MNA recognizes the district-wide challenges facing Portland Public Schools and acknowledges that consolidation may be necessary. However, MNA calls on PPS to provide clear, documented, school-specific justification for proposed closures before final decisions are made.
Specifically, MNA requests that PPS publicly address the following:
A. Why Maplewood? What methods and supporting data did PPS use to determine the specific enrollment, financial, facility, and educational factors justify its closure under both Scenarios A and B?
B. Why Maplewood over other SW elementary schools? Provide the comparative data, evaluation criteria, and documented rationale for selecting Maplewood over other schools in the Southwest cohort.
C. What are the measurable benefits? Identify the specific financial saving, educational improvements, and long-term benefits expected from closing Maplewood, compared with alternative consolidation options.
D. What is the plan for the property? Provide a documented reuse and property management plan, including future use, maintenance, security, funding, and timelines. Maplewood sits within a small, established residential neighborhood, and PPS must demonstrate how it will prevent the property from becoming vacant, neglected, or detrimental to the surrounding community.
MNA requires that PPS publicly address these questions with supporting documentation at the October 24 School Impact Conversation before the School Board takes final action on either scenario. If PPS cannot provide this information within the current timeline, MNA calls on the district to delay its decision until meaningful transparency, community engagement, and review can be achieved. If such information is unavailable for adequate review and comment by our community, we would oppose the closure of Maplewood.
Motion: Stephen McLandrich, MNA President, and Shelbey Campbell Lett, MNA Vice President, move that the MNA Board adopt the following Resolution and forward to Portland Public Schools, the Superintendent, and the media.
MULTNOMAH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION | mnapdx.org OCT. 13, 2026