Portland Public School (PPS) District is currently in phase 2 of restructuring the SE Portland boundaries to address enrollment issues. All three of the proposals introduced bring change to the Lewis community and will affect both the elementary school and middle school the community members would attend, therefor dividing the current community.

Read the proposals here.

The current policy PPS school board holds for student assignment following boundary changes states in 4.10.045-P Section V.A:

1. Students living in the neighborhood approved for a boundary change may remain at their current school through the highest grade.
2. Younger siblings living in a neighborhood approved for a boundary change have a guarantee through the transfer process to attend the former neighborhood school if an older brother or sister currently attends and will be attending the former neighborhood school the following school year.
3. Transfer students attending a school subject to a boundary change may remain at their current school through the highest grade.

However, the policy also states in 4.10.045-P Section V.B:

• In cases of school boundary changes to relieve overcrowding or for the purpose of establishing a boundary for a new school, the Superintendent or Board may recommend an exception to Section V.A. Such exceptions must be approved by the Board.

The Lewis Community asks that the PPS school board reconsider their actions based on metrics and consider the human aspect of these changes. Many students form lifelong friendships in their early years. Relationships are also made with teachers. These teachers then become the students' advocates and communicate needs, strengths and weaknesses. When children are displaced, it can take up to 4 months to recover emotionally and academically. When you add the stress of "starting over" amongst the past two years of endless pivots and transitions you are causing undue stress that will have profound effects on the families, community, and staff. 

PPS teachers are already stretched thin. Students are already trying to adapt and catch up. The boundary change cannot happen without allowing students to finish at the school they are already attending with their current peers and support system. We implore you to make the safest choice for our future. That is to stick to the current policy of 4.10.045-P Section V.A and allow all students, if they choose,  to finish out the highest grade of their current school with ALL of their peers. 

Thank you,

Lewis Elementary PTA and Community

P.S. Please do not feel obliged to make a financial contribution if invited to do so. That is not Lewis PTA asking, it is change.org. Thank you for signing!