Parents, students and teachers urge Portland SD 1J to reconsider closing Metropolitan Learning Center High School

Several students, parents and community members urged the Portland SD 1J Board’s Teaching, Learning and Enrollment Committee on Feb. 12 to reverse or reconsider plans affecting Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) High School, arguing the move would disproportionately harm neurodivergent and otherwise vulnerable students.

Roxanna Jean Radick, an MLC student who asked to be called Roxy, told the committee "there is an effort to shut down our high school program next year" and said the decision was being described as a programming change "so they can get away with shutting it down without all the proper votes and processes." She described MLC as "a remarkably unique school" that provides a small, supportive learning environment for queer and disabled students.

Reagan Wozniak, speaking as "a parent, a teacher, a community member, and an advocate for equitable and alternative education," said families were told this week that "as of next year, MLC would no longer be their academic home" and asserted "the process outlined by the district's own policies was not followed to close this school." Wozniak urged the board to explore other options before closing MLC, and shared a student-created petition at bit.ly/savemlc.

Nico Buehler, a junior at MLC, described the school as "a light at the end of the tunnel" after negative experiences at other schools and said losing MLC would be "devastating" for current and future students. Parent Crystal Hilton said her child quickly improved academically in alternative settings and expressed concern about returning to neighborhood schools such as Ida B. Wells.

In response, Committee Chair Rochelle Chase Miller acknowledged the public outcry and announced that the superintendent, the senior chief of academics and the chief of schools will host a listening session for all MLC families and students on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. She said district staff confirmed "every student currently enrolled in the high school program will receive individualized transition support," listing one-on-one counseling and help exploring other high school options within the district as examples.

Chair Chase Miller framed the MLC situation in the context of the district’s budget reductions, telling the committee, "This year, we're cutting $50,000,000 from our budget. This will contribute to over 100,000,000 in cuts over 3 years," and encouraged constituents to contact state legislators to seek full funding for public education in Oregon.

The listening session and the individualized transition supports were presented as the district’s immediate procedural responses; the community speakers characterized the closure as sudden and inconsistent with district policy. The committee did not take a formal vote during the meeting. The district scheduled the Feb. 18 meeting as the next opportunity for families and students to ask questions and receive more detailed information about the change and the supports that will be available.