Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN)

Longtime principal at Helensview High School, Kris Persson, discussed the school, its program and students, and the possibility of making some part of the schoolyard into a park as guest speaker for the Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN) meeting on Tuesday night, August 17.

Kris gave an oveview of Helensview and what they do. She explained that Helensview is operated by the Multnomah Education Services District (MESD) as an alternative high school for at-risk students from all over the county.

Helensview High School has been open for about 17 years in the former Sumner Elementary School located at 8678 NE Sumner Street (Google map).

Kris said they have 320 student slots at Helensview, that students have classes during somewhat overlapping schedules, and that no more than 80 students are on site at any one time.

Kris said the retention rate is 87 percent, and that they graduate 100 students per year. However, Helensview does not show up in graduation rate or test score data because those performance stats are “cross enrolled” to their various originating school districts where their scores are included.

Students range from 12 to 21 years old. The school operates four programs including a program for students who are pregnant or have small children (with a nursery on site) and one for students who are out of jail on probation. Persson said their staff include a psychiatric nurse, a clinical therapist and a drug and alcohol counselor.

Talk turned to safety, and how groups of students walk betwen the bus stop on NE 82nd and the school down the center of neighborhood streets several times a day. Persson explained that they have staff at the bus stop and along NE Alberta Street to mind the students along the 8-10 block walk.

Daily schedule at the school includes 7:30 AM breakfast for younger students with classes from 9AM to 2:30 PM. Those students can stay onsite until 5 PM as needed. For students 18-21, there are two shorter sessions. One from 10 AM to 2:30 PM and the other from 3PM to 6PM.

Though run by the MESD, Helensview High School property itself is leased from Parkrose School District. Persson said their lease is up in two years and that she hopes to renew for another 10 years. She also noted that the MESD has expressed interest in buying the property.

When last year’s neighborhood survey was raised, in which residents expressed interest in a park, Persson said that that has been a neighborhood interest since she joined Helensview 15 years ago. She also said she is willing to discuss development of a park in the schoolyard with SAN, Parkrose School District and Portland Parks.

Finally, Persson invited to call the school if they have questions or issues. The number is 503-262-4150. She also said that they have a coffee shop at the school run by students that is open for coffee lovers from 3 to 3:30 PM.

For more background about Helensview and its programs, see our post preceding the August SAN meeting.