PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

501 North Dixon Street / Portland, OR 97227 Cynthia Gilliam, Area Director
Telephone: (503) 916-2000 / Fax: (503) 916-3100 cgilliam@pps.k12.or.us
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3107 / 97208-3107 Gregory Baker, Area Director
gbaker@pps.k12.or.us

May 15, 2009

Dear Abernethy and Peninsula Families:

We are writing to let you know that Superintendent Carole Smith has accepted our recommendation to shift
the Abernethy Elementary and Peninsula K-8 school calendars to the Portland Public Schools trimester
calendar. This change will take effect for the 2009-2010 school year.

We know the move to the trimester calendar will involve changes and adjustments for your family. Peninsula
school has a long tradition of a modified year-round schedule, while Abernethy School has followed one
since 2002. We appreciate all the input we received about your calendars from parents and school staff. We
know that many of you wished to see your modified year-round calendars remain in place.

However, we believe there are important educational benefits in aligning your schools with the rest of the
school district, including:

• Students who need additional support after finishing kindergarten and grades 1, 5 and 6 will be
able to participate in PPS summer programs.
• Families with children in more than one school will be on one schedule.
• Teachers will be able to access summer professional development opportunities, including
summer courses at local universities.

There are also financial advantages, including:

• Our school district will save many thousands of dollars in transportation, nutrition services,
information systems and special education costs.
• Custodial summer services can be simplified.

While we strongly believe in bringing Abernethy and Peninsula in line with other PPS schools, we know that
research – including research that your communities have highlighted in this process – supports a fully
balanced school year. Superintendent Smith has directed PPS staff to conduct research into the best structure
for our students and our school district.

Thank you for participating in discussions on the calendar with your principals, Tammy Barron and Carlos
Galindo. We are committed to making the transition to the trimester calendar as smooth as possible.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Gilliam Greg Baker

Area Director Area Director