‘It’s a betrayal’: Parents push back against potential PPS school closures at board meeting

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Hundreds rallied at a Portland Public Schools board meeting Tuesday night, after Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong unveiled a controversial “rightsizing” plan this week.

“Save our schools, Save our schools,” chanted a crowd outside the PPS district building.

Faced with a plan to close as many as 14 schools, hundreds turned out ready to fight back.

“I’m frustrated for our kids. All of this takes us away from them being the focus and priority. It’s a distraction at school for them, it’s unnecessary,” said Maplewood parent Ibraheem Riad.

On Monday, Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong laid out three options. Two included closures. One would close 14 schools, including: Maplewood, Stephenson, Irvington, Rose City Park, Buckman, Creston, Marysville, Woodmere, Lewis, Beach, James John, Peninsula, Sabin, and Sellwood Middle School. The other would spare three elementary schools from that list, and the third option would defer the decision until a later time.

On Tuesday night, families told the board that closing even one is unacceptable.

“Whose schools? Our schools,” said a crowd chanting.

“It’s a betrayal, it feels like a betrayal of trust,” said Maplewood parent Emily Spaeth.

Emily Spaeth has children at Maplewood Elementary, which is on the chopping block under both options.

“If this school is a school that is going to be closed, then there is something wrong, because this school is the right size already,” said Spaeth.

District leaders face a $65 million deficit alongside sharp enrollment declines, but some argue closures won’t solve the core issue.

“We can all acknowledge PPS is facing real challenges and we all understand that enrollment has declined, but what we have not seen clearly enough is the answer to the question at the center of every one of these decisions. How does this actually make life better for our students?” said President of the Portland Association of Teachers Alisha Chavez.

The board votes in December, and parents warn the fallout reaches far beyond balancing the budget.

“It’s more than just a budget, and it’s more than just a building, it’s ripping apart communities,” said Maplewood parent Katie Gertz.

“When you do that, you make it really challenging for kids to really connect, and feel that sense of belonging, and that has repercussions that we just can’t really know,” said Spaeth.

The board plans to move future meetings to a larger venue and will take public comment through November ahead of the December vote.