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Portland Public Schools board appoints Christie Split to fill Zone 1 vacancy
Summary
After public interviews of three applicants, the Portland Public Schools Board appointed Christie Split on Jan. 13 to fill the Zone 1 vacancy through June 30, 2025; she was sworn in at the meeting and will serve until the winner of the May 2025 special election takes the seat.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 13 appointed Christie Split to fill the Zone 1 board vacancy created by Andrew Scott’s resignation.
The board held public interviews earlier in the special meeting with three applicants: Jackie Wertz, Christie Split and Jasmine Reese. Board members said they heard detailed answers on governance, equity and community engagement before moving to multiple voice and roll-call votes. After two rounds of voting and a runoff, the board named Christie Split to serve through June 30, 2025; the winner of a May 2025 special election will serve the remaining two years of the term.
Why it matters: The appointment gives the board a full voting membership for the months ahead as it addresses the district’s immediate priorities, including funding and facilities work the board discussed publicly. The appointee will serve on the board for roughly six months before the special election.
How the process worked: Chair Wong explained interview rules in advance — two-minute opening statements for each candidate, two-minute answers to board questions with a single one-minute follow-up permitted, then a series of voice and roll-call votes. Candidates were required to reside in Zone 1 for at least one year; each of the three said they met residency requirements.
What candidates said in brief: • Jackie Wertz, who described herself as a biochemist, nonprofit executive director and former academic administrator, emphasized systems thinking, fiscal oversight and a long-term view for district policy and budgets. "We're using our fiscal acumen, our policy insights, and the trust the community has given to the board members to weave these together to create a sustainable and actionable vision for Portland Public School District," Wertz said during her opening remarks.
• Christie Split stressed public schools as foundational to community and democracy, said she is focused on restoring fully funded schools in Oregon, and described experience in campaigns, legislative engagement and parent advocacy. She told the board she plans to knock on doors across the district and support efforts such as an upcoming bond measure.
• Jasmine Reese identified herself as an Urban League member and small-business owner and emphasized equity, outreach and boots-on-the-ground engagement with families. Reese described previous local advocacy work, including a facilities planning committee and testifying in Salem to advocate for school funding formulas.
Board members debated briefly and then held multiple rounds of votes. Student representative JJ Conceivi cast an unofficial advising vote during the process. In the final runoff the chair announced the board had selected Christie Split; the board then administered an oath at the dais. Chair Wong said the new director will also complete a formal notarized oath the next morning to formalize the appointment.
Next steps: The appointee will begin participating in board business immediately and the board said staff would assist with onboarding and required filings. The selection was limited to the term described; the May special election will determine who serves the remainder of the two-year term beginning after June 30, 2025.
No formal motions to expand the board were introduced; several board members said—without committing to action—that all three finalists would strengthen the board if there were more seats. Public comment was not recorded as part of the appointment votes.
