Podcasts about Portland Public Schools

The Portland Public Schools Board is considering the purchase of an 80,000 square foot building to house the “Center for Black Student Excellence.” This triggered a 90-day due diligence review with a final vote in December on whether to purchase the commercial building. While the committee so far has reviewed the building's merits, they haven't asked the hard questions. First is the fact that the One North building will not be used as a school, but as a community center and a hub for organizations who “advance a culture of black excellence.” However, PPS is a school district whose primary mission is classroom education. They've never operated a community center with classroom dollars and buying a commercial building for non-school programming will be hard to justify.A second question is the legal one. Supreme Court rulings have made it clear that race-based programs in public education violate Civil Rights laws. Is the District Board willing to risk federal revenue for a non-school, race-based program?While buying the One North building is a bad idea for a tax-supported school district, it doesn't mean it's a bad idea. Many private organizations serve minority youth with experienced staff and robust programming. The Center would be an imaginative project for them to sponsor.The Center for Black Student Excellence should be a private venture. One great fit could be the 1803 Fund, established by Rukaiyah Adams, who first cast the vision for the Center five years ago. Ms. Adams could use this opportunity to launch the vision without the legal restrictions and challenges sure to arise for a tax-entity like Portland Public Schools.

In the first few weeks since Portland area students have been back in school, a lot has been happening: There's been rising anxiety after an ICE detention near César Chávez K-8 School, and tough conversations ahead about enrollment changes, blended classrooms, and looming budget decisions. Today, we're talking with Oregonian education reporter Julia Silverman to learn more on what's happening inside Portland's Public Schools, and what it could all mean for the year ahead. Mentioned in today's show: Minuscule Test Score Gains Signal Oregon Faces Years of Digging Out From Its Post-pandemic Academic Hole [Oregonian] Portland School Board Leaders Want to Try a New Style of Governance [Willamette Week] Get more from City Cast Portland when you become a City Cast Portland Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode: Energy Trust PBOT OMSI PDX Open Studios

This week, a lawsuit is complicating the sale of the Trail Blazers; owners of Portland TV stations are aligning themselves with the Trump Administration; and the state handed over Medicaid data to the federal government to keep funding. Plus, our city is gearing up to start handing out citations to people camping on the streets, and the Portland Public Schools board is taking a different approach in how it governs. Joining host Claudia Meza on the Friday news roundup are Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and executive producer John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Court Action From Portland Thorns, Fire Ownership Group Could Complicate Trail Blazers' Sale [OPB]  Portland TV Stations Are in the Middle of Trump's Bid To Cancel Kimmel [Willamette Week] Oregon Hands Over Medicaid Personal Data to Federal Government To Avoid Losing Federal Funding [Oregonian]  Portland Mayor Plans To Start Citing Homeless Campers [Oregonian] Portland School Board Leaders Want To Try a New Style of Governance [Willamette Week] Get more from City Cast Portland when you become a City Cast Portland Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events, and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 26th episode: Energy Trust Window Nation - Get an extra 10% off the original offer until end of September Oregon Health Authority PaintCare Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST DUER - Mention code CCPDX for 15% of MUBI

