The Parkrose Board of Education met Monday, December 14 for its regular business meeting, and also to say goodbye to longtime board member Katie Larsell, who is stepping down for personal reasons. Larsell says she'll continue to be involved in the community, especially with the East Portland Action Plan. “I’ve found that to be a really neat opportunity to do that kind of work for our district," Larsell said.
The Board is accepting applications for Larsell's position through January 8, and will appoint a new member at the January 25, 2010 meeting. This member will serve out the remainder of Larsell's term, which expires in June 2011, after which a regular election will be held for the position.
In addition to recognizing Larsell:
Angela King, Title I teacher from Sacramento Elementary, gave a presentation on the various reading interventions being used in the school. 120 children in the school have been receiving interventions this year, with good results. For instance, of 24 second graders who have been in reading intervention groups, 12 have already been exited because they've reached grade level reading benchmarks. And while they started with five fourth grade intervention groups, they're now down to only three.
Evan McFadden of the P.A.C.E. (Parkrose Alternative Center for Education) program at Parkrose High School brought several students in to talk about the program's 27th annual homeless project. P.A.C.E. students organize a holiday supply drive for area homeless shelters, collecting personal hygiene items, blankets, and clothing. "This is pretty much a student-driven project," said McFadden, handing the podium over to his students. The students do publicity, solicit donations from area businesses as well as high school staff and students, raise money, assemble hygiene kits, put up holiday decorations at the shelters, and write thank you notes when it's all over. Last year, students assembled and gave away 312 hygiene kits. For more information or to donate, contact McFadden at the high school, (503) 408-2623.
Organizers of the SUN Community Schools program gave a presentation on what this program is doing in Parkrose. Shaver Elementary and Parkrose High School are both SUN Community Schools. The program has been serving 821 children and 186 adults in Parkrose. At Shaver, in addition to afterschool activities, the program is giving away 120 food baskets and 170 holiday gifts this year to needy families.
Board Chair James Woods encouraged SUN representatives to consider giving East County schools more equity if they add more SUN schools to the Portland area. Currently, SUN schools are disproportionately located within the Portland Public school district rather than in East County school districts.
The Board also discussed and voted on various business items. Official minutes of Parkrose board meetings are available on the district website.
