2026-06-09 Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Portland Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education held a regular meeting on June 9, 2026, addressing several key topics including the recognition of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, school renaming and mascot changes, bond accountability committee updates, social studies curriculum adoption for grades 6-12, and revisions to district policies. Significant procurement-related discussions focused on the Access Transportation Hub proposal, where the board reviewed a plan to restructure student transportation services to achieve budget savings of approximately $500,000, with potential trade-offs including reductions in contracted student behavior support on buses, student travel equity fund allocations, and centralized campus security overtime. The board also received a detailed report from the bond accountability committee on the status of bond-funded capital projects, including seismic improvements and school modernizations, with bond funds from previous measures largely spent and substantial funds remaining from recent bonds. Additionally, the board discussed the layoff process and its impact on staff, emphasizing the need for transparency and potential future policy or contract negotiations to address seniority and staffing concerns. Votes were taken to adopt resolutions recognizing Pride Month, approving the school renaming to Brentwood Middle School with a new mascot, adopting the new social studies curriculum, and revising district policies. The meeting included public comments from educators, parents, and union representatives highlighting concerns about budget cuts, teacher layoffs, transportation challenges, and the importance of maintaining program integrity and qualified staff.