Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN)

Longtime principal at Helensview High School, Kris Persson, will be joining us as guest speaker for the Sumner Association of Neighbors (SAN) meeting on Tuesday night, August 17.

The meeting starts 7 PM in the Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) office, 4415 NE 87th Ave (side door of the fire station between NE Sandy and NE Prescott). Social time starts at 6:30 with light refreshments (coffee, donuts, etc.).

Helensview High School is the former Sumner Elementary School located at 8678 NE Sumner Street (Google map). It is operated by the Multnomah Education Services District (MESD) as an alternative high school. Each Halloween, they open their doors to allow SAN to hold its annual Halloween party, which this year will be its 39th year (I think).

Here is an overview of four programs Helensview provides to students, according to the MESD 2008-09 Accountability Report:

Helensview Phoenix – Pregnant and Parenting Student Services: [52 students] Phoenix provides services to youth between the ages of 12-21 who are pregnant and/or parenting and identified as at risk and requiring individualized programming, prenatal and parenting instruction.

Helensview RISE – Re-entry into Successful Education: [46 students] RISE provides an opportunity for youth ages 12-21 who have dropped out of school or who are experiencing chronic attendance/behavioral issues to receive individualized instruction, specialized support services (drug and alcohol counseling, gang intervention) within a context of jobs and careers.

Helensview Turnaround/Pride: [72 students] Turnaround/PRIDE provides individualized academic, social services and job training for students ages 12-21 identified as at-risk and who have not had success in other conventional or alternative settings.

Trellis: [83 students] Trellis serves students ages 12-21 who are on probation, parole and/or returning from state correctional facilities, both juvenile and adult.

Students from each of the MESD member districts in 2008-09:

• Centennial – 14
• David Douglas – 34
• Gresham-Barlow – 7
• Parkrose – 14
• Portland – 160
• Reynolds – 23

Here are a few facts about Helensview High School from the 2010-2011 MESD budget:

• Total staff: 24.53 (down about six positions from 2009-10)
• Instructional services staff: 22.15
• Contracted services staff: 2.38
• Operating expenditure: $1,831,973 (down about 4% from $1,916,116 in 2009-10)
• Staff salary: Principal, $96,268
• Capital improvement items:
• Helensview CCTV Upgrade ($25,000): This project will convert the existing CCTV system to an IP based, DVR system which will be stored and maintained by MESD. Security monitoring will continue to be contracted out. [$50,000 spent in the previous two budgets.]
• Helensview Office ($54,000): Restructuring of the Helensview workspaces for better utilization and greater workflow efficiency.