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Board approves interim contract amendment to bring in Presidio to support Office of School Modernization
Summary
After extended debate and public testimony, the Portland Public Schools board approved an amendment to a cooperative contract to have Presidio provide interim program management and staffing support for the Office of School Modernization; the measure passed 6–1 amid calls for further transparency and an RFP for longer‑term work.
The Portland Public Schools Board of Education on Sept. 9 approved an amendment (Resolution 7175) to a cooperative contract with Presidio to provide interim program management and staffing augmentation for the district’s Office of School Modernization (OSM). The motion passed 6–1.
Superintendent Guadalupe Armstrong said the change responds to a sudden leadership vacancy in OSM and multiple personnel gaps the district needs to fill while the 2025 bond program advances. Armstrong said the district faces “go‑time” pressure to keep three modernization projects — Jefferson, Wells and Cleveland high schools — on schedule and that Presidio would provide interim leadership and back‑office project management capacity while the district conducts any permanent hiring.
Debate and public testimony: The vote followed extensive board discussion and multiple public comments, including a detailed appeal from Keisha Locklear, a senior project manager in OSM, who said the department had not been adequately consulted and urged the board not to delegate authority that would “undermine our department.” Another commenter who identified himself as an industry professional and longtime PPS voter asked the board to complete a full competitive procurement rather than use a cooperative contract, noting the firm’s limited local track record.
Staff rationale: District staff said Presidio was already under contract to evaluate the Jefferson project and that the proposed amendment expands scope and staff support to OSM while the district recruits permanent leadership. Staff described the arrangement as a short‑term, task‑specific augmentation intended to avoid program pauses and keep high‑priority construction work moving.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the amendment (7175) by a 6–1 vote. The superintendent and staff committed to produce stronger written deliverables and to report progress to the Facilities Improvement and Oversight Committee, the Bond Accountability Committee and the full board. Several board members asked staff to return with the Jefferson evaluation and a clear set of performance measures for any future, longer‑term agreement.
Quote: Keisha Locklear, senior project manager in the Office of School Modernization, urged the board to “work with our department to rebuild the trust that has been broken,” and requested that outside consultants not be allowed to define OSM performance in place of in‑house staff.
