On Sunday, May 10, Mississippi Studios will be host to a benefit show to help the Leadership & Entrepreneurship Public Charter School (LEP) clear their approximately $60,000 deficit. Musicians performing include Storm Large, Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Dimes, The Minus 5, and Linda Hornbuckle & Band. Steve Berlin, a member of Los Lobos, is also a parent of a student enrolled at LEP and will be playing with The Minus 5 during the event.
Here’s a yet to be released song from Alec Ounsworth titled, “15 Oceans with Harp.”
LEP provides hands-on learning to assist in student achievement and preparing students who may otherwise fall through the cracks “for college and entrepreneurship through relevant curriculum, internships and service learning.” The school, located in the Buckman neighborhood, is home to about 250 students, 60% of whom come from low-income families.
Sounds like what a school should offer, right? Unfortunately, education and finances are like oil and water. On March 30, the Portland Public School Board voted 6-1 to close the three-year-old charter school at the end of this school year calling it an “economic failure.” While the PPS is alleging the school has a $143,000 deficit, LEP contends it’s actually closer to $60,000 and they are already attempting to raise funds to zero out that debt before the end of the school year.
So, let me get this straight…the school has been opened for three years, gets kids who weren’t interested in school previously to care about their education and their future, and the PPS wants to close it down calling it an “economic failure.” Meanwhile, I’m doubting other schools in the area are held to the same standard or else there wouldn’t be very many schools open in Portland. There are those who wonder if LEP isn’t receiving all of its allocated funding, thus setting it up to fail because it’s a charter school.
I’d rather support a school and programs offering kids the chance to become productive members of society than kids who grow up to restart the cycle of being a low-income adult for another generation.
Thankfully, there are others out there who feel the same way.
To learn more about the school and the benefit, visit the LEP Rocks! site. Tickets for the benefit are available at the Mississippi Studios site for $25 in advance/$30 day of show. There are also a limited number of VIP seats available for $75, which include private seating, an event poster, wine and hors d’oeuvres. You’ll get a great night of music and help LEP make their case to PPS on why they should remain open.
The show will also feature a rock memorabilia raffle including items from Elvis Costello, G Love, and an acoustic guitar signed by The Decemberists.
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