KATIE LARSELL
OCCUPATION: Community Volunteer
OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Industrial Engineer for Consolidated Freightways & American Express
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: MS, University of Arizona, Systems & Industrial Engineering; BA, Macalester College; Graduate, Jackson High School
PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: Vice Chair, Parkrose School Board, Parkrose High School Site Council
I was appointed to the Board in 2001, and after serving for one year, the Parkrose Board elected me as their Vice Chair. My priorities are school excellence, community involvement, and school funding. This year, the Oregon School Board Association selected me for the Leadership Oregon program and paid for my participation expenses.
It’s been an unsettling time of low funding and regular cuts to school programs. However, test scores and the quality of basic education at Parkrose schools continues to improve.
In the two years I have served, the board has:
• Supported and set goals for each school’s improvement
• Started public budgeting meetings at each school; previously budget meetings were held at the district office
• Started a program to honor excellence and initiative in our schools at each Parkrose school board meeting
Excellence – My top priority is the education and achievement of all students in the district. Before serving on the board, I was on the high school site council where we applied for and received a major three-year grant for the high school.
Advocacy – I pledge that Parkrose will gets its fair share of all available tax dollars. Schools are now funded from local property tax, the State General Fund, the federal government and now, the City of Portland and Multnomah County.
Community – I will continue to work to strengthen the trust between the community and the schools. I will work to bring back the Portland Parks Community school and the Multnomah County library.
I’m Proud to be a Parkrose Parent and Community Member
Vote Larsell for Parkrose Schools
(This information furnished by Katie Larsell)