You're listening to Burnt Toast! Today, my guest is Denise Hamburger, founder and director of Be Real USA. Be Real is a nonprofit that imagines a world where every child can grow up with a healthy relationship to food and their body. They work with body image researchers, psychologists, teachers and public health officials to design curricula about nutrition and body image that are weight neutral, and inclusive of all genders, abilities, races and body sizes.So many of you reach out to me every September to say, “Oh my God, you're not going to believe what my kid is learning in health class.” Food logs, fitness trackers, other diet tools are far too common in our classrooms— especially in middle and high school health class. Denise is here to help us understand why those assignments are so harmful and talk about what parents and educators can do differently. This episode is free — so please, share it with the parents, teachers and school administrators in your communities! But if you value this conversation, consider supporting our work with a paid subscription. Burnt Toast is 100% reader- and listener-supported. We literally can't do this without you.PS. You can always listen to this pod right here in your email, where you'll also receive full transcripts (edited and condensed for clarity). But please also follow us in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and/or Pocket Casts! And if you enjoy today's conversation, please tap the heart on this post — likes are one of the biggest drivers of traffic from Substack's Notes, so that's a super easy, free way to support the show!Two Resources You'll Want From This Episode: Here's how to access the BeReal Let's Eat Curriculum: And here's a roundup of everything I've written on diet culture in schools: Episode 211 TranscriptDeniseWell, this all started I would say about 10 years ago. Actually, about 12 years ago. I was an environmental lawyer in my first career—that's what I'm trained to do. I went to law school, was practicing in big law firms. Which has nothing to do with body image, except I was an environmental lawyer who weighed herself every day and got her mood affected by the number on the scale for 40 years. So that's four decades.VirginiaSo many times getting on a scale.DeniseI really felt like I didn't want anyone else, especially young women today, to waste the amount of time and energy that I had wasted distracting them from what they need to be doing in their lives, figuring out their own person possibilities. That's really what you're here to do. And it takes us away from what we're supposed to be doing.With that in mind, I went back to school at the University of Chicago, and I was thinking of get a social work degree and doing something with body image. But then I wrote a paper on my own body image for one of my classes at the School of Social Work and I found 50 years of research on body image. And then 30 years of discussion and research on how to prevent eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. Like, wow, there is so much out there, so much research on this. But I haven't heard any of this. It feels like it's not making its way into resources that people can use.So I started speaking on it, and I was speaking to middle-aged women, and I thought the message that we all would really benefit from would be everybody's got this. Because I feel like, especially my generation, where we didn't really talk about how we felt about our bodies. I'm at the tail end of the Baby Boom. So I'm 62 and I felt that people in my generation—again, I was 50 at the time—weren't in touch with their own feelings on body image. After talking about this for so many years, younger generations have access to it I think a lot more. But I felt like we could all benefit from knowing that everybody's got it—so kind of a common humanity. It's not our fault, which helps with the shame around it.So everyone has it, it's not our fault, and society has given it to us. And I think that this is something that would resonate with my generation. So I started speaking in local libraries and community houses to women my age, and quickly learned that it is really hard to undo decades worth of thought patterns and feelings around food, body and eating. People came to hear me talk about body image, and I think, in general, when I started out, they were hoping I had a new diet.VirginiaOh, I'm sure they were. I'm sure they were like, “Oh, we're going to go hear her talk about how to love your body by making it smaller!”DeniseAbsolutely. And all of the women, because they were women in my workshops, were starting to talk about their daughters. They're saying that my daughter's got this, and she's coming home and saying this. Then in one of my audiences, I had a health teacher at my local high school. There was a health teacher who came and said—this is about 2015—you should hear what the young girls are saying. They've got this new thing called Instagram and and they're seeing pictures of, “perfect” looking people and feeling bad about themselves or feeling flawed in comparison.So she said, “What resources are there for for the students in my class?” And I said, there has got to be something because there is 50 years' of research there, there has got to be something fabulous for you. And I called the professors listed on the the studies. The granddaddy of the industry, Michael Levine, I called him up. I said, “Michael, just tell me, what can I recommend to these teachers?” And he's like, “I don't know. I don't know. We don't have it. It's not there. Even though the research is there.”So there was a curriculum created for high risk kids. It needed to be given by facilitators called The Body Project. And I called one of the professors who wrote The Body Project and said, “Listen, I'd like to give this tool to a teacher for universal,” which means giving it to everybody in the classroom, and and she wants to bring it to her high school, but it looks like you need to be trained. And it was a script. The Body Project was a script. And this teacher said to me, I'm not reading a script in a classroom. You're not going to get a high school teacher to read a script.VirginiaYeah. I would imagine high school students sitting in a classroom aren't going to respond to someone just reading a script at them.DeniseNobody wants to hear it. It's not useful. It wasn't created for that use. So this professor, Carolyn Becker, had actually written a paper on how the academics need to work with stakeholders to make sure that their research makes it to the public. And I said, I'm calling you. I'm a stakeholder. What do you need? And she said, “We need somebody to translate it.” And I said, “I'm your girl.”VirginiaI mean, it's wild that the research has been there. We've known what works, or what strategies to use for so long, and yet it's not in the pedagogy, it's not in the classrooms.So you started with the body image curriculum, BodyKind. And now this year, you've just released your weight neutral nutrition curriculum for middle and high school students, called Let's Eat.Full disclosure: I got to be a early reader of the of the curriculum and offer a few notes. It was already amazing when I read it.DeniseThank you.VirginiaI did not have to add a lot at any by any means, but it was really cool to see the development process, and see where you ended up with it. It's really remarkable. So let's start by talking about why nutrition. You've done the body image thing, that's really powerful. Why was nutrition the next logical place to go?DeniseI have spoken at this point to probably 10,000 teachers. And they're always asking me, what nutrition curriculum do you recommend? Same deal. There's not one out thereAnd I had asked one of my interns to give me her textbook on it, like what are you learning about nutrition? And in my intern's textbook, it was 2018, you saw encapsulated the entire problem of what's wrong with nutrition curriculum.They are asking the children to weigh and measure themselves, and they're asking the children to count calories in different ways, and to track their food. Food logs. Again, these were best practices in the 90s and and 2000s on how to teach nutrition. So this is all over the nutrition curriculum.Then, of course, they're talking about good and bad foods, which foods can you eat, which foods you can't you eat, and all of these things in the research we know cause disordered eating and eating disorders, they all contribute to it. I have a list of probably nine research papers that point to each of these things and tell you why these are bad ideas to have a nutrition class.And we also know there have been two papers written, where they polled students or young people coming in for eating disorder treatment and asked them, what do you think triggered your eating disorder? And around 14% in both studies said, “My healthy eating curriculum at school was where I started getting this obsession.” So you know, what's out there hasn't been helpful, and even worse, has been part of the problem in our society.[Post-recording note: Here's Mallary Tenore Tarpley writing about this research in the Washington Post, and quoting Oona Hanson!]VirginiaIt's so rooted in our moral panic around “the childhood obesity epidemic.” Educators, public health officials, everyone feels like, that's the thing we have to be worried about if we're going to talk about kids and food. It all has to be framed through that lens. And what you are arguing is: That weight-centered approach causes harm. We can see from the data that it's not “fixing” the obesity epidemic. Kids aren't thinner than they were 40 years ago. So it didn't work. And it's having all these unintended ripple effects, or sometimes, I would say, intended ripple effects.DeniseYes, exactly. Studies on nutrition curriculum have shown that over 11 years, teaching diet and exercise did not do anything, in two age groups. One was elementary/middle school, another one was a high school group. And they found no changes in body size or nutritional knowledge and and only the effects of what they call weight stigma. Which is just anti-fat bias. So it only causes harm. And these meta studies were from “obesity researchers,” right? So they are even acknowledging we don't know how to prevent obesity.VirginiaSo you could see very clearly why the current landscape is harmful. How did you think about how to design a better curriculum?DeniseWe had been working on the back burner on an intuitive eating for students type of curriculum. Because the question I get from my teachers is, “What should I be teaching?” So we had been kind of working on an intuitive eating curriculum, and then one of my ambassadors, Selena Salfen, she works in Ramsey County Public Health in Minnesota, said, “Hey, we're looking for a nutrition curriculum. Why don't we do one together?”It really turned into how to eat, not what to eat. So we started working on body cues and building trust with your food. And then started really focusing on empowering the student as an authority on their own eating behavior, teaching them how to learn from their own eating experiences. Which is part of responsive feeding. And Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility In Feeding. So we have pieces from all of these. We are empowering students to be experts on their own eating.VirginiaIt's also so much more respectful of students' cultural backgrounds, as opposed to the way we learned, like the food pyramid or MyPlate, saying “this is what your plate should look like.” And that doesn't look like many plates around the world. That's not what dinner is in lots of families. Your curriculum is saying, let's empower students to be the experts is letting them own their own experience.DeniseAbsolutely, and trust their own experience. And trust themselves. And they don't have to go outside of themselves. We want to teach them to act in their own best interests. That's part of self-care, teaching them to take care of themselves. They need to learn it somewhere.So if you do what they've done for years and tell them you need to cut out sugar and you need to cut out carbs, or you need to get this this many grams of protein, it leaves off all of the wonderful parts of eating that we get to experience many times a day, which is the joy, the pleasure, the sharing of food. So in our curriculum, we ask the kids, what do you do in your culture around food? How do you celebrate in your culture with food? What do you eat?We get the discussion going with them and allowing them to feel pride in how their family celebrates. And so it's really bringing in all these other aspects that we experience with food every day into talking about food. And we talk about pleasure, what do you like, what food do you like, what food do you enjoy? And we want them to be able to hold what foods they like, what their needs are that day.So you talked about MyPlate, MyPlate is stagnant. It always looks the same. But your nutritional needs change every day. If I'm sick, my needs around nourishment are different from if I've got a soccer match after school that day. So we're trying to teach them to be flexible and really throw perfectionism out the window, because it's unhelpful in any area of life, but especially around eating, especially around food.VirginiaI'm wondering what you're hearing from school districts who are worrying about the federal guidelines. Because they do need to be in compliance with certain things. DeniseSo we spent a long time with the Food and Nutrition guidelines. The CDC food and nutrition guidelines, and we spent a long time with the HECAT standards, which are the health curriculum standards. We know that teachers are trying to match up what they're teaching to the federal standards and the state standards. Because every state has their own discussion of this, and they write their own rules. Usually they look like the federal standards, but we find with food and nutrition, sometimes they go off. You'll get somebody on the committee who hates soda, and will write 10 rules around soda. So every state has their own idiosyncratic rules around