An ad hoc consortium of private schools has sent a letter to Governor Kate Brown asking that she rethink restrictions on the opening of their schools in the fall.

The letter recounts the original understanding, “Private schools have been told that there is no final approval required as the the plan. They were to submit a plan to Local Public Health Agency, post it on each schools website, submit the plan to the governing board, and provide a web link to [the Oregon Department of Education]. Then, the school would be ready to open as outlined in the plan.”

Private schools -- especially smaller ones -- may not be able to manage the costs.

“Private schools have, in good faith, spent time, finances, and committed to teachers and school families based on the guidelines that private schools were able to choose the instructional model that was best for their school communities, and could open for in-person instruction with a completed plan following Sections 1-3 of the guidance. The sudden mandate for comprehensive distance learning puts the integrity of private schools on the line, which, in good faith, committed to educate children in-person, and collected tuition from parents based on the premise that they could open under the conditions as outlined by the [the Oregon Health Authority]. In addition, the shift did not come with any funds from [the Oregon Department of Education] to private schools to implement the shift - unlike the promise to public schools.”

Near the end of the six page letter, following argument as to why the schools should be allowed to open, the final plea is made.

“We know that in-person education is significantly better than online learning. We cannot subscribe to a one size fits all approach to opening our schools in the Fall. There may be one size which fits all in terms of large, urban, public schools. Oregon private schools are designed to focus on the needs of our own specific communities. In many instances these specific communities contain a significant number of minority students.”

“Accordingly, we request that you affirm the guidelines issued by [the Oregon Department of Education] and [the Oregon Health Authority] up to to July 27. 2020, remain in effect for private school reopening as provided in Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Safe Schools, Ready Learners document.”


The letter was signed by a wide variety of elected officials, including:

Bev Clarno, Oregon Secretary of State
Senator Tim Knopp
Senator Kim Thatcher
Senator Chuck Thomsen
Senator Bill Hansell
Representative Raquel Moore-Green
Representative Greg Barreto
Representative Shelly Boshart Davis
Representative Mike Nearman
Representative E. Werner Reschke
Cliff Bentz, Oregon Congressional Nominee
Colm Willis, Marion County Commissioner
Tootie Smith, Clackamas County Commissioner
Lily Morgan, Josephine County Commissioner
Mary Starrett, Yamhill County Commissioner
Lindsay Berschauer, Yamhill County Commissioner-Elect
Sue Gold, Curry County Commissioner
Mark Bennett, Baker County Commissioner
Sam Brentano, Marion County Commissioner
Jerry Willey, Washington County Commissioner
Rick Dyer, Jackson County Commissioner
Lyle Mordhorst, Polk County Commissioner


Numerous educators and administrators also signed the letter


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-08-12 15:57:12

Last Update: 2020-08-12 18:54:18