Portland public hearing on Jefferson High boundaries turns into sharp debate as superintendent backs 'Scenario C'

Portland — Portland Public Schools administrators presented their recommended boundary plan for Jefferson High School and took more than two hours of public comment on Dec. 8, with speakers sharply divided over whether the district’s "Scenario C" strikes the right balance between proximity, equity and program stability.

Board Chair Eddie Wong began the evening by acknowledging community concerns about the tone of a prior meeting and apologizing for conduct that left people feeling "dismissed, unheard, or undermined," saying in part, "We agreed that parts of the meeting did not reflect the level of respect, clarity, or care that our community expects from its elected leaders." The session then moved to a presentation of the recommended assignment area and an extended public-comment period.

Assistant Superintendent Margaret Calvert outlined the district’s outreach and analysis behind Scenario C, saying the district ran transit and proximity analyses, modeled capture rates and projection targets, and intends a phased implementation beginning with incoming freshmen in 2027 and full phase-in by 2030–31. Calvert said the district sought broad input…