it as well.VirginiaI mean, on the flip side, that means there have been opportunities for advocacy. For example in Maryland, Sarah Ganginis was able to make real progress on her state standards. But yes, the downside is you're gonna have the anti-soda committee showing up.DeniseTotally. And half of the country. We really tried to hit the big standards. I'm actually thumbing through the curriculum right now. We have two pages of the HECAT model food nutrition lessons and which ones this curriculum hits. And then if you're interested in talking about some of the others — like some of them really want to talk about specifically sugary drinks— we give links in the curriculum to discussions that we agree with. So we may mention sugary drinks in a little piece of the curriculum, but if you want to get the article or the discussion on it that frames it the way we'd like to see it framed, we've got links in the curriculum for that.VirginiaSo tell me about the response so far. What are you hearing from teachers and districts?DeniseThe biggest response I'm getting is, “It's a breath of fresh air.” It's safe, as you say. And for the teachers out there that are familiar with all of the things that we've been teaching that haven't been working, this is important. And I just want to say to all the health teachers who have been teaching nutrition out there because this is the way we've taught it for years: This is how it's been done. But when you know better, you do better. And that's the point we're at now. I know people have been weighing and measuring kids and telling them to count calories for decades because that was best practices at the time. But we're beyond that. The research has figured out that that's not the best practices going forward.VirginiaThat's right.DeniseWe had about 50 teachers and 250 students trial it. We get the experts to say everything we want to say in the curriculum, and we put it in there, and then let's say that takes nine months. We have another nine months where we have expert teachers like Sarah weighing in on the curriculum. Telling us what happens when she teaches it in class with her and the students. What would you like to see different? Even down to activities. How would this activity work better? So we spent another nine months making sure that the teachers and the students like it, can relate to it, and that the activities are what are working in class.So that's an extra step after some of the other research curriculum that we really want to make sure it's user friendly and the students like it. We got a lot of feedback. We did two rounds of that.Now we released it to the public after we had a masters student write a thesis on all of the the data we collected, and felt very comfortable that it does no harm.VirginiaIt's been tested.DeniseYeah, it's been tested. It's feasible and acceptable. Now we're going to go and do the official feasibility and acceptability tests, like we've done on BodyKind with Let's Eat and then take it to schools. We use the University of North Carolina's IRB. We use the Mind Body Lab there, run by Dr. Jennifer Webb, and we are going to be doing research on Let's Eat. We've got the Portland Public Schools, and then we've got a school district in Maryland, in Arundel County, that we've identified and that we're working with to test students. And then, we'll hopefully do an official test, write an official paper, as we've done with BodyKind.VirginiaAnd I should also mention, you're making this resource free! Schools don't have to pay for this, which I think everyone who's ever tried to make any change in the school district of any kind knows, if it costs money, it's harder to get done. So that's great. DeniseYou know, it's so funny. I've been speaking on this for years. I mean, we've been in curriculum development for five years, and I always forget to say that! I don't know why. It's a free curriculum! I'm a nonprofit. I've never been paid. This is such a passion project for me, and I continue to wake up every day energized by the work I'm doing.And the mission of our nonprofit is to get the best, well tested resources out to schools. And we want to remove barriers. And how we remove barriers is offering it for free.VirginiaA lot of our listeners are parents. They're going to be listening to this thinking, “Okay, I want this in my kid's school.” How do we do that? What do you recommend parents do? DeniseSo a couple things. We find the best advocate is the person at the school, the wellness professional, charged with curriculum decisions. So there are people in your district whose job it is to make sure that the teachers have the latest and greatest curriculum on nutrition.And they want these resources because they want to make sure that their students get the best resources out there. So it takes a little bit of sleuthing to call up the school, whether it's the administrator or a health teacher, and figure out who's that person, who's the wellness coordinator. It could be a wellness coordinator. It could be a health teacher, who's responsible for curriculum. Find that person and talk to them. They're looking for this conversation. It's part of their job. You could even say I heard about this new curriculum. It's available for free. And you can hand them the postcard. That's what I hand out when I speak at conferences. And it's got a QR code. It describes what this curriculum does. We teach tuned in eating. It describes what tuned in eating does. VirginiaDownload that PDF above to QR code it right from this episode! DeniseYes. So you can send them as a PDF. You can write an email, figure out who the person is, send them the curriculum. Say “I was listening to a podcast, and there's this great curriculum out there. I'd love you to check it out.”VirginiaI think that feels really doable, it's a great starting point. What about when a kid comes home and tells a parent “Oh, we did calorie counting today?” Because that's often how parents start to think about this issue. It kind of lands on their lap. Is it useful to engage directly with the teacher? How do you think about that piece of it? Because obviously, especially the school year is underway, asking a teacher like, hey, can you just change your whole curriculum right on a dime, they probably won't appreciate that. So, what's a, better way to think about this advocacy?DeniseI thought you did a great job in your book Fat Talk on giving them scripts, giving parents scripts to walk into the school. You want to be sensitive to how overloaded the health teacher is, the nutrition teacher is. They're teaching 10 subjects in health that they need to be experts on so, you know, this is just one piece of what they're teaching.The great thing about nutrition is, most health teachers are teaching nutrition so they've got some background in it, and you can just be as sensitive as possible to their time and do as you say in the book, you know, in a in a positive, collaborative way. “I heard about this research, I thought you might be interested,” rather than a critical way. And and again, your kid might not be taking health, they might just be in the school district. So maybe you have this discussion with an administrator, and ask them, who wants to talk to me about this? And ask them, who can I speak to? It could be a guidance counselor. Could be school social worker. You know, this is eating disorder and body dissatisfaction prevention, right? So who, who is interested in this topic?VirginiaWho in the district is working on that and wants to know about this? That's super helpful.And I'll also add: One thing I learned in reporting the book and thinking more about the school issue is we do, as parents, always have the right to opt our kids out of the assignments that we know to be harmful. So if you see a calorie counting assignment coming, you can ask for an alternative assignment. You can accept that your kid might get a lower grade because they don't do it, but that might feel fair.Especially with older kids, I think it's important to involve them. Like, don't just swoop in. Never a good idea. They may want to talk to the teacher or you have do it. Work that out with your kid and figure out the best way forward. But I think it's definitely worth doing that. If your kid's like, no, don't talk to the teacher. No, I'm not opting out. You can still have the conversation at home about why this assignment is not aligned with your values, and that's yes important to do, too.DeniseI also wanted to say, we have an ambassador program at Be Real, and we have 135 ambassadors. What we've done with all of the materials we've been using for 10 years, which are presentations and worksheets for the presentations. We have frequently asked questions, where I quote you all the time. What do I do with my mother in law, who's saying this thing? We give them scripts. What do I do when people equate body size with health? What do we do when people assume that everyone could be small if they tried hard enough? We have answers for all of these questions in our materials, frequently asked questions.I have templated the presentations I give. I use the notes, I give the talk track, so my ambassadors can give a talk with a teleprompter if they're doing it on Zoom. Use the presentation as a teleprompter, and all the accompanying material we have on Canva that the ambassadors can create their own and add to it, and use their own name and picture to give talks and and things like that. We've got all of this so people are able to take this resource to their own local area,VirginiaSo they might give this talk to a PTA or a church group or any kind of community organization they're affiliated with.DeniseAbsolutely. And we've been doing this for about seven years, and the last five years, it's grown tremendously, and we have meetings every quarter. And at the meetings, people say, how do I get into my local school? And someone else will say, you know, I tried the principal and they didn't answer my phone calls. And then I went and looked up so and so and and then I started out doing this for professional development for health teachers in the state of Illinois. So we also have ways to to be certified as a professional development trainer on this topic. So that's how I initially got to health teachers. And then they also speak at conferences. So I speak at National SHAPE, which is the health teacher conference, but there are state SHAPE conferences out there that my Ambassadors will go speak at and it's really how to get all of this material, another way to get it disseminated all throughout the world.VirginiaOh, I love that. Well, we will definitely link in the show notes for anyone who's interested in becoming about an ambassador. ButterDeniseI am obsessed with Orna Guralnik, she is a psychotherapist who has a show on Showtime called Couples Therapy.VirginiaYes, I've been hearing about this.DeniseOh my God, it is so good. I don't know why I like it so much, but I just binge watched the new season. And I say every time, I've got to string it out and enjoy it, but no, it's impossible. And so I just binge watched the whole season, and as I was preparing for this interview, I just kept Googling what podcast she's been on.VirginiaThat's so satisfying. I love when you get a really good rabbit hole to dive down with the show. Another podcast I really enjoy, called Dire Straights , hosted by two writers, Amanda Montei and Tracy Clark-Flory, they just did an episode looking at the history of couples therapy and it actually has a pretty problematic history. Was not always great for women, very much developed as a way to help husbands control unruly wives—but has become other things. But you would enjoy that episode because they talk quite a bit about the show couples therapy and, she's obviously doing something quite different.DeniseOkay, that's my next one. Definitely going out and getting that.VirginiaI will also do a TV show butter, because they are so satisfying. I just started watching with my middle schooler a show that's been off the air for a few years now. It's called it's Better Things, starring Pamela Adlon and created by her. It's about a divorced mom with three daughters. She's a working actor in LA but it's just like about their life. It's very funny. It's very real and kind of gritty. My middle schooler and I have watched a lot of sitcoms together, and this is definitely a more adult show than we've watched before. But it's still a family show, and it's just, it's so so good. It's just a really incredible authentic portrayal of mothers and daughters. Which, you know, being a mother and a daughter, sometimes I'm like, is this making you like me more? Is this making you appreciate me? Probably not.DeniseHaving raised three kids, I don't aspire to that anymore.VirginiaNot the goal, not the goal.DeniseJust never going to show up.VirginiaBut it is really sweet bonding in a way that I hadn't expected. So that is my recommendation.DeniseLovely, lovely, lovely.VirginiaAll right, Denise. Tell folks again, just in case anyone missed it. Where do we find you? Where do we find the curriculums? How do we support your work?DeniseCome to berealusa.org—that's our website. We have more information on everything I've mentioned, on all of the curriculum, on how to become an ambassador, and just more explanation. On the website, we have fact sheets on everything we do. So if you go in, I think on the homepage, you drop down, they'll say fact sheets. And we also have probably have 10 fact sheets that will give you more information on this. We also talk about why you shouldn't be taking BMI school. We had a “don't weigh me in school” campaign about five years ago that kind of went viral. So anyway, that's all good on our website.The Burnt Toast Podcast is produced and hosted by Virginia Sole-Smith (follow me on Instagram) and Corinne Fay, who runs @SellTradePlus, and Big Undies.The Burnt Toast logo is by Deanna Lowe.Our theme music is by Farideh.Tommy Harron is our audio engineer.Thanks for listening and for supporting anti-diet, body liberation journalism! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe

