Portland Public Schools elections (2017)
2019 → ← 2015 |
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| General election date |
| May 16, 2017 |
| Enrollment (14-15) |
| 47,806 students |
Three of the seven seats on the Portland Public Schools school board in Oregon were up for at-large general election on May 16, 2017. Since no incumbents filed for re-election, the board was guaranteed to see three newcomers elected. These new members will be tasked with hiring a new superintendent and overseeing the implementation of a $790 million bond. A total of 11 candidates filed for the three seats.
In Zone 4, two candidates filed for the seat: Rita Moore and Jamila Munson, with Moore emerging victorious. Three filed for the Zone 5 seat: Scott Bailey, Traci Flitcraft, and Virginia La Forte. Bailey won the seat. Six candidates filed for the Zone 6 seat: Zach Babb, Ed Bos, Julia Brim-Edwards, David Morrison, Trisha Parks, and Joseph Simonis, with Brim-Edwards winning the race.[1][2][3][4]
Elections
Voter and candidate information
The Portland school board consists of seven members elected at large to four-year terms. While elected at large, each seat on the board has a zone number associated with it, and candidates must live in the zone they run for. The seat numbers correlate to geographic areas in the district. They serve to separate the elections for each seat on the board into its own race. Seats are up for election on a staggered basis every odd-numbered year in May.
To run for a school board in Oregon, one must be a registered voter and have lived in the district for one year prior to the election. In order to run in this school board election in 2017, candidates had to file with their county clerk by March 16, 2017.[5]
To vote in Oregon, one must be a resident of Oregon, a United States citizen, and at least 17 years old. One may register to vote at any county election office, the office of the Secretary of State, any DMV office, or by downloading a registration form and sending it to a county election office. To vote in this election, residents had to register to vote by April 25, 2017.[6]
- See also: Voting in Oregon and Voter identification laws by state
Candidates and results
Zone 4
Results
| Portland Public Schools, Zone 4 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
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| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Rita Moore |
57.63% | 55,209 |
| Jamila Munson | 41.66% | 39,915 |
| Write-in votes | 0.71% | 676 |
| Total Votes | 95,800 | |
| Source: Clackamas County, "Special District Election," accessed June 12, 2017, Multnomah County, "Multnomah County Election Results," accessed June 12, 2017, and Washington County Elections, "Statement of Votes Cast by Contest," accessed June 12, 2017 |
Candidates
Rita Moore 
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Jamila Munson | ||
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Zone 5
Results
| Portland Public Schools, Zone 5 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
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| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Scott Bailey |
62.51% | 58,052 |
| Virginia La Forte | 26.06% | 24,200 |
| Traci Flitcraft | 10.78% | 10,011 |
| Write-in votes | 0.66% | 609 |
| Total Votes | 92,872 | |
| Source: Clackamas County, "Special District Election," accessed June 12, 2017, Multnomah County, "Multnomah County Election Results," accessed June 12, 2017, and Washington County Elections, "Statement of Votes Cast by Contest," accessed June 12, 2017 |
Candidates
| Scott Bailey
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Traci Flitcraft | Virginia La Forte | |||
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Zone 6
Results
| Portland Public Schools, Zone 6 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
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| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Julia Brim-Edwards |
67.15% | 63,789 |
| Trisha Parks | 15.99% | 15,185 |
| Joseph Simonis | 8.43% | 8,012 |
| David Morrison | 3.06% | 2,909 |
| Ed Bos | 2.59% | 2,457 |
| Zach Babb | 2.18% | 2,072 |
| Write-in votes | 0.6% | 568 |
| Total Votes | 94,992 | |
| Source: Clackamas County, "Special District Election," accessed June 12, 2017, Multnomah County, "Multnomah County Election Results," accessed June 12, 2017, and Washington County Elections, "Statement of Votes Cast by Contest," accessed June 12, 2017 |
Candidates
| Zach Babb | Ed Bos | Julia Brim-Edwards
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| David Morrison | Trisha Parks | Joseph Simonis | |||
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Additional elections on the ballot
The 2017 Portland Public Schools election shared the ballot with a $790 million bond and elections for educational service, community college, fire, and water districts.[4]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for this Oregon school board election in 2017:[7]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| March 16, 2017 | Candidate filing deadline |
| April 4, 2017 | Seven day campaign finance transaction reporting begins |
| May 16, 2017 | Seven day campaign finance transaction reporting ends |
| May 16, 2017 | Election day |
Endorsements
For a list of official endorsements made by political parties, education organizations, and elected officials in the Portland Public Schools elections, click here.
