The Portland Public Schools Board will meet Wednesday evening. Among the business items before them for approval is an intergovernmental agreement contract with Portland State University for $63,774. The description of the services reads (here):
Jefferson HS: PSU to provide senior, college-level course entitled, “Race and Social Justice”
The contract term is 09/01/11 to 06/30/12.
This may seem like a small item, or just quibbling, and it is. But understand I have been unpersuasive it getting PPS to allocate $30,000, as a pilot programs, to pay for sending five high school students to each study abroad for one school year. So small dollar amounts matter.
So I do have several questions:
(1) How many semesters (one, two) and how many class periods each semester will the course run. If it is four or more class periods for two semesters, it a good deal. If it is just one class period each semester, then it is not a good deal.
(2) Jefferson high School is located right next to the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College. Why are not these funds used to pay for such a course at or by PCC and to build on that relationship? Why bring in Portland State University?
(3) Has the courses been underay this term?
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