In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregating school children by race was unconstitutional. As a result, districts across America spent the rest of the century integrating schools.In Portland, though, segregation is back in vogue. A group called Albina Vision Trust began promoting the idea of a Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) in the summer of 2020 and persuaded the Portland Public School Board (PPS) to set aside $60 million for that concept in its $1 billion construction bond that voters approved a few months later.Five years later, none of the $60 million has been spent because advocates have never been able to explain how one single building would advance Black excellence in a district serving more than 40,000 students spread over 152 square miles. A recent Oregonian editorial asked the same question, asking “how this center will finally help the district advance student achievement.”Nonetheless, the PPS Board has announced a plan to buy a new building in North Portland for the CBSE. No details are available, but the purchase will be discussed by the Board at its next meeting on September 9.In the famous 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. School Board of Topeka, Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote for a unanimous Court that, “in the field of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal' has no place.” But PPS no longer cares about equality. The new goal is “equity.” Just don't ask them to explain it.

Portland Public Schools' new board is facing an uphill battle, local farms are grappling with potential new restrictions, and Gov. Tina Kotek is proposing a new financial strategy to keep ODOT afloat. Joining host Claudia Meza for the Friday news round-up are Willamette Week reporter and author, Brianna Wheeler, and our executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Claudia Meza Brings Humor and Precision to City Cast Podcast [Willamette Week] At Portland Public Schools, a ‘Mom Takeover' and a Brewing Storm [Oregonian

Today our guest is Joanna Frankel the Director of Elementary Culture and Climate at Portland Public Schools. We talk to Joanna about how her team led a deeply collaborative curriculum selection process—gathering input from over 300 staff members, conducting a community listening tour with families, and piloting options with 37 educators. She reflects on the power of stakeholder voice, and how this inclusive approach not only informed their final decision but also built trust and ownership across the district. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website   Joanna Frankel serves as the Director of Elementary Culture and Climate for Portland Public Schools in Portland, Maine (the "other" Portland!). Her role serves as a bridge between Portland's ten elementary schools and Central Office departments and staff, working in the areas of social, emotional, and behavioral systems of support for students, in addition to helping to ensure positive relationships and experiences for staff and families. Previously Joanna was an Elementary Assistant Principal in Portland, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning in Gray, Maine, and for nearly two decades taught all grades Pre-K through 5th in Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. A native of Philadelphia, Joanna holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College (NY) and an MEd from Smith College (MA), where she was a Graduate Teaching Fellow. Joanna is a PBIS trainer in the state of Maine and holds a Graduate Certificate in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports from the University of Maine. She is a proud product of public schools and a proud parent of a public school high school junior. In her spare time Joanna goes on frequent "rides to nowhere" in spin class, is a certified yoga instructor and longtime yoga practitioner, loves sitting on Maine beaches with a good book, and is an obsessive fan of the band Wilco. At work she's known as "the feelings lady.”

Last week, Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong announced her plan to end Jefferson High School's “dual-enrollment policy”—which allows families in its boundaries to choose between Jefferson or nearby Grant, Roosevelt, or McDaniel high schools instead. Translation? No more school choice for families in North Portland, choices they have enjoyed since 2011. As Willamette Week's reporter put it directly, “PPS Considers Requiring Students in Jefferson Catchment to Attend the School.”It seems, now that Jefferson has a half-billion dollars to build a “world-class school” with capacity for 1,700 students, fewer than 400 students will cut the ribbon on opening day, according to Portland State University's Population Research Center Enrollment Forecast for 2033-34.Ms. Armstrong's May 29 Memo proposes tackling the problem by ending these options for nearly 2,000 students who currently attend neighboring high schools. The School Board will study and decide on this required attendance at Jefferson by the fall of 2026.Until now, Jefferson area families have enjoyed the most progressive policy in the city regarding school choice. Now that the $2 billion school bond has passed, they are proposing to take that choice away. This strategy is backwards, and it is bound to fail. A better option would be to research opportunities to expand school assignments throughout the district and let parents sort out which district school best serves the individual needs of their child.Armstrong says she wants Portland to be a model for the nation. To date, 35 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have enacted some form of school choice legislation. Letting parents choose among district schools would be an excellent path for the future of Jefferson High School and Portland Public Schools.

