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Portland schools say Title IX reporting form is live; committee weighs civilian 'civil rights officer' proposal
Summary
Human-resources leaders told the policy committee that Title IX liaisons have been identified and an online reporting form is live and accessible from multiple PPS website locations; committee agreed to circulate a public-suggested amendment that would add online-reporting language to policy and to consider a proposed civil-rights-officer role next meeting.
Portland Public Schools— human-resources leaders told the policy committee on Dec. 8 that Title IX coordination and reporting systems have been updated and are functioning, and the committee discussed whether to enshrine online reporting and a civil-rights-officer position in district policy.
Jennifer Slebank, introduced as the district—s head of human resources and a Title IX coordinator, said she and Bridget Wheeler are handling Title IX-related issues, have completed the relevant training, and that Title IX liaisons at secondary campuses were formally identified in mid-November. Slebank said the district revised its informal-reporting form and that the revised form is live; she and Wheeler said they plan a January meeting to align procedures across campuses.
Committee members raised concerns after some community members reported difficulty locating the reporting button on the district website. During the meeting staff pulled up the Portland Public Schools homepage and confirmed the "Report a concern" button is restored and accessible from student, family and staff menus. "The link has been live the entire time," Slebank said, adding that some recent updates were intended to improve clarity for different user groups.
A public commenter who submitted suggested language (referred to in the meeting as "Tyler") proposed two formal amendments: (1) add explicit policy language that the district will maintain and publicize an online reporting form that allows anonymous reports without immediate elevation to a formal complaint, and (2) create a separate civil-rights-officer position to oversee complaints beyond the Title IX coordinator role. Committee members agreed the online-reporting wording could be circulated as an amendment for next week, while the civil-rights-officer proposal was substantial enough to merit an amendment and further debate next meeting.
The committee directed staff to circulate the suggested language and for any committee members who want to propose formal amendments to prepare them for the next session. No binding adoption of either suggested amendment occurred at the Dec. 8 meeting.
