Dozens of parents, teachers and former employees used public comment at the Portland Board of Public Education’s Nov. 25 meeting to say recent central‑office staffing changes have eroded supports for multilingual families and educators of color and to demand an independent investigation.

“Can you still hear me? … I’m here today as a concerned parent,” said Victoria Fuhrman, who described long experience in the district and asked the board to “look into” reports of staff burnout and program disruptions. Several speakers said a Nov. 6 staff message about leadership transitions looked like a reorganization that duplicated existing roles and put two leaders of color at particular risk of cuts.

Teachers and staff gave specific examples. Tyler Jellison, who said he taught in Portland Public Schools since 2012, told the board that the district had “let these supports fall apart” and that staff enrolled in leadership development were abruptly informed this fall that promised funding would not be provided. Jellison said the district had been “out of compliance with Title IX from April 2024 until July 2025,” and urged immediate investigation.

Several public commenters asked the board to use ACAB and ACA procedures for a formal review. Mano Ali, a former HR generalist who said she was laid off after reporting an office incident, told the board that when she reported a staff member’s threatening behavior “the superintendent dismissed it as a prank” and that she then experienced retaliation.

Chair Sarah Lentz acknowledged the seriousness of the comments and said the board is taking claims seriously; she also noted that “to date, there have been no formal complaints made by anybody listed in the petition,” and invited people who believe they experienced retaliation to reach out to the board. Superintendent Ryan Scallon said he was “deeply reflecting” on the public comments, apologized for communication shortfalls and committed to provide public updates after review.

Some board members asked for a formal external investigation. One member said they planned to propose an outside review citing potential violations of federal civil‑rights law; the board later voted to move into executive session to discuss a personnel matter and rescheduled the superintendent’s evaluation to the next board meeting.

What’s next: Board members and staff told the meeting they will follow up with reports and legal guidance and that the administration will provide updates on steps to address staffing, Title IX processes and language‑access concerns.