Portland Public Schools should spend down its savings account rather than cut physical education teachers in the face of a $19 million cut in state spending, the school board was told repeatedly Tuesday during a packed budget hearing.
But board members, including David Wynde, the budget chairman, said the board must hold the line and not spend any more from savings given a looming $50 million shortfall for Portland schools in the next two school years, taking into account state revenue forecasts.
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.
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Nike, through the Oregon Community Foundation, will grant up to $500,000 a year for three years — up to $1.5 million — to local nonprofits and schools for creating positive social and environmental change through physical activity.