Our View: Portland superintendent made right call on school fundraising
Every student deserves the same access to programs paid for with donated money.
One of the great advantages of Portland's public schools is choice. Nowhere else in Maine, for instance, can a family choose among three high schools to find the best fit for their student.
The downside of this variety, however, is that there can be big differences in the quality of the educational programs that are offered. Independent fundraising by parent groups can provide enrichment opportunities to some students that are not available to others.
For a long time Portland has tolerated such an inequity within one of its own buildings, the Hall School, which houses the Many Rivers school-within-a-school program.
Superintendent Jim Morse has put an end to the discrepancy this week by requiring that funds raised by Many Rivers should benefit all Hall students. It was the right move, and should be one of many that equalizes the opportunity for Portland's families.
Many Rivers is an elementary school that teaches students in grades 1 to 5, using multi-grade groupings and "looping" where one teacher stays with a group of students for more than one year. What makes it unique is that it also has a non-profit arm that can raise money through grants to enhance its offerings. It is housed in Hall School, which runs a traditional K-5 program, and does not have access to the same private funds.
As a result, children in the two programs can receive access to very different opportunities, even though they walk through the same schoolhouse door every morning.
The differences also exist between buildings, where schools in middle-class neighborhoods have more access to booster fundrasing.
The discrepancies should stop, and parent teacher organizations should be citywide, with their income pooled. That would be the best way for all students to get the same opportunities from their public schools.
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5 COMMENTS
homeboy said...
The City of Portland will rue the day (if it does not already) that it ever hired Jim Morse as Superintendent.
July 30, 2010 at 7:36 AM Report abuse
otisslee said...
I disagree with this decision. I already pay outrageous taxes to provide education for everybody. If I choose to pay extra taxes in the form of a direct gift to my kids' classroom, I expect my kids' classroom to benefit from that. This decision basically says "Hey, Joe public, if you want to do something special for your kids' classroom, then you have to do it for everybody's classroom." Which, I assure you, will have a dampening effect on charity to schools.
July 30, 2010 at 9:08 AM Report abuse
Chew said...
Discouraging private targeted contributions in this economy could not be further from the message Mr. Morse needs to promote. Acceptance of beneficial charitable contributions should be thanked and encouraged. This policy of socialism in regards to contributions send the wrong message not only to the parents and taxpayers, but also our children. It is unamerican and discouraging to people making an extra effort to improve the quality of education.
July 30, 2010 at 11:25 AM Report abuse
RobertAT said...
The best way for students to get the same opportunities is for the funds needed to be allocated in the first place. Parents feel the need to support their childrens' schools because they see things missing. Anyone who is interested should see the Portland Education Foundation on facebook. This organization held a Secret Garden fundraiser this summer. The funds from this 501(c)3 support all of the schools in the city. School funding, though, is a political beast. Whether you are talking about state wide issues or local, the system is set up to benefit the people who already have the most. We would need to be willing to make big changes culturally for that to change and American's are too entrenched in status quo to make that change.
July 31, 2010 at 1:14 AM Report abuse
Iwatch said...
I am told Portland schools have to grapple with thirty-two different languages. How can this be good?
August 1, 2010 at 8:45 AM Report abuse