I don't think the link for Scott Bailey's website is directing folks there. [Fixed! -editor.]

During my years serving with Scott on the board of the grassroots Community & Parents for Public Schools, I quickly recognized a thoughtful, articulate, pragmatic parent activist who never forgot that kids and classrooms were what mattered, even when he was talking with district officials or Salem legislators. – Not sure where the Oregonian and the Week got their ideas from for their Zone 5 endorsement, but they really got it wrong this time. Scott’s experience is just plain broader and deeper than his opponent’s.

I'm supporting Scott Bailey. Scott knows more about this district and its history than anyone else I know; he is a strong advocate for equity in our schools, and as Mr McLaughlin also notes, he's thoughtful and pragmatic.

I'm also going to vote for Martin Gonzalez; having sat in on board committee meetings he has participated in, I love his ability and willingness to cut to the core of the issues being debated quickly, and his drive to do the right thing by our kids.

Woody Allen once said "Eighty percent of success is showing up." I've gone to many meetings over the last few years, and it seems Zone 5 candidate Scott Bailey always shows up. March on Salem? Scott's holding a sign. CPPS conference? Scott's leading a session. K-8 Transition meetings? Scott's taking notes and following up with PPS. But it takes more than "merely" eighty percent. I got to know Scott better after the PPS K-8 transition meetings held last year at Rigler ~ when the K-8 implementation was not going so well. It was Scott who followed up with PPS and got the developed documents from those K-8 transition meetings. Scott then distributed them to the parent community as a whole.
This is transparent, honorable, and useful leadership. Scott Bailey has been a tireless advocate for all Portland school children, and would give not just 80%, but the whole 100%.

The rita Moore website states that Portland School district has a 46% drop out rate. Is that true? If so, then what is being done to address this very real issue?

I am baffled by the Willamette Week endorsement of Pam Knowles over Scott Bailey. For more than a decade Scott has been a force for quality and equality in our public schools. He his, among parents, arguably the most recognized and admired champion for Portland Public schools students. WW says nothing of his years of selfless service and oddly believes there is a conflict because his wife is a PPS teacher. Scott advocates for all kids, taking on principal hiring, teacher hiring, site council development, facilities improvement and parent leadership to name a few. He participated in and chaired numerous PPS committees, crafted legislation to increase funding to the classroom, conducted parent leadership conferences and site council trainings. Scott may not have served on lofty advisory boards for big powerful corporations or rubbed elbows with high and mighty politicians but as we parents know he was watching the backs of our kids with a skilled and effective eagle eye, as he will as member of the PPS board.

My vote goes to Scott Bailey for a number of reasons, but I’ll use this opportunity to tout his support of a Board policy that would address the needs of high achieving learners and, at the same time, promote the stability of neighborhood schools.

A “proficiency based advancement” policy would allow students to demonstrate their proficiency in individual subjects, and, having done so, to move to the next level in those subjects. For instance, a fifth grader who is ready to study sixth-grade math would be allowed to do so.

Research shows that such policies (AKA subject-based acceleration) promote higher achievement, prompt a culture of learning and curb the boredom and chronic underachievement that schools often foster in rapid learners. The gist of this research is summed up by Columbia University’s James Borland, who states that “The research on acceleration is so uniformly positive, the benefits of appropriate acceleration so unequivocal, that it is difficult to see how our educators could oppose it.”

But oppose it they often do. As Scott observed at the League of Women Voters forum, a PPS fifth grader now has the right to take or challenge a high-school course but does not have the right to take a sixth-grade course. Students can move ahead in all subjects at once – i.e.., they can skip a grade -- but can’t move ahead in a single subject. Scott’s recognition of this policy gap illustrates his deep familiarity with the workings of Portland’s schools and his willingness to cast the Board in a leadership role.

Some PPS schools have taken steps toward proficiency-based advancement through programs such as “Walk to math,” where students move to the class that matches their skill level. Under the current system, many students – including our daughter – must travel across town to benefit from such programs: A policy that provides these opportunities district-wide would promote equity by strengthening neighborhood schools.

