Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland City Hall may stay downtown next week, but much of the city’s business will take place well north – at Jefferson High School.

Mayor Tom Potter plans to basically move into the North Portland school from next Monday through Friday. He’ll conduct city business and host meetings, including two City Council sessions.

Potter says he’s responding to an invitation from Jefferson students. He says he hopes to shine a light on the good and the bad at the majority African American school.

Tom Potter: “From what I’ve heard through my discussions both with the faculty as well as with students, is that they’ve got some issues that they want the larger community to hear. Those aren’t going to necessarily be pleasant or fun issues. But I think they’re going to be important for us to hear, and this is one venue for them to get those issues known.”

Potter says by doing things like delivering his annual State of the City speech at the Jefferson High auditorium next week, students will get a chance to understand how local government works.

Potter says his move will open Jefferson to people who may know the school only through negative reports in the media.