Members of the Portland Public Schools governing board Tuesday night unanimously approved a resolution that moves the district one step closer to selling its North Portland headquarters.
Albina Vision Trust, a nonprofit focused on improving the historically Black Albina neighborhood which includes the area around the PPS headquarters, presented the idea to the school board late last month.
The Portland Public Schools district office in Portland, Ore., Oct. 20, 2023.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The proposal had two main goals: First, for the nonprofit to acquire the 10.5-acre Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center, a key property that overlooks the Willamette River and has the potential to transform the Albina neighborhood. And secondly, to relieve Oregon’s largest school district of the likely hefty cost of updating its large, aging administration building.
The offer from the trust was presented to the school board as a cost-neutral solution. The nonprofit’s leaders promise to not only take the property off the district’s hands but also to help them acquire new space that matches or exceeds the Prophet Center’s current value.
As of last month, AVT doesn’t have a specific location in mind for the future headquarters location, but they’ve found at least 14 potential options. These options are based on an initial search with needs such as on-site parking, large meeting spaces, affordability and access to public transportation in mind.
This week, the school board passed the resolution to get the process started.
(Left to right) Members of the Portland Public Schools Board of Education Michelle DePass, Herman Greene, Gary Hollands and Julia Brim-Edwards, listen to testimony from a PPS student and parent at a school board meeting on Nov. 28, 2023.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Under the resolution, district leadership will first need to establish a timeline not exceeding 12 months for the identification of a new location.
This is especially important for the many maintenance workers who work on various levels of the current building.
“The concern to have a safe administrative staff facility is to be commended,” said Adam Maurer, an electrician for the PPS maintenance team. “But not at the expense, sacrifice and hardship of another section of staff that have already been cut in half, have had the maintenance budget cut in half, and have not been given the resources to keep facilities as they should be.”
Maurer testified on the resolution Tuesday, voicing his support for the effort. But he urged the board to study the impacts on maintenance and nutrition personnel, landscapers and laborers, warehouse workers and drivers. Maurer said the district should first ensure employees have adequate space, parking and access needed to serve schools throughout the district. He was the only individual who brought up concerns during public comment.
Board member Julia Brim-Edwards said Maurer’s concerns will be addressed in the process outlined in the resolution, pointing to the requirement of 60 days to create and finalize the minimum criteria for the new headquarters and warehouse sites.
“This is a great day,” Brim-Edwards said earlier in the evening about the plan. “I’m really looking forward to it. I think that’s a huge commitment for PPS to make. It’s a long time coming.”