Ada Gallagher was an artsy kid who joined the track team at Portland’s McDaniel High School at the urging of her friends. It turns out, not only was she was good at running, she also enjoyed it. Last year, Gallagher won first place in the 200-meter race at the Class 6A state track meet. Earlier this year, Fox News posted a video of her performance in a 400-meter race at a meet. The national attention came because Ada is a member of a very small but controversial population: a transgender female athlete. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” that aimed to ban transgender women from competing in girls and women’s sports. After Ada’s win in the 400, the Trump administration launched an investigation into Portland Public Schools and the Oregon School Activities Association for allegedly violating Title IX. Bill Oram, sports reporter at the Oregonian, and Ada Gallagher join us to talk about what it has been like to be at the center of national attention, and why she and her family are choosing to leave the country.

Today's lightning round of news includes Portland Public Schools' plan for incoming K-12 campus seismic upgrades, a new $900,000 fence to prevent homeless camping near I-405, millions of wildfire recovery dollars the state has failed to spend, and much more. Host Claudia Meza and senior producer Giulia Fiaoni give their microdose of news and dive into our mailbag to hear from listeners on the midweek roundup. Discussed in Today's Episode:  St. Johns Music Venue The Fixin' To Is Fixin' To Become an Arcade [Willamette Week]  Here's How PPS Will Determine Which Schools Take Priority for Seismic Upgrades [Willamette Week]  New Fencing To Prevent Homeless Camping at 1 Site in Portland Will Cost $900K [Oregonian]  Oregon Got a Massive Federal Recovery Grant After 2020 Wildfires. Most of the Money Remains Unspent. [Willamette Week] Prosper Portland Executive Director Will Receive $212,992 in Severance [Willamette Week] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 11th episode: Portland Spirit Biketown PDX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining the Exchange are Melinda Gale, a retired educator and administrator with the Portland Public Schools, and Christie Taylor from the Oregon Health Authority.

Some of Oregon’s largest school districts are facing cuts this year, including Portland Public Schools, Eugene 4J School District and the Beaverton School District. However, Oregon’s second-largest school district, Salem-Keizer Public Schools, is looking to spend more. Superintendent Andrea Castañeda shared a proposal last week that aims to increase the budget to invest more in mental health and special education. This comes after last year’s dramatic cuts that led to nearly 100 layoffs. Castañeda joins us to share more about her budget proposal and what the district's budget could look like in the future.

Today we're talking about Multnomah County's upcoming May 20 special election. Host Claudia Meza joins executive producer John Notarianni to discuss the gigantic Portland Public Schools bond, the school board elections, and other ballot items. They also break open our mailbag to hear from you, our listeners! Discussed in Today's Episode: Late to the Party? Here's What You Need To Know About Portland Public Schools' 2025 Bond [OPB] May 2025 Voter's Guide: Election Resources for Portland-Area Voters [League of Women Voters of Portland]  Get more from City Cast Portland when you become a City Cast Portland Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events, and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 14th episode: League of Women's Voters Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, education reporter Julia Silverman tackles a series of burning questions from readers and listeners who are weighing how to vote on the $1.83 billion bond. Have a listen, and don't forget to turn in your ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Galanakis wants Portland Public Schools to see the forest and not just the trees outside classroom windows. His campaign for a seat on the PPS Board leans heavily on the idea that PPS goes about its business largely with its head in the sand while solutions to many problems can be found in the streets just beyond school grounds.Galanakis, a co-founder of BikeBusPDX and software company owner who moved to Portland in 2014, biked over to the BikePortland Shed on Wednesday to share more about his vision for Portland's troubled school district.This podcast is made possible by support of individuals like you. If you value BikePortland, please share a one-time contribution or become a monthly subscriber. https://bikeportland.org/support

Dr. Eric Fruits, Ph.D., is an economist who specializes in economics, finance, and statistics. He is an adjunct professor in Economics and Finance at Portland State University and an adjunct scholar at Cascade Policy Institute. He also serves as an expert witness in court cases. Dr. Fruits talks about the Portland Public Schools bond, various local taxes in the Portland area, Trump's tariffs, and more. Andy Chandler from NW Fresh co-hosts.https://web.pdx.edu/~fruits/https://laweconcenter.org/author/ericfruits/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/04/05/preschool-for-all-tax-data-shows-shrinking-number-of-high-earners-pay-the-levy/https://www.wweek.com/news/schools/2025/04/08/preschool-for-all-had-485-million-left-in-its-coffers-after-fiscal-year-2024/https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2025/04/03/dunphy-morillo-and-novick-propose-increasing-retail-climate-tax-to-plug-citys-budget-hole/https://www.portland.gov/bps/cleanenergy/faqs-about-pcefhttps://www.wweek.com/news/city/2024/01/28/heres-who-isnt-paying-portlands-clean-energy-sales-tax/https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/04/24/portland-officials-neglected-street-paving-for-decades-now-your-tires-pay-the-price/https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/03/12/how-walt-bowens-big-bet-on-a-ritz-carlton-hotel-and-condos-crapped-out/https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/03/12/how-walt-bowens-big-bet-on-a-ritz-carlton-hotel-and-condos-crapped-out/https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/metro-events/March-10_Metro-President-Work-Group-Agenda.pdfhttps://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/metro-events/March-10_Metro-President-Work-Group-Agenda.pdf

This Day in Maine for Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Grace and Dina dish all about gut health as we kick off Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month in April. They also discuss functional nutrition, supplements, and how to maintain work-life harmony while running a business.Grace Clark-Hibbs is a Registered Dietitian and gut health expert based in Portland, Oregon. Grace spent the first seven years of her career working in school foodservice management for Portland Public Schools. Now she provides comprehensive resources and nutrition services for those struggling with chronic bloat, constipation, and other IBS symptoms. She also works directly with clients to help them resolve their complicated gastrointestinal issues.Find and follow Grace at the links below:www.nutritionwithgracerdn.comhttps://www.facebook.com/nutritionwithgrace.rdnhttps://www.instagram.com/bloatfree_nutritionhttps://www.pinterest.com/nutritionwithgrace/https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceclarkhibbs/Looking to learn more about Grace's services? Click link below to access her "Heal Your Gut" blueprint:https://bloatfreefoundation.teachable.com/p/heal-your-gutMentioned in this episode:Dr. Heather Finley - https://www.instagram.com/drheatherfinley/SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21820-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-sibo----DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this podcast is to entertain, educate, and inform, but it is not to be taken as medical advice. Please seek prompt, qualified medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new fitness regimen, herbal therapy, or other self-directed treatment.Join our mailing list to stay connected, stay informed, receive exclusive offers, and be a part of the DishWithDina community: https://forms.gle/MzV7gVAPEsqEyEFH6If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others! You can also submit listener feedback or request to be a guest on a future episode by completing this form: https://forms.gle/gxWd2Q3NU8akmFuv7

