Portland Public Schools presented an update June 24 on staff engagement for the planned relocation of its central office (Portland Education Center). The presentation detailed an RFI to the commercial real estate market, the district’s partnership with Albina Vision Trust (AVT), recent staff listening sessions and next steps for site evaluation.

Why it matters: the relocation affects hundreds of central office employees and operational adjacencies (facilities, IT, student services). Staff engagement and test‑fit evaluations will shape which locations are shortlisted and how the district addresses parking, conference space and trade‑specific requirements.

Chief of Staff Deborah Kafoury introduced the project team and said the district has received multiple RFI submissions and is starting to evaluate properties with AVT and consultants. "We have been focusing on identifying our needs for the next 50 years," said Dana White, who led the relocation presentation. White described outreach to the commercial real estate community and said non‑disclosure agreements and quiet conversations are common at this early stage.

Staff engagement so far and next steps:

- Listening sessions: The district held three staff‑only listening sessions (two in person, one virtual) that drew roughly 250 staff. White said directors and managers were intentionally asked not to attend those sessions so staff could speak candidly. The district plans follow‑up meetings with directors to summarize what was heard.

- Trade‑specific sessions and unions: The team heard union partners request trade‑specific listening sessions; the district said it will schedule those sessions and allow union representatives to participate so experts in each trade can comment on technical requirements.

- Communications and FAQs: Staff created a dedicated website and a staff‑facing FAQ on the relocation; an email address (pecplanningteam@pps.net) and a QR code were shared for staff to submit questions and comments. White said the FAQs and staff questions are currently on a staff portal and the district is discussing when to switch the information to a public‑facing document.

- Property evaluation and board process: The team will evaluate properties and identify top solutions to present to the board, initially in executive session when confidentiality is required, then publicly as the proposals mature. White said there will be multiple test‑fit evaluations and staff engagement points when finalists are identified so departments can assess operational adjacencies and functional needs.

Board members asked about how staff input will be compiled and shared with the board and the public, how the district will balance confidentiality of negotiations with the need for staff and public review, and how parking, adjacency and accessibility issues would be handled in test fits. Staff said compiled summaries of listening inputs and an updated FAQ would be made available to directors and that more intensive departmental engagement will occur when finalists are chosen.

No formal action was taken; staff will continue the RFI evaluation, conduct trade‑specific listening sessions, and return to the board with shortlisted options and test‑fit results.