly well with the district?  To parents who don't appreciate their neighborhood schools closing while magnet schools and focus options proliferate? 

Or maybe it refers to those who live "outside" the wealthy and influential areas of the district, like in the Jefferson, Roosevelt, Madison, and Marshall clusters, where substantial numbers of students are fleeing their neighborhood schools, especially their high schools, for "better" schools elsewhere. 

I don't think things are going particularly well in the district.  But I'm certainly an "outsider".  I disagree with the district's school choice and open enrollment policies which, thanks to the school board, have picked up considerable steam in the last four years.  I also think that Vicki Phillips' school reconfiguration schemes, especially at Jefferson --remember school uniforms?-- are top down mandates which have alienated large segments of the community, especially the district's teachers.

What kind of "leader" alienates her employees? 

Board member Doug Morgan, who may or may not run for another term, thinks Vicki Phillips' has done a remarkable job:

"Morgan and others say that restructuring the schools has been a difficult task. But they think Superintendent Vicki Phillips took the right leadership steps to see the process through.

“ 'We hired Vicki to figure out how the district needed to be better organized and get it staffed,' Morgan said. 'She’s done a remarkably good job in getting it done so quickly. I would’ve expected it to take another year.' "

As an "outsider", I must disagree with Morgan's assessment.  If he decides to run again, I hope someone steps up and challenges him. 

What do you think? 

Comments

[shanthi]

I hope not, too.

"I also think that Vicki Phillips' school reconfiguration schemes, especially at Jefferson... are top down mandates which have alienated large segments of the community..."

This is an issue that threatens to splinter the entire community and eradicate any faith the public has left in our schools, and it's an issue the Board is largely complicit in. Hopefully that'll inspire some "Outsiders" to run in May.

And, despite what Bobbie might think, I've heard many within PPS and it's close allies air similar sentiments.

[DarePDX]

Of course she is cocky. The Portland Public School Board is an annoited position that is just put forward to the voters. They all are hand picked then the Oregonian fauwns over them and poof they are elected.

This is how her first election went down. Marc Abrams had done a lousy job, was a sawed off jerk, and was therefore categorically despised. A PCC college student named James West was actually getting traction (enough traction that this kid was actually getting worked over the Oregonian because he might possibly win). Marc Abrams stepped down and Bobby Regan was annoited to the position by the Kafoury group. What was great is that this was covered exactly as it went down in the Oregonian as Kafoury went and got a slate of hand picked candidates who of course all got the endorsement of the Oregonian.

Back to business as usual.

Vicki Phillips was also hand picked in a backroom deal. You halfway wonder if she was Goldsmidt's replacement more than just the Superintendent. They interviewed Phillips, said they like her, she went back to Pensylvania (I believe it was) and waited a few years while the CFO of the school district took the position temporarily. Sure enough, Phillips was hired and fauwned over by the Oregonian. The only reason we hear anything at all negative is the teachers unions are actually over blamed and hold thier own on the issue.

So its very likely that the Teachers Union is all that stands between the PPS and total backroom politics which of course is endorsed by the Oregonian.

Daylight laws anyone?

[Terry]

I agree, Shanti. I think there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with district leadership bubbling just below the surface. Whether that dissatisfaction will manifest itself in "outsider" candidates remains to be seen.

Good analysis, Dare. It's heartening to hear you champion the PAT as our last best hope for restoring some semblance of democracy to local educational politics. But don't write off the local press entirely. The Tribune's Jennifer Anderson has been doing a bang-up job of covering education, and I think this year the Trib will actually endorse candidates.

[blueteeth]

Are Wynde, Regan and Morgan all coming up for re-election? If so, we need to replace each of them with board directors who are willing to challenge Phillips rather than give her carte blanche. Imo, we need to avoid getting Foundation/Stand for Children establishment-type candidates. There is lots of anger and discontent among a variety of parent groups that Phillips has steamrolled in the past couple of years. Who are the anti-Wynde, Regan, Morgan candidates? Imagine if we had more thoughtful board directors like Sonja Henning, Dan Ryan or Delafruz Williams. We could stop Phillips in her tracks. How good would that be.

[howard]

"Good analysis, Dare. It's heartening to hear you champion the PAT as our last best hope for restoring some semblance of democracy to local educational politics."

Check out Article 17 of the PAT contract.

http://www.patpdx.org/agreement.htm

Article 17 gives teachers the means to veto Site Council decisions in their schools. Hardly democratic.

PAT is the opposite of "democratic" in its frequent use of work rule slowdowns, strike threats and mid-year strike votes to force district negotiators to give in to their demands in extended contract negotiations.

Portland's systemic problems are due in large part to the raw power its 3,000 or so members are able to bring to the bargaining table. Smaller districts in Portland and the rest of the state do not have expensive and inflexible collective bargaining agreements like Portland's.

Other Oregon districts with similar problems to Portland tend to be larger districts with larger unions able to exert more power.

[James West]

Its been four years, and I still get credit for that, good stuff. The Oregonian wasn't so bad, they just couldn't figure me out.