PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools (PPS) is preparing to take a major step toward creating the long-promised Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE). On Tuesday, the School Board will vote on whether to approve a $16 million purchase of a North Portland property intended to house the center.
A Long-Awaited Project
The proposal comes nearly four years after Portland voters approved a 2020 school bond that set aside $60 million for the creation of the CBSE. The district envisioned the center as both a physical space and a hub for programs designed to support Black students’ academic success while fostering deeper ties with the community.
Since then, progress has stalled. Frustration grew in May, when a 38-member coalition of nonprofit and community organizations demanded PPS secure a building by December 1, citing a lack of urgency in turning the bond measure into reality.
Details of the Property
The property under consideration is part of the One North development at 3506–3514 N Vancouver Avenue and 25 N Fremont Street, situated in Portland’s historic Albina neighborhood.
Key details include:
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Two buildings constructed in 2015
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Roughly 72,000 square feet of space
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Appraised at $15.2 million in May
According to a district staff memo, PPS believes the purchase represents a strong value.
“PPS could not build a building like the One North property for anywhere close to $16 million, and PPS expects the building to be largely move-in ready for many of its component uses,” the memo states.
Alternative options explored with commercial real estate brokers did not yield more cost-effective choices.
Funding and Due Diligence
The $16 million would be drawn from the 2020 bond funds earmarked for the CBSE. If the board approves the initial step, PPS will enter into a purchase and sale agreement.
That agreement will:
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Allow the district to conduct 90 days of due diligence
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Cover physical and environmental inspections
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Assess the property’s suitability for the center’s intended uses
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Prevent the property from being sold to another buyer during this period
The agreement itself will not be binding until the board votes again following due diligence. The seller, Karuna Properties II LLC and Karuna Properties II West LLC, has set a Dec. 29 deadline for closing the transaction.
Questions About Operations
Even as PPS moves closer to securing a location, the district must still decide how the CBSE will operate. According to the staff memo, during the due diligence period the district must:
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Define requirements for programs aligned with the CBSE vision
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Develop operating budgets
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Draft staffing and building maintenance plans
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Collaborate with community partners who will shape programming
Until now, planning for the CBSE has largely taken place internally and without full School Board review, leaving many in the community eager for clarity on how the center will function once a property is secured.
Leadership Turnover
The proposal comes at a time of instability in PPS facilities leadership. Dan Jung, the district’s longtime chief operating officer, left in June after overseeing multiple modernization projects. More recently, Stormy Shanks, head of the Office of School Modernizations, also announced her resignation.
The departures raise questions about how PPS will navigate such a significant property acquisition and development effort without two of its most experienced staff members in place.
Community Significance
The Albina neighborhood holds particular importance for Portland’s Black community, making the potential location of the CBSE symbolically significant. Supporters of the project have emphasized the need for the center not only as an academic resource but also as a community gathering place and cultural anchor.
Advocates argue that securing a permanent home is essential to ensuring the CBSE’s vision becomes a reality. For many, Tuesday’s vote marks the first meaningful sign of progress since the bond measure’s passage.
Next Steps
If the board votes to approve the agreement, PPS will begin its 90-day review process immediately. A final decision on whether to close the deal will follow that period.
Until then, both supporters and critics will be watching closely. On one hand, many see the $16 million purchase as a bargain for a nearly move-in-ready property. On the other, questions remain about how the center will be run, what programs it will house, and whether PPS has the leadership capacity to deliver on its promises.
What is clear, however, is that the clock is ticking. With the seller requiring the deal close by Dec. 29, the district has little room for delay if it hopes to finally move the Center for Black Student Excellence from vision to reality.
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