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at elections@ballotpedia.org.
Campaign finance
The filing deadline in Oregon for a campaign transaction is typically no later than 30 calendar days. However, beginning on the 42nd day before an election day and through the date of the election, a transaction is due no later than seven calendar days after the date it occurred. The dates for the beginning and ending of the seven-day reporting period for the 2017 Oregon school board elections were:[8]
- April 4, 2017 (Seven day campaign finance reporting begins)
- May 16, 2017 (Seven day campaign finance reporting ends)
A school board candidate in Oregon must form a candidate committee unless he or she meets all of the following conditions:[9][10]
- The candidate elects to serve as his or her own treasurer.
- The candidate does not have an existing candidate committee.
- The candidate does not expect to receive or spend more than $750 during a calendar year (including personal funds).
A candidate committee must file a Statement of Organization with the Elections Division of the Oregon Secretary of State within three business days of first receiving or spending money. A form including campaign account information must accompany the Statement of Organization.[9][11]
Candidate committees that expect to receive or spend $3,500 or more in a calendar year are required to report all transactions. A committee that does not expect to receive or spend this much is still required to file a Statement of Organization and designate a campaign bank account, but does not have to file transactions. Instead, they must file a Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures.[9][12]
Past elections
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2015
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 7
2013Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
2011Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 7
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What's at stake?
2017
Issues in the election
$790 million bond set for ballot
School board candidates discuss $790 million bond and other issues with Willamette Weekly
In addition to voting in the Portland Public Schools election, voters passed a $790 million bond, which the district titled the "Health, Safety, and Modernization Bond."[13] The funds provided by the bond will go towards high school building renovations and additions. The district issued the following statement regarding the bond:
| “ | The proposed $790,000,000 bond would fund renovations and additions at Benson and Madison High Schools, and full rebuilds of Lincoln High School and Kellogg Middle School.
Approximately 30% of the budgets for these projects comprehensively address health and safety issues, including lead and asbestos abatement, roof repairs, seismic upgrades, and accessibility improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If approved by voters, the proposed bond would also fund planning for upgrades of Cleveland, Jefferson, and Wilson High Schools as part of the next series of school modernizations. Additionally, if the bond passes, at least $150 million would fund district-wide health and safety projects, including: Replacing old pipes and fixtures to reduce lead, improve water quality, and reduce the need to use bottled water; Removing or encapsulating exposed lead paint and asbestos; Upgrading fire alarm and/or sprinkler systems; Repairing or replacing leaking or deteriorating school roofs; Improving accessibility for people with disabilities; Improving building foundations and ventilation to decrease radon exposure; and Strengthening school safety and security. If this measure is approved, PPS will also receive $8 million in state capital matching funds, and the funds would be put toward additional health and safety investments. If the proposed bonds are not approved, funds will be awarded to another district.[14] |
” |
| —Portland Public Schools (2017)[15] |
Lone finalist for PPS superintendent withdraws candidacy
The sole finalist for the next Portland Public Schools superintendent, Donyall Dickey, withdrew his candidacy on May 4, 2017. He was named the lone finalist by the board in March, although at the time, the board stated he had not been offered a final contract. Instead, they announced Dickey's vetting process would continue over the next few months. That process came to a halt when he submitted his letter of withdrawal.
The board's chairman, Tom Koehler, said of Dickey's retraction that "a mutual understanding that our expectations for the job were not in complete alignment...Our job as a board is to make the right call for the kids and the district," Koehler said. "And this clearly is the right call."[16] Koehler also cited a report the board had received on May 1. He did not disclose the report's contents but explained it as the culmination of the district's hiring process.
