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Board holds first reading of 'Protecting Student Access and Safe Schools' policy as teachers, parents urge funding and support
Summary
On first reading the board advanced a draft policy meant to align district practice with new Oregon immigration-enforcement laws and opened a public comment period; students, parents and the new PAT president urged the board to seek additional funding and to support school services and the volunteer-run Clothing Center.
The Portland Public Schools board took up the first reading of a draft "Protecting Student Access and Safe Schools" policy on July 7, a measure officials said is being fast-tracked to meet a state deadline and to align district procedures with recently enacted Oregon legislation regarding immigration‑enforcement interactions and student privacy.
Vice Chair DePass introduced the draft, saying it would align district practice with the state requirements named in discussion as SB 1538 and HB 4079 (verbal citations from the meeting). The policy committee recommended forwarding the draft to the full board; staff said the district had already developed guidance, a toolkit and protocols in recent years and that the proposed policy would codify those practices. The board set a minimum 21‑day public comment period and indicated a second reading and a vote would come at the Aug. 4 meeting.
Public commenters emphasized the human impact of budget choices and urged the board to protect services: ninth‑grader Naima Truss, speaking on her ninth birthday, asked the board to reconsider cuts she said would eliminate electives, swell class sizes and result in layoffs she tied to 87 teachers. Parent Diane Riley recounted how a teacher at Sunnyside Environmental School was affected by layoffs and pledged continued advocacy for full funding. Emery Oeding, a PPS school counselor, asked the board to address an immediate facilities issue: she said the district has proposed reducing the PPS Clothing Center’s space at Marshall Campus by roughly 50% for 2026‑27 and restricting visitors from using an indoor restroom, an outcome she said would be unsafe and inequitable for families who access the volunteer-run program.
Alicia Chavez, the newly seated president of the Portland Association of Teachers, thanked the board for engagement and urged greater partnership and exploration of all options to stop layoffs; she called for centering the most-impacted students in decisions about rightsizing and noted upcoming bargaining that will be central to district labor conversations.
Board members asked staff for the district’s immigration-enforcement toolkit and for clarity around whether the state would require reporting or have an enforcement mechanism; Dr. Adams said PPS is "ahead of the curve" and would share the toolkit with board members and follow up with answers at the second reading.
Next steps: the district will post the draft policy for public comment and staff will return at the Aug. 4 meeting for a second reading and a recorded vote.
