Portland Public Schools (PPS) are gearing up for a vote on a nearly $2 billion bond that could change the future of schools across the city—and it might just affect thousands of families in ways you may not expect.
Here’s the deal: more than half of PPS schools were built before 1940! That means many of them need serious upgrades to keep students, staff, and families safe and healthy. This is especially true for three high schools in Portland that are in desperate need of a makeover.
As Cam Walter, a sophomore, shared with the board last December, “This is not the time to cut corners or skip essential upgrades. Our learning environments need to improve.”
So, what’s on the line? Over $1 billion of the bond is earmarked for big renovations at Ida B Wells, Jefferson, and Cleveland High Schools. These are schools where the need for updates has become too urgent to ignore.
And that’s not all. $5 million would be used for improvements at other schools, covering everything from physical renovations to educational and technology upgrades.
Here’s some good news for homeowners: no increase in property taxes if voters approve the bond. Sounds like a win-win, right?
Herman Greene, a PPS board member, is confident that the bond can cover all the necessary improvements: “I believe we can get every one of our high schools done with the money we have in the bond.”
But there’s a sense of urgency. Andrew Scott, another PPS board member, warns that if the bond fails, it could delay these crucial upgrades by years: “If we lose this bond, we’re looking at at least a couple of years before we can go out again.”
Portland voters have supported similar bonds in the past. Since 2012, three bonds totaling over $4 billion have been approved, funding major renovations like those at Benson Polytechnic High School in the Kerns Neighborhood.
But let’s not forget the setback back in 2011 when a bond aimed at school renovations was rejected. Many believe this delay is why schools like Cleveland, Ida B Wells, and Jefferson ended up on the back burner for so long.
Gary Hollands, a PPS board member, admitted, “$1.8 billion might fail too. I hope it doesn’t, but it’s always a possibility.”
This time around, there’s hope for a better outcome.
Megan Steffek, a parent at Cleveland High School, shared her frustration with the board: “Like other parents, students, and staff, I was shocked to see the neglect of Cleveland High School over the years. It’s time for change.”
Will Portland’s voters approve the bond and bring these schools the upgrades they need? Only time will tell—but the stakes are high, and the voices of parents, students, and staff are louder than ever.