Schools may be closed for the holiday break, but there's a lot ahead for Oregon's public education system in 2025. We asked three of the superintendents of Oregon's largest public school districts — Kimberlee Armstrong of Portland Public Schools, Gustavo Balderas from the Beaverton School District and Andrea Castaneda from Salem-Keizer Public Schools — to join Beat Check this week for a roundtable discussion. Listen in to get the scoop on their thoughts about how the state funds education, and how that impacts urban school districts, which serve complex, high-needs communities, including families experiencing poverty and students who don't speak English as a first language. We also broke down the debate over greater accountability in Oregon's school systems, what it's like to be negotiating with teacher unions in the wake of Portland's impactful teacher strike and what classroom projects — from language immersion to early literacy — have them really jazzed about 2025. Read more: How shabby or shiny are your local schools? In Oregon, it depends on where you live. After Portland teachers' strike and statewide budget cuts, Kotek backs ‘significant' changes to funding formula. In Albany, a teacher's strike reverberates statewide Subscribe to Beat Check anywhere you listen to podcasts to get new episodes each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Board of Portland Public Schools has been working to craft a district-wide policy regarding cell phone use at school. During the Policy Committee's December 2 meeting, board members discussed a draft policy that would require personal electronic devices to be “off and away” during the school day, including lunchtime and in hallways, “so that the device cannot disrupt students or the learning environment.” During Monday's discussion, board members said many educators support clear and enforceable restrictions on cell phone use. They cited learning disruptions, technology addiction, and students cutting classes to be on their phones. School staff who testified in support of a phone-free school day described their experiences with class interruptions and behavior-related safety problems. Board member Patte Sullivan said, “Of all the emails I've received [from teachers], nothing…has said we don't want restrictions. They really want restrictions. They want to teach.” Sometimes freedom requires saying “no” to one thing to say “yes” to something that's more important. Unrestricted use of electronic devices at school has degraded the academic environment and students' social experiences. Setting limits on technology use will help give students the freedom to focus on what's more valuable and important. Creating distance between students and screens would put the focus back on learning, which is what school is all about.

Portland Public Schools started enforcing strict policies for cellphone-free campuses in response to concerns over teachers struggling to hold students' attention. But is it working? Today, we're talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow. She visited one of the high schools with an active phone ban and has an inside look at how everyone is adjusting to their new reality. Previous episodes mentioned: Why a Portland Restaurant Closed for Smelling Like Food [City Cast Portland

As the Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at MESD, Marifer leads the development and implementation of effective multilingual communications, outreach, and engagement strategies to support the district's vision, mission, and goals. Marifer is passionate about language access and language justice as key components of racial equity in education. She has been recognized nationally for her outstanding work and impact in this area, receiving the 2022 EdWeek's Leaders to Learn From in K-12 award and the 2021 Language Access Visionary Award.  She believes that language access and language justice are key components to racial equity and that the strategic use of language can reshape the narratives of traditionally marginalized groups and ultimately transform systems. Her expertise includes the implementation of multilingual communications, marketing, outreach and engagement strategies, practices and policies aimed at developing trust and fostering dialogue and cooperation among linguistically diverse communities and entities. Marifer holds a Law degree and a post-graduate certificate from Mexico. Marifer Sager used to lead the Language Access Services Department at Portland Public Schools. Marifer says You deserve your dreams! Mereces lo que sueñas. Amo este mantra y ya lo he incorporado a mi día a día hoy, en el presente. ¡Gracias, Marifer por recordarnos la importancia de soñar y de trabajar día a día en lo que nos inspira! Thanks so much, Marifer for reminding us the power of dreaming and working unstoppably day after day in a task that ignites us! Happy International Translation and Happy International Podcast Day! What a privilege to do what I love! and to have the honor to speak with great leaders and trailblazers all over the world! Follow us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify Apple Podcasts Website⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@liftvalue Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@liftvaluetranslations LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lift Value Translations & Consulting info@liftvalue.com Follow Marifer! Linkedin ⁠http://linkedin.com/in/marifer-sager⁠ Website ⁠http://multnomahesd.org/strategic-communications.html

Tell us whatcha' think! Send a text to us, here!This week's Monday Briefing focuses on recent controversies in education, focusing on the Miami-Dade School Board's problem with information getting leaked to Antifa, the Portland Public Schools' directive on political displays, and a troubling assignment given to middle school students in New York. Each topic highlights the ongoing debates surrounding parental rights, political expression in schools, and the appropriateness of educational content.Support the showDONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

What’s Trending: A Tacoma city councilwoman spent thousands on an art tour trip to Indonesia. The Portland teachers union is filing a grievance against a Portland Public Schools policy that doesn’t allow teachers to make political displays. The media is labeling Trump a racist for bringing attention to the events in Springfield, Ohio. //  LongForm: GUEST: Curtis Houck (Newsbusters) analyzes how left-wing media blamed Trump for the assassination attempt, plus the Grammys were insufferable. // The Quick Hit: Kamala Harris had a few very eyebrow-raising responses during her interview with a local news outlet in Philadelphia.

Bryan and Reagan are joined by State Rep. Emily McIntire (R-Eagle Point) and State Rep. Candidate Keri Lopez (R-Redmond) to do a deep dive on the state of education in Oregon.* Portland Public Schools quietly adopts rule barring teachers from ‘political or personal' classroom displays* Another Portland area school district will consider closing some schools amid low enrollment* Could Oregon's state school funding mechanism change next year? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

The new Climate Friendly Public Schools program is just beginning. It will provide as much as $10,000 per school for public middle and high school students in seven districts over the next five years. The Portland Clean Energy Fund is providing the program $50 million. Portland Public Schools' share is close to $20 million. The idea is to support public school students to create their own projects and spur innovation in the climate solution space. Joining us to give us more details and discuss what this looks like at PPS is Petal Peloquin, a senior at Grant High School; Eesa Taylor, a junior at Ida B. Wells High School; and Ari Ettinger, the climate resiliency program manager for PPS.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the Fred Meyer strike as the biggest grocery merger ever is debated in a local court, the frantic wrangling over plans as Measure 110 officially comes to an end, and the sky-high costs of building renovations as Portland Public Schools resume classes. Joining executive producer John Notarianni on this week's Friday news roundup are Malia Spencer of the Portland Business Journal and our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: FTC Trial Continues: Exec From Specialty Grocer Sprouts Called as Witness Against Kroger-Albertsons Merger [

Classes at Portland Public Schools begin next week and the district also welcomes a new superintendent. Kimberlee Armstrong began her career as a teacher in the Puyallup School District in Washington and most recently served as deputy superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver. Armstrong joins to share what she’s looking forward to in her first year overseeing the district and goals in her first year.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the grand opening of PDX's stunning new airport terminal, the water tiger art that's caused a ton of controversy at City Hall, and free meals coming for every student at Portland Public Schools. Joining executive producer John Notarianni are Willamette Week reporter Sophie Peel and our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today's Episode: ‘Just in Awe': PDX Main Airport Terminal Reopens with Trees and 9-Acre Wood-Beamed Ceiling [Oregonian] Records Offer Insight Into How Bobby Lee Directed a City Agency To Spend $60,000 in Taxpayer Dollars on a Pet Project [Willamette Week] Breakfast, Lunch Will Be Free to All Students at Many More Oregon Schools This Year [Oregonian