Dickey's withdrawal letter stated:
| “ | After deep reflection, I have decided to pursue other PreK-12 opportunities and to continue my consulting work, supporting other school districts in their effort to implement reforms that improve achievement for all students.[14] | ” |
| —Donyall Dickey (2017)[17] |
Dickey's retraction meant that the three new members of the school board elected in 2017 would be involved in the hiring process for a new superintendent. Some school board candidates expressed their disappointment in the board's failure to hire a leader. Zone 4 candidate Rita Moore commented: "I’m deeply disappointed that the current board leadership failed to manage a successful superintendent search over the last year. I think the new board is going to be able to hit the reset button, and I’m looking forward to working with a new, better PPS."[18] Another candidate, unnamed by Katu 2, was quoted as comparing the leadership of PPS to a "rudderless ship."[18]
The interim superintendent of Portland Public Schools during the 2016-2017 school year was Bob McKean. He stated he did not plan to stay on after his contract expired on July 1, but that he would be available for consultation.[16]
Report a story for this election
Ballotpedia researches issues in school board elections across the United States, but information availability is a challenge for us in many school districts. Please contact us about the issues that impact your local school district. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion.
Candidate survey
About the district
- See also: Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Portland Public Schools is primarily located in Multnomah County, Oregon.
Portland Public Schools is based in Portland, the county seat of Multnomah County in northeastern Oregon. The district also has parts that lie in Clackamas and Washington Counties. Multnomah County was home to an estimated 799,766 residents between 2010 and 2016, according to the United States Census Bureau. The district was the largest school district in the state in the 2014-2015 school year and served 47,806 students.[19][20]
Demographics
Multnomah County outperformed Oregon as a whole in terms of higher education achievement and median household income, while it underperformed in terms of poverty rate from 2011 to 2015. The United States Census Bureau found that 41.3 percent of county residents aged 25 years and older had earned a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 30.8 percent of residents statewide. The median household income in the county was $54,102, while it was $51,243 for the state. The percentage of persons below the poverty line in the county was 15.7 percent, compared to 15.4 percent for the entirety of Oregon.[20]
| Racial Demographics, 2015[20] | ||
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| Race | Multnomah County (%) | Oregon (%) |
| White | 80.2 | 87.6 |
| Black or African American | 5.8 | 2.1 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Asian | 7.5 | 4.4 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Two or More Races | 4.4 | 3.7 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.3 | 12.7 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Portland Public Schools Oregon election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Portland Public Schools | Oregon | School Boards |
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External links
- Portland Public Schools
- Clackamas County Elections
- Multnomah County Elections
- Washington County Elections
Footnotes
- ↑ Clackamas County, "Special District Election," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Multnomah County, "Multnomah County Election Results," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Washington County, Oregon," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Multnomah County, "May 2017 Special District Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Oregon School Boards Association, "School Board Elections," accessed March 22, 2017
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Voting in Oregon," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Public Calendar," accessed March 31, 2017
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Oregon Elections Calendar," accessed April 17, 2017
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Oregon Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Manual - 2014," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Revised Statutes, "Chapter 260, Section 043," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Revised Statutes, "Chapter 260, Section 039," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Revised Statutes, "Chapter 260, Section 057," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ KGW, "Historic $790 million Portland school bond passes; here's what it will do," May 17, 2017
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Portland Public Schools, "Proposed Health, Safety, and Modernization Bond," accessed May 5, 2017
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Oregon Live, "Portland Public Schools' lone finalist for superintendent falls through," May 4, 2017
- ↑ Willamette Week, "Donyall Dickey, Named to be Next Portland Schools Superintendent, Won't Take Job," May 4, 2017
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Katu 2, "School board candidates disappointed in PPS leadership," May 4, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data, file ccd_lea_052_1414_w_0216161a, 2014-2015," accessed November 16, 2016
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 United States Census Bureau, "State & County QuickFacts: Multnomah County, Oregon," accessed March 29, 2017
