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Vocational Village advocates win delay on relocation vote

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Vocational Village advocates win delay on relocation vote

Superintendent ups moving cost estimate

LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

The battle to preserve the Vocational Village alternative school program is still raging, but advocates won at least a few tactical battles last month.

The Portland School District staff has recommended that the seven-acre property at 8020 N.E. Tillamook St. be declared surplus and its alternative school program moved to another location, with a recommendation on this latter due by October 15. Advocates for the school have questioned whether a suitable location - NOT part of another high school where their students would be treated as second-class citizens - can be found by the target date. They also complained that a public outreach process conducted during July and August effectively disenfranchises interested parents and students. A vote on the issue by the school board was originally scheduled for August 25.

However, at a noon meeting August 11, board members informally indicated that they would favor putting off the decision to allow more time for input. They also indicated they consider the program not only worthwhile, but also valuable. Chair Lolenzo Poe agreed, “It’s safe to say we’ll be looking at an extension of the timeline. We’ll find a way to take student input.”

Another issue was the cost of the move versus the cost of staying. Staff had originally estimated the cost of moving at $500,000 to $1 million, and advocates had challenged that. At the board meeting superintendent Jim Scherzinger conceded that a more accurate estimate was $3 million. However, he continued to argue that the $1.5 million minimum cost of renovating the existing structures would not be a good investment.

Banfield Pet Hospitals, Inc. has proposed to buy the property and put a corporate headquarters of 80,000 to 120,000 square feet on it - with an adjacent two-acre off-leash dog park for free public use. Vocational Village advocates have accused the district of trying to rush the process to take advantage of the Banfield offer.
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