In this instance, Scott is advancing an innovation that motivates students, boosts achievement and strengthens neighborhood schools. There are of course lots of other reasons to support him. For instance, he favors adding rigor to principal and teacher evaluations and strengthening connections between the worlds of school and work. The former shows he’s independent, the latter shows he’s in touch with the realities that face today’s students. All told, Scott has a vision of where we need to go along with the talent and temperament to get us there.

Hey all - My support goes to Pam Knowles.

Pam's been showing up for kids for years and years now - from her volunteer activities as PTA president over at Buckman Elementary to her work in helping found DaVinci Arts Magnet Middle school.

Pam's a business woman who has helped connect high school students to careers through a program called BizConnect.

Really - raise your keyboard :) if you've ever heard of or known of high school kids needing that could use some help getting connected with a business to learn about career opportunities - Pam's been there done that.

Pam's got a mile long list of endorsements. But the most important endorsement she needed for my support came from a friend of mine (shout out to Gabi) who lives right here in our community in NE.

To me, Pam's mix of skills in education and business, her passion for Arts Education and boots on the ground volunteerism make me confident she's gonna get work done on the board!

Cheers all, Andy

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The last thing we need on the school board is more business people. I'm voting for Scott Bailey.

I sincerely examined both candidates and found that Pam Knowles has just done more and continues to do more for Portland kids.

She helped pass parental and family leave as a founding member of the Oregon Childcare Commission

And important to me, she has shown a commitment to arts education (Davinci School, PPS arts and education plan, bringing arts education through the Right Brain Initiative)

I think having a candidate that has done all these great things, among many others, is something we shouldn't pass up. Really.

I am voting for Pam Knowles.

Re Cafe Today's comments about not needing more business people on the school board. Good grief, what is wrong with that? These are incredibly challenging times for our schools and the school board. I think it would be great to have someone that had good business connections and is completely dedicated to schools. It's going to take everything we have and every sector to pull together for the next several years. I would like someone on the board who not only has experience and dedication to schools but some street smarts where it will make a difference. My daughter went to Da Vinci Middle School and we still talk about her experience there. I saw Pam in action and I was thrilled when she filed for the School Board.

Rita Moore is another person who continues to show up, again and again. Her work was invaluable on the ill-conceived "Sellwood Conversation" a few years ago. Currently she is serving on the PPS Enrollment and Transfer Committee, demanding accountability from those who want to reduce all of PPS policy to PowerPoint. In her professional life, she advocates for children who may have no one else to advocate for them. She never settles for "good enough." If you want someone who's gonna get it right, vote for Rita!

We need Scott Bailey, the next couple of years need creativity and a knowledge about community building and consensus. We also need to keep our eye on the prize and best practices show that only when parent have a real way to find their voice can schools truly flourish. His understanding of PPS and community links give him a shortcut we need. I like his commitment to education for all kids, and social justice as well as high expectations for our schools are a great mix

cheers Angela

When things get difficult, & people start digging into their personal position, Rita Moore is the person you want at the table.

Her interpersonal skills as a mediator ensure that every option and position is explored, so the best solution can be agreed upon by all. We need someone who will not dismiss others and their ideas, who will not forget that there is more than one side to every issue, yet keeps the discussion moving forward to a consensus conclusion.

I myself believe business minded individuals are exactly what the PPS Board needs as we confront the difficult issues, including budget issues, we are confronting in the Portland Public Schools. Pam has a well-rounded, diverse set of skills and background, in addition to her knowledge of the business community here in Portland.

Pam was the PTA President at Buckman Elementary - 

Pam is a leader in arts education: founding parent of DaVinci Arts Magnet Middle school, was the project manager for the PPS arts education plan and member of the RACC Right Brain initiative to bring the arts and artists into schools.

Pam has insight from a teachers perspective as she was a high school social studies teacher -

Pam is a member of the mayor and County chair's education task force committed to cutting the PPS dropout rate in half -

Pam helped pass parental and family leave as a founding member of the Oregon Childcare Commission -

It was apparent to me when watching the League of Women Voters debate that Pam is much more thoughful, articulate and collaborative in her approach than her opponent and for me, that is what we need to get results in this difficult environment. My vote goes to Pam!

It was left out that Pam is also endorsed by Former Mayor Vera Katz, SEIU, The Oregonian and Willamette Week.

She has been an advocate for children for the past THIRTY years. And has proven results.

