Portland Oregon newspaper 2001 archives

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Locker Alternatives

I have grave misgivings about spending an estimated $85,000 for student lockers at Parkrose High School. Complaints from a few students about the inconvenience of having to carry their books and personal items in backpacks pale against the school district’s present financial crisis.

One of the obvious solutions—using inexpensive luggage carriers equipped with wheels and retractable handles—is dismissed by students as “dorky.” Millions of travelers use those “dorky” devices to avoid the strain of carrying heavy bags. Backpacks, one the other hand, are popular only with students, hikers and hippies.

Parkrose taxpayers shouldn’t spend limited tax revenues to placate adolescent objections to a solution that isn’t “in.”

James M. Voigt (higgens@aol.com)

Lockers Not Needed

In reply to Ms. Ziegler’s letter (August 2001) concerning the lack of lockers at Parkrose High School, I would like to express my opinion:

There have been many things “arbitrarily” dropped from the High School plans due to cost: dance programs, coaches, office staff...and these are all “costs” that directly impact the students. Which would you rather be available to your child: coaches, dance programs, more electives, fewer students per class per instructor, or lockers?

As to the wearing of coats - sit outside Madison High School some winter day (they have lockers, I know), and watch the kids go in without coats. This may be a fashion statement, or a form of rebellion, but it isn’t a result of having or not having lockers.

I sat in a Boosters meeting last spring, and heard discussion on Mr. Lewis’ proposal to the School Board about installing lockers. There was support pro and con, but a proposal does not equate to a done deal, and the reality is that there are many “pet projects” that have greater value to the students, or to the continued maintenance & repair of the facility, than installing lockers.

Ms. Ziegler’s parting shot in her letter was her concern about the “potential liability to the district...if one student’s family sued...” For once, let’s take responsibility for our own children, and what they wear and what they carry, and not foist it off on the school district! My daughter, all 5 foot and 100 lbs. of her, graduated from Parkrose in 2001, without the benefit of lockers. She carried a HEAVY load of classes (pun intended), and she survived. We looked upon the 30 lb. backpack as “weight training”, or preparation for parenthood (who do you sue when your back hurts from carrying a squirming toddler?)

There are a lot of things that Parkrose High School needs available, and soon, but lockers are not one of them. I would hate to see money allocated to a “pet project” that satisfies the needs of some parents, and not the majority of students!

Viki Gillespie, Parkrose Patron

Keep our sidewalks clean

I want to remind Gateway/Parkrose residents that school will be starting in September and if they could keep the sidewalks clear of branches sticking out so they don’t poke the children. I am a fellow walker, both to take my child to daycare in the morning and to walk to the MAX, and there are several branches hanging over the sidewalks, or vines heading out into the sidewalks, that would cause a pedestrian to have to walk on the road. I would hate to see children having to do this and have the possibility of getting hit by cars.

There is a number through the City of Portland (Nuisance Department) 503-823-7306 where you can report any debris that is in the way of the sidewalks. They will notify the resident to clean it up, or the City will clean it up and bill the resident.

If residents within walking distance of schools could also check trees and bushes that obstruct the view of Speed Limit Signs indicating the School Speed Limits or reduce speeds in those areas.

Thank you for your time.

KB, Gateway Resident

No Lockers Decision was a Lock

Regarding the letter authored by Kyle Ziegler, (mid-county Memo August 2001) about the lack of lockers at the new Parkrose High School (PHS).

I too, as a school board member, attended nearly all the meetings both before and after the passage of the bond measure to build the new high school.

Many many people attended these meetings. Numerous things were discussed. Issues were identified, concerns aired, Topics like design, safety, and flexibility, etc., were given much time and attention. No decisions were ever made in the dark. If some people did not attend all the meetings, its possible things were decided that they may not have been aware, or made aware of. Those whom attended many or all the meetings did not agree with all the decisions.

I have also attended many Bronco Booster, (PHS parents group) and school board meetings over the years where we have discussed school lockers. Every time at these meetings an explanation is offered as to why there are no lockers at PHS.

Because Mrs. Ziegler did not and does not agree with the rationale of this particular decision is no basis for her to spread misinformation and make accusations where there is no basis in facts regarding her comments about the construction of the high school.

Construction reports were given at every school board meeting, on nearly every committee decision and aspect of construction. Hundreds of people were taken on regular tours of the building site and during every phase of construction. Regular mailers, flyers, and information were distributed about the progress of the construction to the Parkrose taxpayers. For Mrs. Ziegler to even infer that steps were taken and decisions were made behind closed doors is simply not true and insulting to those of us who took an active, volunteer role in this process.

Neither were lockers cut at the last minute to save money. After committees had toured other new high schools, not only in the area but in other states, it was decided that like many other new high schools being built in this area, school lockers would not be included at PHS. This decision was made before receiving any architect’s renderings of what the new school would look like.

The decision to not have lockers at PHS was due to the paramount issue of safety. Unlike Columbine High School in Denver, there are no student lockers at PHS to hide weapons, guns, pipe bombs, and extra clips of ammunition in. There is also no place for student dealers and users to store their illegal drugs in.

Parkrose, unlike other school districts in the area, has not had to empty its halls for hours, or even close its doors early, while individual student lockers are checked because of a bomb threat.

If a student has a medical problem as Mrs. Ziegler described, and a doctor’s note is provided, the school will issue a second set of books for them to be kept at home.

If a lack of school lockers is why high school students do not wear coats, what is the excuse for Parkrose Middle School students? Lockers are assigned at the middle school. Students do not wear coats there because they choose not to. Currently it seems to be a fashion fad. It isn’t ‘cool’ to wear a coat.

Cost does, and did play a factor. Not the cost of purchasing the lockers. The costs associated with maintaining the lockers were decided to be prohibitive. During the meetings before construction we looked at annual costs to maintain student lockers, and at the costs to other districts. The estimated annual cost at PHS would be over ten thousand dollars. The lockers have to be cleaned mid-year, combinations changed, locks replaced, and repairs made to vandalized and damaged lockers. Not to mention the time and resources spent dealing with property loss and damage due to locker theft. If cost is a concern, then I believe that the folks on the committees that made these decisions made the wise choice.

I am sorry to see that some do not agree with all the decisions that were made before and during the construction of the new PHS. I do not agree with all the decisions made either. These decisions were however, made in the most open process imaginable. So much so, that the high school contractor and architect were at times quite literally “pulling their hair out” waiting for some of these citizen/patron committees to make decisions. In one instance the swimming pool was redesigned five times before the committee approved it. Now I hear there are people not happy with the pool. What is a person supposed to do?

Mrs. Ziegler, if you are unhappy with decisions made in the past, possibly there will be future opportunities and remedies to correct this. However, I do not think spreading misinformation and publicly pouting because you did not get your way back then, or now, is a productive method to accomplish your goals. Not to mention your public attempt at slapping the face of the many many volunteers who gave of their time and efforts to help design and produce an award winning school building that is, as we speak, being replicated around this state and in various parts of the country.

Mark Gardner,

Parkrose School Board member 1995-1999

Aircraft Noise

You know what I’m tired of hearing (and reading) about?? People whining and complaining about the aircraft noise. I’m sure the airport was here before 95% of those complainers were. If they did not know where the airport and flight paths were then they’re stupid. If the whiners don’t like the noise...........move.

Jim Stafford