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2620. The law mandates any major infrastructure project over $5 million, or any renovation which exceeds 50% of the current building's value, to devote 1.5% of its entire budget to “Green Energy Technology” (GET). Since 2014, more than 50 of these statewide projects have been for schools, where solar panels are overwhelmingly the GET of choice. Reports submitted to the Oregon Department of Energy show that two-thirds of school projects are outfitted with solar panels that will not break even on their investment for the next 50 years. The industry-accepted break-even limit is 25 years, assuming they last that long before requiring replacement. A project cannot be excused from the 1.5% rule simply because the GET is not cost-effective. School districts that expressed concerns over this, including McMinnville and LaGrande, were allowed to defer costly GET installations to future construction projects. However, that postpones the expenditure. The Board of Portland Public Schools plans to spend more than $22 million on solar arrays at rebuilds of Cleveland, Jefferson, and Ida B. Wells high schools; and none of them will pay for themselves. If taxpayers knew about these investments, it's unlikely they would approve. The Oregon Legislature should either repeal the 1.5% GET mandate or allow project sponsors the freedom to opt-out if projects are too expensive.

Worries about the Cascadia Subduction Zone have persisted for the last 50 years. Oregon school districts have considered the possibility of a major earthquake as they build and renovate existing structures. In line with this approach, the Portland Public School district has embarked on a decades-long modernization project, most recently the proposed $491 million modernization of Jefferson High School. The extensive renovation plans raise concerns about the necessity and benefits of the large-scale project, especially given the uncertainty of a potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Oregon code requires schools to meet seismic Category III standards, prioritizing life safety. The district has chosen to construct the new Jefferson to Category IV standards. This level, typically reserved for emergency facilities, adds an extra $5.00 per square foot to building cost. Jefferson isn't the only school with an excessive budget. Cleveland and Ida B. Wells high schools have surpassed $400 million in the last month. In contrast, the ongoing Bend Senior High rebuild has a budget of $187 million and is compliant with the required seismic code. While safety is important, overbuilding schools to an unnecessary standard is a misallocation of resources. School districts should focus on meeting the required safety codes while directing additional funds towards enhancing students' learning and development. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about Portland Public Schools' new superintendent pick, the city's foreclosing on abandoned buildings, and the demise of two local media empires. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday roundup are Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed on Today's Episode: Portland Public Schools Picks New Superintendent After 6 Month Search [Oregonian]  City of Portland Moves to Foreclose on Local Eyesore, Old Gordon's Fireplace Shop [KOIN] Bob Pamplin Sells His Newspapers to Mississippi Firm [Willamette Week]   What's Next After Oregon Newspapers' Black Monday? [Oregonian

Oregon’s largest school district is facing a $30 million deficit and the prospect of cutting some 250 positions districtwide. Interim Superintendent Sandy Husk has presented her proposed budget, which the school board tentatively approved last week. Schools across the state face budget cuts, citing rising costs, limited state funding, the end of federal COVID relief money, heightened student needs since the pandemic and declining student enrollment. Portland also experienced its first-ever teachers strike in the fall, which resulted in a 14.4% cost-of-living adjustment over the next two years. Interim Superintendent Husk joins us to talk about the budget and what’s ahead for Portland Public Schools, along with Renard Adams, Chief Accountability and Equity Officer.for the district.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about delayed and unfinished city infrastructure projects in Montavilla, how parent fundraising for Portland Public Schools might be changing, and Commissioner Gonzalez's surprise camping ban proposal. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are City Cast director of digital strategy, Bryan M. Vance, and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed on Today's Episode: $5M Update to SE Portland Park Will Include New Skatepark, Playground [FOX12]  Is Portland's Tradition of Parent Fundraising to Add Teachers at Their Child's School Near an End? [Oregonian]   Rene Gonzalez, Candidate for Portland Mayor, Pitches More Punitive Approach to Homeless Campers [Oregonian]  Vans Staffed with Medical Workers Bring Physical, Mental Health Care to Unhoused Portlanders Where They Are [Oregonian

Ohio's House Bill 183, termed the "Bathroom Bill," mandates that K-12 public schools and higher education institutions designate bathrooms based on biological sex. Introduced by Republican Representatives Beth Lear and Adam Bird, it aims to ensure safety, according to its proponents. However, the bill has encountered significant opposition, with over 100 detractors arguing it discriminates against transgender students. A committee vote is imminent, with significant Republican support anticipated.Arizona's SB1097, proposed by Senator Justine Wadsack, seeks to make school board elections partisan. The bill has passed initial stages with party-line support in the Republican-majority Senate and House committee. The Arizona School Boards Association opposes the measure, citing concerns about partisanship in educational governance. Advocates argue the change would better inform voters by revealing candidates' political affiliations. The full House vote is pending, with significant implications for party representation in elections.A Pew Research Center survey reveals that 51% of Americans believe public K-12 education is heading in the wrong direction, citing insufficient focus on core academic subjects, politicization by teachers, and inadequate funding as key concerns. Only 16% see it as moving in the right direction. Partisan differences are notable, with Republicans and Democrats diverging on the reasons for their dissatisfaction. The survey highlights a growing discontent with the direction of educational policy in the U.S.In Portland, Oregon, a lawsuit has been filed against Portland Public Schools, Multnomah County, and a nonprofit after a 9-year-old girl was allegedly raped by classmates at Scott Elementary School and its after-school program. Seeking $9 million, the suit claims negligence in monitoring and training, failing to report the incident promptly, and inadequately handling the victim's complaints of earlier sexual harassment. The legal action underscores serious concerns about student safety and response protocols in educational settings.Support the showDONATE TODAY!www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com

Last week, Cascade Policy Institute provided suggestions to the Board of Portland Public Schools to reduce costs on the Jefferson High School modernization project. The project is paused due to the budget ballooning from $311 million (approved by voters in a 2020 bond issue) to $491 million. Cascade's primary advice for the PPS Board can be applied to all publicly funded projects: practice common sense prudence. The prudent person principle provides perspective on three cost-prohibitive aspects of public projects: Building above code requirements; Energy efficiency expenditures with payback periods exceeding 20 years; Overbuilding. To meet building code requirements for seismic resilience, Jefferson must be designed as a risk category III structure. Current plans call for building to the costly and unnecessary standard of risk category IV. The state mandates 1.5% of most public buildings' budgets be allocated to green energy technology. Agency managers of four other Oregon school districts have refused to comply due to the excessive length of the pay-back period. Finally, building realistically sized projects is key. Jefferson's current enrollment is below 500 students yet the rebuild is planned for 1,700, a flagrantly excessive size in a school district with declining enrollment. The areas of excess in the Jefferson High School re-build are common in public projects. A prudent person would rein in this spending. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coffeewithcascade/message

Inadequate state funding and the end of COVID-19 relief dollars have left school districts across Oregon with multimillion-dollar budget deficits. Portland Public Schools officials are planning to cut $30 million out of next year’s budget and administrators at Salem-Keizer Public Schools need to cut $60 million. The Bend-La Pine School Board recently voted to place a local tax levy on the spring ballot in an effort to close their funding gaps. And in Southwest Washington, Evergreen Public Schools is facing a $16-20 million budget shortfall, while Vancouver Public Schools is facing $35 million. OPB’s K-12 education reporter Natalie Pate joins us to share more about what’s driving the budget cuts and the impact they could have on students and families.

