An internal compliance audit of multilingual-learner (English language development) services found instances of noncompliance across identification, family communication, Title III informational sessions, ELPA administration, and post-exit monitoring; the audit made nine recommendations and management agreed to implement them and report back in about 90 days.
The audit committee reviewed Portland SD 1J's annual comprehensive financial report and single audit, heard an auditor's unmodified opinion alongside three compliance findings, and informally recommended the full board accept the reports and affirm staff's corrective-action plan with timelines.
Consultants Sandy Hayes and Amy led a governance workshop with Portland Public Schools board members and Superintendent Dr. Armstrong. The board discussed OSBA/Washington standards, accountability as alignment (not punishment), committee/agenda processes, staffing capacity amid multi‑year cuts, and short-term steps to triage board requests.
District staff told the Portland Public Schools board that program-level procurement will create consultant pools and that several modernization projects are on schedule; staff described funds available across prior bond measures and said some 2012/2017 balances may be reallocated once reconciled.
The board approved A/E design services for Vernon and Winter Haven seismic work (funded from the 2020 bond) after directors pressed staff for more detail about how schools were prioritized and how seismic investments interact with upcoming right-sizing discussions; vote recorded 7-0.
The Portland SD 1J board voted to end Jefferson High SchoolSchooldual assignment and designate Jefferson as a comprehensive high school, and approved new attendance boundaries under the superintendentrecommended scenario C; the votes were 7to0 and 6to1, respectively.
A proposed amendment to Policy 6.5.0.01‑P that would have required "continuity of curriculum" for students remaining on campus during extended residencies drew extensive public comment from DLI parents and teachers; the proponent later withdrew a motion to send the amendment to policy committee and the policy remained unchanged that evening.
Chief Morrison told the board the district used about $23.5 million in reserves to close the current budget gap and is targeting a minimum 5% fund balance; staff illustrated possible impacts of structural gaps (equivalent of ~14.5 school days lost, ~350 educator FTEs) and urged advocacy to state legislators and ballot measure action.
District presenters told the Teaching, Learning and Enrollment Committee that Portland Public Schools now offers 80 CTE programs across 11 high schools serving about 10,000 students, highlighted equity gains and announced a first‑of‑its‑kind literacy pilot for technical classrooms with TNTP.
Senior directors Chandra Cooper and Naomi Orem presented three district strategies—strengthening school climate, attendance data teams and communications—reporting a point‑in‑time 2.3% increase to 74.24% as of Dec. 19 and highlighting Roseway Heights’ 8.7% gain as an example.
