PSU profs elected to school board

Two Portland State University professors won seats on the Portland Public School Board, and Measure 26-48, which seeks to return millions to Portland Public Schools passed Tuesday.

Dilafruz Williams, professor in the graduate School of Education and Douglas Morgan, professor in Public Administration and director of the Executive Leadership Institute, were both elected by a wide margin.

The two say they are excited to get started in their role as board members and stressed that communication between the board and administration must be improved.

Morgan said communication broke down last year.

“There was a big disconnect between the central administrative office and the board,” he said.”

Williams said one of her goals as a board member is to “restore public confidence in our public schools.”

She feels many parents have lost faith in the school system to provide their children with a quality education.

At the top of Morgan’s agenda is closing the achievement gap that exists between Portland Public Schools.

Both candidates expressed their excitement about the passage of Measure 26-48, which will increase Multnomah residents’ income tax 1.25 percent for the next three years to return badly needed funds to the school district.

“It’s a God-send,” Morgan said. He feels with the extra revenue the board will be able to “build, not destroy.”

Williams echoed Morgan’s sentiment, but stressed that Legislators need to find a better fix for the schools’ funding woes.

“Voters have demonstrated their strong commitment to the schools,” she said. “We still need a long term solution from Salem.”

Williams summed up her role as a school board member in a single statement.

“To reestablish Portland as one of the best school districts in the nation,” she said. “That is my goal.”