PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – At Ida B. Wells High School Wednesday night, the Portland Public Schools board heard concerns from parents about the district’s “Rightsizing” initiative, an effort that could lead to consolidations and closures at five to ten schools.
The initiative is aimed at addressing an approximate $50 million budget shortfall for the 2026–27 fiscal year. According to the district, the deficit is driven by declining enrollment, rising costs, and the expiration of one-time funding.
“I know they’re trying to make lemons out of lemonade, but it’s not right,” said George Alvarez, a parent of a first grader at Chief Joseph Elementary School in North Portland. “It’s not right that we should have to be ‘right-sizing.’ There’s a little bit of irony in that word.”…