-
Questions and answers on schools being closed on May 8
4/18/2019This week, we announced to our families and staff that all schools in Portland Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, May 8. To recover the lost instructional hours, we have decided to use our last designated makeup day as the final day of school, on Wednesday, June 12.
Here are answers to some questions about the decision:
Q: Why are schools being closed?
A: May 8 has been designated as a “Day of Action” by the Oregon Education Association in which teachers around the state intend to be absent to advocate for full funding for K-12 public schools.
Q: Why can’t you open schools with the teachers who choose not to participate and administrators?
A: From our communications with the Portland Association of Teachers and our principals, we have an estimate on how many teachers will be absent. That number will exceed our ability to safely open and operate our schools.
Q: Why is the final day of school all the way back to June 12? The original district calendar had June 7 as the final day.
A: The calendar designated June 10, 11 and 12 as makeup days. The district had already decided to use June 10 and 11 to recover lost instructional hours from February’s weather closures.
Q: What about high school seniors? When will their last day of class be?
A: We’re moving the final instructional day for seniors from May 30 to May 31. In addition, we will ask the PPS Board of Education to approve an exception for the seniors so they can meet the state-mandated instructional hours for grade-12 students, and they can graduate as scheduled, with ceremonies starting June 2.
Q: What about Outdoor School, which is scheduled May 6-10? And night class?
A: Outdoor School will remain open and run uninterrupted. Night classes also will continue as regularly scheduled.
Q: What if my child was supposed to take an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test on May 8?
A: Previously scheduled AP and IB testing will proceed as planned on May 8.
Q: What about events for sports and arts scheduled in the late afternoon or early evening on May?
A: We are in the process of confirming if those competitions and events will continue as planned. If we need to cancel any, we will follow up with the affected school communities and participants.
Q: What about child care for families that use PPS services? Will that still be available on May 8?
A: We ask that you contact your child care provider directly to determine if they will be offering services on May 8.
Q: Will the central office be open on May 8?
A: Yes, the district office at the Blanchard Education Service Center will be open for normal hours.
If you have other questions, please contact pubinfo@pps.net.
By Month
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- June 2015