Parents, students decry proposed cuts to Portland Public Schools: 'What did we do wrong to deserve this?' | OregonLive.com:

Parents, students decry proposed cuts to Portland Public Schools: 'What did we do wrong to deserve this?'

Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 2:33 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 3:30 PM

The Oregonian/ 2011Portland high school students told Superintendent Carole Smith and the school board they are gravely concerned about the proposal to cut more than 100 teaching jobs. They worry about rising class sizes, lost courses in the arts and the disappearance of talented newly hired teachers.

Parents, teachers and students gave the Portland school board a long, heart-tugging litany of objections Monday to virtually all ofSuperintendent Carole Smith's proposed cuts for next year.

They begged her not to eliminate 110 teaching positions, close two schools, end Outdoor School for sixth-graders and fire four bilingual employees who reach out to parents.

One parent wept, another said his child may become suicidal and a fan of Outdoor School predicted doom for the planet.

Dozens testified during the first public hearing on Smith's proposed $429 million spending plan for next school year.