Portland Parents

Spring Break

When you aim at the “portland parent,” it is inevitable that some discussion will turn to the Portland School District. Even though many of you may not be directly affected by the public school crisis, whether you have kids in private schools or no kids in any schools, this is an extremely important problem.

Let’s stop blaming Measure 5 and related property-tax measures for the continued school budget problem. In the almost ten years since Measure 5 was passed, the incredibly big brains of our governors, senators and representatives, mayors, city commissioners and the school board has had plenty of chances to compensate. And yet our problem persists. Even when we instituted the Multnomah County Income Tax to help the schools– it was obvious that it was a band-aid.

I don’t think that the right people are making our schools a priority.

At a recent meeting, both of the governors of Washington and Oregon agreed that schools are the key to success and that “the Pacific Northwest cannot compete in the world economy without dramatically improving schools and universities.” (The Oregonian, March 17, B1). Not only do excellent schools directly lead to excellent employees (and business owners), but excellent schools will draw other people to the area.

With the policies set into place by the Bush administration, it is obvious that over the next ten to twenty years, we need to give our kids the best possible advantages for competition; like it or not, we are in competition for money, and all of the advantages are going to people who already have it. We will pass this competition to our children, and to do it without giving them every opportunity we can would be criminal. We need to take care of our public schools at the local level; state, county and city, because we want Oregon to flourish.

And yet, school funding continues to falter. We are faced with a huge shortfall next year- 57 Million Dollars. Even if someone won the Powerball and handed a big check to Vicki Phelps, it would only help for one year. In the long term, the district plans to “ask the legislature for more money.” There’s a source we can rely on. We need to build a supporting structure beneath the school system so that we can improve it and help our kids. We need a continuing plan. We had three years of the Multnomah Income Tax to prepare for this– where did that planning go?

You can try to balance the school budget based on current assumptions. I tried, and was able only to recover about ten million by trimming “unessential” costs like travel. I’m sure you would disagree with my choices. Looking at the selections, one thing is obvious — we need revolutionary thinking, because we’re cutting down to the meat of our education system.

And the meat won’t grow back.

We need to stop debating about the tram and how the city will fund it. We can’t afford it– we must make our children a priority. We need to take a stronger stance on this. Our kids’ futures depend on it.

Are you down at the Toys-R-Us, looking at the stroller, and you want to know if you can get it cheaper somewhere else? Send a text message to smarter.com at 610-SMARTER with the model and name of the product, and within minutes the website will reply with the lowest price it found online.

A fascinating new way for people to make the web work for you.

An inexpensive option to sleep an entire family is one of Oregon State Parks’ Rustic Yurts. The rate is generally about thirty dollars a night, and the yurt has bunks, lights, heaters and a broom. Even storm windows!

These “camping lite” campsites go quickly, so get your reservations in early. The Beverly Beach ones and the Cape Lookout ones are particularily enjoyable; the Fort Stevens ones are a little far back from the beach. But they’re all worth the thirty dollars a night.

Do you avoid going to the movies with your children because you don’t want to annoy non-parents? How long has it been since you’ve seen a movie in the theater? Prices got you down? Do you miss the feeling of being out on the town?

McMenamins Kennedy School may have the solution you need. And it’s an idea that seems brilliant in its simplicity. Mommy (and Daddy) Matinees on Monday and Tuesday afternoons. The price is right (Three dollars for adults, one for kids under 11, free for kids under two), and you can even order food! Snuggle up in one of their comfy chairs with your kids and take in a movie on the big screen.

Kidfest/BabyFest/Campfest is this weekend- March 11/12.

The Northwest’s Largest Family Expo, serving the Portland Metro & SW Washington community for over six years, this event is truly the place to find the latest information, products and services for babies, kids and parents. This annual community event focuses on active and healthy family lifestyle, and raising kids successfully. Families will enjoy non-stop entertainment, hundreds of interactive exhibits and tons of activities: giant slides, jump houses, rock climbing, bungee jump, sports demos, petting zoo, mad science, hand-on-crafts, games and more!

KidFest Site

I received a letter a few days ago, from another parent, and she obliquely referred to “the sad news about the school.” I had to track her down and find out what “new” distress we should prepare for. The way I read the letter, it sounded like something specific to my kid’s school, but it wasn’t.

How would you like your kid to go to school next year from January 2007 to June 2007? That’s one idea floated regarding the current school budget. How about 2/3 of the school staff being cut, and all custodial and maintenance being cut?

Who would change the toilet paper for our kids?
Who would feed them?
Who would record their myriad offenses on their permanent records?
But I digress.

We have a five billion dollar deficit in our school budget for the 05-07 cycle. Education groups have asked the Legislature to increase spending to match, but you know how that goes. With the loss of property taxes due to the Measure Five in 1990, followed by the pounding that Measure 30 took in 2004, Oregon schools have been on a downhill slide. How do we get it turned around?