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the city and county's joint plan to halve homelessness by 2025, never-ending utility rate hikes, and Portland Public Schools' decision on how to make up for lost class time after the teachers strike and severe winter weather. Joining host Claudia Meza on our Friday news round-up are Willamette Week's "Potlander" column author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode: Multnomah County, Portland Leaders Vow To Shelter 2,700 More People by End of 2025 [Oregonian

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson's stern warning to our underperforming ambulance service provider, Portland Public Schools' agreement to sell its headquarters to the Albina Vision Trust, and former mayor Sam Adams' attempt to make yet another political comeback. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are KBOO news director and host of the weekly talk show “The Gap,” Althea Billings, and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed on Today's Episode:  Multnomah County Chair Shares Plan To Address Ambulance Service Crisis [Fox 12] Portland Public Schools Agrees To Sell HQ to Albina Vision Trust for Redevelopment [Oregonian] Former Mayor Sam Adams Prepares To Run for Multnomah County Commissioner [Willamette Week] Oregon Democrats Agree to Stronger Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession [OPB] Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about the Portland Bureau of Transportation plan to boost parking and registration enforcement. Plus, there's a controversy over a hip-hop showcase severing ties with its longtime home, and Portland Public Schools is gearing up for $30 million in budget cuts. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week's Friday news roundup are Willamette Week's “Potlander” column author Brianna Wheeler and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Stories Discussed in Today's Episode: The Thesis Ends Hip-Hop Showcase at Kelly's Olympian, Citing Political Dispute [Willamette Week] Wynne: The Thesis [YouTube] To Fix $32M Budget Deficit, PBOT Proposes Increased Enforcement on Parking, Expired Vehicle Registrations [KGW] Portland Public Schools Outlines Plans For $30 Million in Cuts, Sparking Backlash [Oregonian] Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Bon Coeur Home + Wellness (Use promo code "LOVE15" for 15% off) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of thousands of Oregon homes and businesses were still without electricity early Tuesday, as the National Weather Service warned of more challenging conditions to come. Portland Public Schools, Salem-Keizer, Eugene 4J and many other districts canceled classes on Tuesday. Portland warned that its sewer system is strained, and the MAX service remains shut down. At least four deaths may be linked to the weather. The National Weather Service is forecasting freezing rain across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington starting late Tuesday morning. State agencies are warning Oregonians to stay off roads and prepare for additional tree damage and power outages.

Ali Bradley, News Nation, gives an update from the southern US Border. Norman Lear, iconic TV sitcom and movie producer, dies at 101. 4th GOP debate tonight. Woke Wednesday. Portland Public Schools to factor in gender identity, race into school discipline. Trump gives an interview to Sean Hannity.

The fight over how Oregon funds K-12 education isn’t new, but in the wake of a nearly monthlong strike in Portland Public Schools the longtime issue is back in the limelight. On the latest episode of OPB Politics Now, reporters Lauren Dake and Dirk VanderHart explain the history, the present and what lawmakers and school insiders are saying about whether Oregon schools are getting enough money. Find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

On Monday morning, more than 40,000 students in Portland returned to school after a tentative deal had been announced the day before to end a teachers’ strike that had shut down schools since Nov 1. The agreement between Portland Public Schools district and the Portland Association of Teachers still needs to be ratified by union members and the school board this week. It includes a nearly 14% pay raise for educators over the next three years, additional planning time and expanded access to mental health support for students in the district. Joining us to talk about the deal, how students will make up 11 days of lost instruction time and other details is OPB education reporter Natalie Pate. 

Portland Public Schools students are out of class for the 10th day this month as the first strike in the district’s history continues. The Portland Association of Teachers claims the most recent offer it presented to the district would significantly reduce the financial gap between the two sides, but the district has disputed how much the proposal would actually save. Renard Adams is chief of research, assessment and accountability for PPS. Angela Bonilla is the president of PAT. They join us with the latest on where negotiations stand.

Today marks one week since Portland Public Schools teachers declared a strike and campuses have been closed. Negotiations are ongoing with no clear timeline on when an agreement will be met. In Oakland, California, a teachers strike in the spring lasted a week and a half and kept kids out of school for several days. Jill Tucker is the education reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. She joins us to share more on why teachers went on strike there and how the resolution was reached.  

The first teachers strike in Portland Public Schools history is currently underway. Schools have closed across the district, which is Oregon’s largest, as teachers lobby for better pay and working conditions. Renard Adams is chief of research, assessment and accountability for PPS. Angela Bonilla is the president of the Portland Association of Teachers. They join us with back-to-back perspectives on where things stand between the district and the union.

More than 80 schools in Portland are closed today, as teachers began their first-ever strike in the history of the Portland Public Schools district. The Portland Association of Teachers represents nearly 4,500 teachers and coaches in Oregon’s largest school district. Negotiations between PPS and PAT have been ongoing for months to ratify a new contract, including sessions held with a state mediator earlier this week. OPB education reporter Natalie Pate gives us an update on the strike, what each side is asking for and what she heard from teachers on the picket line this morning. 

BlazeTV media critic Rob Eno and Glenn Beck's chief researcher Jason Buttrill discuss Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell's medical scare during a press conference today. This makes twice that the Senate minority leader has frozen up during a public appearance. Some are calling into question his ability to lead the Senate and continue his time in Congress. Del Bigtree joins the show to discuss a CDC post that warns people not to rely on masks to protect them from wildfire smoke. This leads some to wonder how masks can help keep people safe from COVID if it can't protect them from smoke. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. This makes him the first candidate to drop out of the race. Portland Public Schools will no longer be allowed to give students zeros for cheating or missing work, per the district's new “equitable grading policy.” California's attorney general filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District Monday because the district adopted a policy that would inform parents when their child has told teachers or administrators they want to go by another name or gender. Attorney General Rob Bonta feels this new policy would hurt students.  Today's Sponsor: Birch Gold makes it easy to convert an IRA or 401(k) into an IRA in precious metals. Here's what you need to do. Text the word WHY to 989898 to claim your free info kit on gold. With almost 20 years' experience converting IRAs and 401(k)s into precious metals IRAs, Birch Gold can help you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Portland Public Schools is testing out a new "equitable grading practices" that stop teachers from assigning "zeros" to students who cheat or fail to turn in assignments. Pags gives his thoughts. PLUS... Kay Smythe joins Pags to talk about the possibility of Category 6 hurricanes, the fires in Maui, and much more.