District News - Fall 2020

From Michael Lopes Serrao, Parkrose Superintendent

October 2020

COVID-19 Update

Last month our school board approved a recommendation to extend our Comprehensive Distance Learning through January 29th, 2021. This is the end of the first semester. Keep in mind, that we continue to monitor the case rates in Multnomah County each week. The target for potentially returning to a hybrid model of school is 30 cases per 100,000 for PK-3rd grade and 10 cases per 100,000 for K-12, and a positive test rate of less than 5%. These metrics need to be met for 3 weeks in a row.

Multnomah County's case rate was 62 per 100,000 this past week with a 6.2% positive test rate.

We are looking at safe methods to bring back students on a limited in-person basis when we see case rates stabilize. The rates have increased dramatically in the past 3 weeks, so we are encouraging everyone in Parkrose to help by keeping social distance and wearing a mask to help keep our rates down across our region.

Please take a moment to complete the parent survey regarding distance learning to help us analyze your responses and improve our service in Comprehensive Distance Learning.

We will continue to communicate as things evolve.

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Parkrose Distance Learning Family Survey - Fall 2020

In this time of Comprehensive Distance Learning we are asking families to share their feedback with us. If you haven't already please complete this short survey.

All Students Belong

The Parkrose School District believes that all our students, staff and community members belong. We believe that our students have the right to a high-quality educational experience, free from discrimination or harassment based on perceived race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.

Our state board of education recently adopted the 'All Students Belong' administrative rule to require districts to adopt a policy to prohibit use or display symbols of hate. These symbols are determined by whether it is reasonably likely to cause a substantial disruption of or material interference with school activities; or it's reasonably likely to interfere with the rights of students by denying them full access to the services, activities, and opportunities offered by a school.

We are also accountable for 'bias incidents.' “Bias incident” means a person’s hostile expression of animus toward another person, relating to the other person’s perceived race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin, of which criminal investigation or prosecution is impossible or inappropriate. Bias incidents may include derogatory language or behavior directed at or about any of the preceding demographic groups.

Our Parkrose School Board will engage in discussion this month to talk further about Parkrose policies that directly impact our historically underserved families.

Black Lives Matter

Parkrose School District fully supports the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement that aims to combat racism and support our Black families. We stand by Black Lives Matter as a statement of social justice and an affirmation of the value and worth of Black students and their families.

We understand that many people have misunderstood or been misinformed about the origin and expression of Black Lives Matter. The need to affirm Black Lives Matter is rooted in the history and current experiences that have intentionally marginalized Black lives.

Our district stands with our educators in supporting a movement that demonstrates to our students that racism has no place in our schools or society. We know that racism continues to harm our Black students, Indigenous students, and other students of color.

We understand that this movement elicits many points of view in our region, and our state. We recognize our current system needs work to eliminate the disparities that are deep-rooted in our history of underserving our Black students, Indigenous students, and other students of color.

We are committed to supporting our staff and students to learn the long-standing injustice to dismantle our system that has marginalized many in our community.