Oregon schools (Portland, Eugene, Clackamas: sales, real estate, daycares)

[sandybeaches]

When I first started thinking about Oregon there were a bunch of posts on a forum (I cant recall, but am sure it was here someplace!) about how bad the schools were in Oregon. One person said something that has stuck in my mind all this time... "If you want your kid to have a decent education I wouldn't even consider anyplace in Oregon!". That's pretty strong! So, I've done some research, not to the limit granted, but I am seeing there could be some truth to this, but certainly no more than other states. In the areas around Eugene I saw a couple of schools that seemed questionable when you read the test scores, but then saw some that looked fab just down the road, so I just dont think those negative opinions are right. And in the general Portland area I just think that is not the case either. I see schools that look like schools anyplace else, and I hear that your teachers have better education than other places anyway. Even the subs. What do you think would propt these other forum posts about how bad the schools are? Maybe a personal vedetta or trying to drive newcomers away or is there something that I'm not finding in my research? Everyone wants the best for their children and I am doing my very best to learn all I can. Thank You for adding your words to my research file.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by sandybeaches

What do you think would propt these other forum posts about how bad the schools are? Maybe a personal vedetta or trying to drive newcomers away or is there something that I'm not finding in my research? Everyone wants the best for their children and I am doing my very best to learn all I can. Thank You for adding your words to my research file.

While I disagree with the statement "Oregon has crummy schools", I think it comes from the frustration created over the lack of stable school funding. Back in the early 90s a tax measure was passed that limited soaring property taxes (property taxes ended up raising away b/c of home values going through the roof). This measure also changed the "burden" of who paid for schools. Before most counties were responsible for funding schools in their counties. Afterwards the county property taxes from places like Multnomah, Clackamas, & Washington County went to fund schools in counties in Eastern & Southern Oregon. This was a boon for small districts who previously struggled to stay open. The problem is now the large districst are struggling.

We recently left Oregon (it was hard to leave) but one reason was cost of education there. 1/3 of our property tax bill went to fund schools in other parts of the state. So our local school relied heavily on fund raising to prop up the schools.... pay for things like 8 weeks of Art Ed, 8 Weeks of Music Ed, Computer Teacher. Our school of 300 kids in a middle class neighborhood was raising between 75K to 90K a year to help the school. It was financially and physically draining for our family.

You will find some good schools that qualify for things like Title I so they don't have to fund raise as much. Schools in Portland are loosing kids because it's expensive to live their and schools in the suburbs are bursting because they don't have money to build new schools.

All mainly because they can't rely on the state for how much money they will get in 2 years. Plus there are crazy recalls on tax measures all the time. Ballot measures that threaten to recall a tax that was passed to prop up the schools. So the schools work on multiple budgets: how much they've been given, how much less they will have if the measure passes. Schools in Oregon work FINANCIAL MAGIC.

With all that said, I found the teachers and parents in our PPS school to be INCREDIBLY commited and talented to all of those kids suceeded. But what Oregon needs is the State Legislature and Governor to FIX the lack of stable funding issue.

I think I a better statement is "Oregon has a crummy formula for funding schools!"

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

I think I a better statement is "Oregon has a crummy formula for funding schools!"

Oh, amen. I totally agree with you. It's just unfortunate and exceedingly frustrating that socio-economic factors weigh so heavily on which schools have successful records and which don't.

[nancy thereader]

Especially when so much of the money in the US treasury goes to support the tragic Iraqi War . In most other countries , the federal government pays for schools (including colleges) because education is deemed to be a right that all people should have. It should not be that some school districts need to resort to fund raisers (cake sales in my district) to obtain money for needed supplies. Calling Michael Moore.......

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Especially when so much of the money in the US treasury goes to support the tragic Iraqi War . In most other countries , the federal government pays for schools (including colleges) because education is deemed to be a right that all people should have. It should not be that some school districts need to resort to fund raisers (cake sales in my district) to obtain money for needed supplies. Calling Michael Moore.......

The fundraising efforts of parents in Portland Public Schools is an amazing feat that could be it's own documentary. Many schools, including Elementary schools, have annual Oral & Silent Auctions that raise lots of money and require a HUGE effort on the part of parents and the community. And one PPS Elementary school even has a part group who flipped a house for their school. I kid you not. They bought a house in the schools neighborhood, pretty much gutted it, added on to, brought all the wiring and plumbing up to code, and sold it. The profit goes to hire teachers so they can keep the classes small for their kids.

Flipping houses to pay for public education. NOW that's what I want Mike Moore's next movie to be titled!

[Supernova7]

I'm well educated myself. When I was a child going through the public school system I didn't feed on people's negative commentary pertaining to schools. You will always have some that say "select schools are better than others." To me, that's nothing more than an opinion. The real measure of education comes from your own individual desire to learn and the mentors that you have in your life. You don't need to go to school to learn, there are many othere venues to enhance your education. Our school system much like everything else is a political instrument. If we cared so much about education than the U.S. would offer FREE education at ANY school, just like Europe, Canada etc...

Apparently, we wish a different route. Our culture would rather seperate the have's from the have nots and "guarantee" quality education to those with MONEY or the capacity for exemplary grades. However, that leaves a large portion of the population out of the loop and it's racist. Furthermore, some say we have "no money" to fund schools, well last I cheked we spent over 875 BILLION dollars on the destruction of Iraq. That way YOUR money spent for genocide. If that isn't an indicator of priorities I don't know what is.

[nancy thereader]

Please let's not forget that George Bush graduated from Yale ...... how sad is that?

[Waterlily]

It seems to me that a couple of posts are getting off topic. Let's keep this about Oregon schools.
No I don't believe the schools are really crummy. Some people have said that on this forum but I think they were trying to get people to move to another state.

[freedom]

public schools are not about teaching children to learn, they are about teaching children to memorize and be good citizen slaves. There is no education on how to be an entrepreneur or business owner, they are socially engineered mediocrity daycares.

Money would just exaggerate the borg outcomes.

Schools are pretty much the same through out every rural type state. Inner city is the worst. Obviously. Social darwinism is taught but not practiced.

freedom

[sandybeaches]

I agree with much...

but after all is said and done when I send my children off for 6+ hours a day I want to feel Ive made an honest attempt at making sure where Im sending them is safe, informative, and hopefully a little creative and fun, too.
(I have to say the people who flipped the house certainly have some creativity!) We do a LOT of fundraising in our current school (Idaho) but Im fairly certain the $$ goes for different things, although I may be wrong Im just guessing. We (parents) raise funds by doing a harvest fest, bake sales, popcorn sales, a HUGE silent and bidding auction and there are a few other fundraisers that happen yearly. The money (so I am told) goes to pay for a struggling readers program (not sure exactly the details) an AR reader program, teachers special requests (they each get about $100 for WHATEVER they want. Our teacher this year had each child publish a book)
also we installed a new fence and there were some other various things. The money does not go for actual salary or books or anything like that...

Can I ask another thing about schools? When clicking on the schools info from real estate sights I often see what percentage of kids qualify for free lunch. Those numbers seem SO HIGH! What do they base it on? It is a statewide thing or do the requirements vary by county? I wonder if the $ a family has to make under is different in Idaho which is why the schools here have SO MANY LESS kids who qualify. It doesnt add up to me that the areas I looking at have such a high percent of free lunches but the cost of the houses are sky high. ??? Really weird. It seems like those two facts added together would equal a bad situation and outlook for the struggling locals. How could they ever buy a home? Or buy a bigger one?

Thanks for all the info and opinions.