**Please check back for updates**
James John is slated for closure under both scenarios proposed by PPS as part of the “rightsizing” process. Our school is the heart of our community, and we only have a short amount of time to speak up and make our voices heard. Here’s what you can do to help!
October 6: Attend the PAT rally against school closures
October 6: Attend the school board meeting
October 9: Attend the PPS Board of Education Community Conversation at Roosevelt High School, 1-4 pm. RSVP Here.
October 15: Attend the James John PTA Meeting
Write to our school board! Written public comments can be submitted to Schoolboard@pps.net. You can also email the individual school board members: https://www.pps.net/board/board-of-education/board-members
Here is some suggested language, please feel free to edit!
I am a parent of a student at James John Elementary School, and I am strongly opposed to the current rightsizing scenarios that propose closing our school. James John is the heart of our community, both geographically and socially. It is located in the core of the St Johns neighborhood, between our local commercial district, library, and community center. Closing James John would leave a massive void on our main street, which would be devastating for our neighborhood as a whole.
The critical role James John plays in the St Johns community is borne out by the data. James John is one of the few elementary schools in North Portland that has enrollment numbers in line with the “sustainable school” threshold of 360 elementary students identified by PPS, and has one of the highest capture rates for neighborhood students attending their location schools in North Portland (most recent PPS data).
I also believe that the single rightsizing scenario proposed for North Portland is contrary to PPS’s stated equity principles. The neighborhood schools in North Portland have some of the most diverse student populations in Portland, and some of the largest Latino student populations. The Spanish DLI programs hosted at our neighborhood schools (including James John, Sitton, Caeser Chavez, and Beach) build community across language barriers for students and families both in and out of the DLI classrooms. Removing these programs from our neighborhood schools would segregate our existing communities based on language and would make it harder for our underserved populations to access these valuable programs.
I urge you to vote against the proposed rightsizing scenarios, including closure of James John Elementary School.
Thank you,
NAME.