She brings her experience as a PTA President, a Teacher, and a community leader to the table. Her impressive resume advocating and implementing arts education schools and programs, paid family leave, and reducing the drop-out rate has demonstrated a commitment to our kids and their education.

As far as building consensus, Pam has done that. She has a proven record of doing that.

I am voting for her because she not only brings creative ideas that help our kids and families, but she has actually accomplished things. I don't think people out there realize how valuable that is.

Our school funding cuts are going to be deep. I think we need someone that knows how help us weather this real storm.

I believe wholeheartedly that Pam can do that.

I support Rita Moore for school board. I have seen her in action advocating for our kids' school and she demonstrated herself to be cool headed, organized, and motivating in making informed decisions.

Pam Knowles is an exceptional leader. She listens well and works across all sectors on behalf of Portland's youth. She will bring great strengths to the Portland School Board.

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I'm enthusiastically supporting Pam Knowles, who has been endorsed by the Oregonian, Tribune and Willamette Week. Just some of her qualifications: She has been an advocate for kids for her entire adult life and sent her 3 children to Portland Public Schools; she was a PTA President at Buckman Elementary and served as a high school social studies teacher; she is a member of the Mayor and County chair's education task force; she helped pass parental and family leave as a founding member of the Oregon Childcare Commission; she has been a leader in arts education as a founding parent of DaVinci Arts Magnet Middle school, project manager for the PPS arts education plan and a member of the RACC Right Brain initiative to bring the arts and artists into schools. There is no doubt that Pam has the experience to identify issues, build a coalition and solve problems to make our schools better and to give our children the education they deserve. She is the only candidate in the race with the proven experience to achieve real, positive results for our schools.

BOARD MEMBERS ARE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IN TODAY'S ECONOMY

There is enough money in Oregon Construction Stimulus to feed all of the General Contractor's and Sub-Contractors.

HOWEVER, the allotment of these projects are distributed to the highest paid contractors in Oregon. This is putting the Medium and Small contractors into the unemployment lines and leaving commercial spaces vacant.

A loss of $176,117,760 in personal tax revenue and a loss in terms of the high cost of unemployment $211,680,000 annually for 12,600 people. Total loss to Oregon= $387,797,760 annually.

There are two major problems right now

Unemployment Rate 12.1%

Vacant Retail, Commercial, and Residential Properties.

These two issues are related as people need JOBS.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT?? - School Boards, Library Boards, Portland Development Commission, Oregon University System, OHSU?

WHY?
Oregon University System historically uses Hoffman Construction on thier projects. Portland Development Commission uses Walsh Construction on thier projects. OHSU uses Hoffman Construction and Anderson Construction on their projects. The two companies formed a new company together (see www.filinginoregon.com) School Boards have attended paid training on how to Exempt projects from public bidding and who to use - who paid for this??? Hoffman, Skanska, Anderson.
Library Boards use a short list of General Contractors - Hoffman Construction, Anderson, Walsh, LCG Pence.

Currently there are 12,600 construction workers out of work. Using an average of $24 PH/40-HPW x 12,600 workers = $628,992,000 in taxable wages x .28 for average tax rate = $176,117,760 in tax revenue. Oregon needs these workers to get back to work.

YOU CAN HELP! HOW? 1. CHANGE THE RIGHT TO EXEMPTIONS UNTIL WE CLIMB OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC HOLE. 2. CHECK OUT WHO RECIEVED CONSTRUCTION STIMULOUS MONEY. 3. ONLY VOTE FOR BOARD MEMBERS THAT CARE ABOUT FAIRNESS IN PUBLIC BIDDING.

OREGON NEEDS YOU TO TAKE ACTION!

Thanks for posting all of this info, Kari, and to everyone else for adding to it. Can you re-post this and give some additional information on the special election races for all us last-minute voters?

A few questions I have:

What are the pros and cons for Eric Holmes, Chuck Moffit, and Sean Schafer in the Multnomah Education Director, Position 2 race?

I'm still searching for (any) info on Joshua Dennison for the PCC Director, Zone 4 -- aside from WW's mention that he works in car sales.

I would vote for my dog before I would vote for Bailey or Knowles. Hey wait, I did write-in a vote for my dog.

Anxiously awaiting election results

Scott

<h2>Scott's Dog</h2>