A coalition of physical education-loving health and sports groups have put together a splashy “Save Portland PE” campaign complete with a professional poll, a full-page newspaper ad and a radio advertising blitz.
Just days after Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith recommended cutting elementary and middle school PE teachers as part of her plan to handle a $19 million cut in state funding for next school year, the coalition made a professionally designed, well-funded splash to quash that plan.
Made up of groups including the Oregon Medical Association, the Trail Blazers, Nike and Providence Health Services, the coalition is trumpeting the results of its weekend poll, conducted by the respected firm Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall. The poll found 86 percent of Portland residents want the school board to spend money from reserves rather than cut PE.
