Benson Polytechnic High School (BPHS) modernization is part of a bond measure recently approved by Portland Public Schools (PPS) for a special election balloting. The District’s school board on February 28, 2017 included $202 million in the overall $790 million capital bond measure that will go to the voters on Tuesday May 16, 2017. The money will be used to rebuild part of BPHS, renovate other parts, modernize scholastic programs and equipment, and correct plumbing, electrical and seismic shortcomings by academic year 2023-24. (Other bond monies will be used for Lincoln HS, Madison HS, and Kellogg MS as well as environmental work in other PPS schools.)
The Benson Tech community, including teachers, students, parents, and several Alumni Association Directors, was actively involved in the master planning/pre-design process that led to PPS’ decision. They believe ongoing design visioning and tax-payer funding will provide a major opportunity to improve BPHS’s capability for high-quality career-technical education well into the 21st Century. (For more information go to www.healthyschoolspdx.org and www.pps.net/bond2017.org).
Accordingly, the BPHS Alumni Association’s Board of Directors voted on March 13, 2017 to support the passage of the bond measure and strongly urge Benson Tech Alumni to support the bond measure for BPHS’s future with their vote, their time and/or their money. Contact Rob Johns for questions about supporting the bond measure campaign at robjohns [at] comcast [dot] net.