On the agenda is the future of the Nathan Clifford Elementary School, but the issue is much broader than that. The committee will be voting on whether to go forward with a state-funded elementary-school project that would lead, finally, to school redistricting and consolidation.
It's the right step to take for Portland's students and its taxpayers.
The committee is under considerable pressure from Clifford parents and others who argue that the decision to replace the historic and high-performing school should not be done without first developing a comprehensive plan for all the city's schools. They argue that Portland should request a second delay from the state on the Clifford project, putting it off for another construction season while all the questions are answered.
As reasonable as that sounds, it is also naive. The issue of overcapacity at Portland's mainland elementary schools has been on the table since 1999. Although there have been three schools closed since then, it took the public-health emergency of a toxic mold outbreak at Jack School to force most of the action.
The city has an opportunity to make progress in a rational way if it acts now. By replacing Clifford using state funds, it would have at least until the fall of 2011 to finish the redistricting plan.
Given the events of the past few months, the School Committee will have to do a lot of work to convince Portland's taxpayers that it is a responsible steward of their money.
Taking a decisive step toward consolidating under-used facilities while maximizing the state's contribution will go a long way toward winning back that trust.
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