<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1QIEgq_1H4LolVc00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1QIEgq_1H4LolVc00" width="1200" height="600" >PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong on Friday recommended closing and consolidating 10 elementary schools over two years, scaling back an earlier proposal that would have closed as many as 14 schools.The revised plan, which comes after significant community pushback in the past month, calls for five schools to close in fall 2027 and five more in fall 2028. It also would convert seven K-8 schools to K-5, move some dual language immersion programs and change school boundaries.The recommendation comes as the district faces a projected $65 million budget deficit for the 2027-28 school year. District officials said the plan is intended to address declining enrollment and bring resources into better alignment, but it will not eliminate the deficit. Additional budget cuts will be needed, PPS said.The PPS Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the new recommendation Dec. 15 after gathering more public input.“This recommendation reflects what we heard from our communities and what we know our students need to succeed,” Armstrong said in a statement Friday. “We listened, made meaningful changes and developed a plan that balances the difficult enrollment and financial realities facing our district with our responsibility to provide every student with a strong educational experience.”<h2>Schools proposed for closure</h2>Under the recommendation, the following schools would close in fall 2027:<ul><li>Beach Elementary: Students would move to Chief Joseph Elementary. Beach students who remain in Spanish dual language immersion would move to César Chávez.</li><li>Peninsula Elementary: Students would move to Rosa Parks Elementary, which also would receive César Chávez English Scholar students.</li><li>Sabin Elementary: Students would move to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary.</li><li>Creston Elementary: Students would move to Atkinson Elementary. Students in Creston’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing program would move to Glencoe Elementary.</li><li>Buckman Elementary: Students would move to Abernethy Elementary and Sunnyside K-5.</li></ul>Beverly Cleary and Irvington elementary schools would merge in fall 2027 and operate at Irvington for one year while the Beverly Cleary building undergoes seismic reinforcement, according to the district.Five more schools would close in fall 2028:<ul><li>Rose City Park Elementary: English Scholar students would move to Scott Elementary. Students who remain in Vietnamese dual language immersion would move to Vestal Elementary.</li><li>Lewis Elementary: Students would move to Duniway Elementary.</li><li>Marysville Elementary: Students would move to Arleta Elementary.</li><li>Woodmere Elementary: Students would move to Whitman Elementary.</li><li>Irvington Elementary: The merged Beverly Cleary-Irvington school community would move to the renovated Beverly Cleary building.</li></ul><h2>Changes from earlier proposals</h2>In October, PPS released two scenarios that called for closing 11 or 14 schools. Armstrong’s revised recommendation would keep Sellwood Middle School and James John, Maplewood and Stephenson elementary schools open, the district said.Sunnyside would retain its environmental focus while becoming a K-5 school. The Odyssey K-8 choice program would move to Forest Park in fall 2028, rather than to the Metropolitan Learning Center as originally proposed. Skyline students would continue attending Lincoln High School instead of moving to Roosevelt High School.Lewis, Marysville, Woodmere and Rose City Park would remain open through the 2027-28 school year under the revised plan.In an October interview with FOX 12, Armstrong said declining enrollment was the biggest factor behind the proposed closures. She said the district would gather public feedback and expected it to result in changes to the list.The Portland Association of Teachers called for a slower, more community-centered process after the earlier proposals were released. The union urged the district to consider all available options before closing schools.<h2>Program and grade changes</h2>PPS said six K-8 schools — Beverly Cleary, César Chávez, Faubion, Laurelhurst, Sunnyside and Vernon — would convert to K-5 in fall 2027. Bridger K-8 would make the change in fall 2028. Students in grades 6-8 would move to nearby middle schools.The Metropolitan Learning Center would become a K-8 school in fall 2027. Its high school students would move to Alliance High School or their neighborhood high school.The plan also would consolidate Spanish dual language immersion programs from nine elementary schools into four regional hubs at César Chávez, Rigler, Lent and Ainsworth. The district said transportation would be provided from centralized locations.Mandarin immersion programs would be consolidated from three pathways to two. The program at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary would remain in place, while Clark students who remain in the program would move to Woodstock in fall 2028. PPS said the number of seats in each language program would remain the same.The district said it would provide individualized transition support to students affected by closures, program moves or boundary changes. Additional support for students with individualized education programs would be determined with their IEP teams as needed.PPS said it has made $171.8 million in budget reductions since the 2023-24 school year. Declining enrollment, rising operating costs and growing pension obligations are adding to the district’s financial pressures.More information about the recommendation and a video from Armstrong are available at pps.net/rightsizing.</div></body>

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PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong on Friday recommended closing and consolidating 10 elementary schools over two years, scaling back an earlier proposal that would have closed as many as 14 schools. The revised plan, which comes after significant community pushback in the past month, calls...

PPS revises plan to close 10 schools after public pushback

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PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong on Friday recommended closing and consolidating 10 elementary schools ove

PPS revises plan to close 10 schools after public pushback

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