2007 - 2008
In 2007, Portland Public Schools commissioned Magellan Consulting to facilitate a series of conversations on the future of our schools and to complete detailed physical assessments of the school facilities.
Reshape Meetings
Facilities Assessments
Reshape Meetings
Reshape: Summit
In partnership with the Portland chapter of the American Institute of Architects, PPS held the Reshaping Schools: Space + Place forum on May 16-17th, 2007 to develop guiding principles to identify the connection between the needs of students and learning environments. Community, business, education, and green development leaders participated to collaborate and imagine what PPS could be.
The PPS Facilities Guiding Principles emerged from this dialogue, to inform the modernization of school facilities. They were adopted by the PPS Board of Education in October 2008.
Reshape: Community Wide Work Sessions
Following the Reshape Summit, Portland Public Schools held Educational Facilities Planning Work Sessions in November 2007. Approximately 250 community leaders, parents, city administrators, district personnel, and students attended the work sessions to discuss the future of Portland Public Schools facilities. In addition, 486 people provided feedback on the web site.
Following a presentation on 21st Century School Facilities, participants answered questions regarding planning for new schools. These results were compiled into the Educational Facilities Work Session Results Report.
Reshape: Quadrant Meetings
In January 2008, Portland Public Schools held four Community Dialogues, one in each planning area, to gather input from parents, students, teachers, staff, and community members on the future direction for school facilities improvement in the District. Discussion focused on facility options and criteria for prioritizing school improvement projects. Schools were categorized based on their Facilities Condition Index (FCI), as determined by the Facilities Assessment. These categories were:
- Renovate
- Full Modernization or Replace
As in the Facilities Planning Work Sessions, participants responded to the questions individually and in small groups. The questionnaire was also posted online. Results were compiled and analyzed in the Community Dialogue Results Report. These conversations directly influenced the Criteria to Determine the Order of Rebuilding and Renovation of PPS School Buildings. The criteria were adopted by the School Board in October 2008 inform and shape decision-making priorities for a capital program.
Facilities Assessments
Concurrent to the Reshape Meetings, the District commissioned a detailed physical assessment of school facilities and updated information on population trends and enrollment projections. A Citizens’ Oversight Committee provided guidance and advice to PPS’ facilities planning.
PPS completed the comprehensive assessments of its facilities in June 2008. This assessment established a baseline of facility conditions throughout the district’s building inventory. PPS will update these assessments on a four-year rotation using trained staff with technical expertise to update the building conditions database. For more information, visit: Building Condition.
