Portland Public Schools

Given new information, PPS District leaders have decided the Pioneer Program will remain at the Holladay-Youngson facility for the 2018-19 school year. PPS remains committed to ensuring that all students receive a high quality educational experience in a positive and supportive learning environment.

The District has recently confirmed construction and relocation cost estimates, and the timeline for an expedited permitting process; we do not now believe we can reasonably prepare the Applegate and Rice buildings to accommodate the unique needs of Pioneer students by the Fall 2018. The Pioneer community has raised important issues about the special needs of these students and has provided valuable insight into our planning process. Given these factors and the already constrained timeline, it is no longer prudent to proceed with the plan to relocate the Pioneer program.

The District will begin the process of determining the best alternative path forward in collaboration with the Applegate Head Start, the Student Success Center, the programs at Rice and ACCESS school communities impacted by this change in plan.

We appreciate all of the school communities for their patience and advocacy over the last several months.

Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent