Odyssey Program

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Dear PPS Families,

We want to update you on our progress on the Enrollment and Program Balancing project we have undertaken. As we have previously announced, our initial work is focused on schools in Southeast Portland in advance of the reopening of Kellogg Middle School.

The Southeast Guiding Coalition has held three meetings this month (all virtual because of the pandemic) that focused on orientation to the material and data. They concluded last week with the introduction of a first draft, also called a springboard, proposal. Key highlights of the proposal:

• Kellogg Middle School would reopen, with the Spanish Dual Language Immersion program that is currently at Mt. Tabor Middle School moving there.
• Harrison Park, which is currently a K-8 school, would become a middle school.
• Other K-8 schools (Arleta, Bridger, Creston, Lent and Marysville) will be converted into K-5 schools.

Feeder patterns, boundaries and shifts to DLI programs were also proposed. Details can be seen in the first draft document. This is a starting point of possible options for the Southeast Guiding Coalition to think about, and they will continue to work together in October to ask questions and develop additional versions of a possible plan.

The Guiding Coalition is made up of parents and principals representing Southeast schools. Starting October 8, its work will shift into Phase 1, a series of nine Thursday meetings focused on the middle school grades. The series will include a virtual open house November 12 that will be open to all, a community survey, and will conclude with a final Phase 1 recommendation on December 17.

Phase 2 will focus on PK-5 grades, with meetings in spring 2021.

Enrollment and Program Balancing uses both a data-driven analysis process and community input to address needs such as equity and inclusion, transportation, facilities constraints, and much more. Meeting agendas, materials, minutes and videos are posted at the Enrollment and Program Balancing website.