Portland, OR. — Cascade Policy Institute President John A. Charles, Jr. submitted a memorandum and analysis to the Portland Public School Board (PPS) and its Facilities Improvement and Oversight Committee (FIOC) ahead of the committee’s November 10 meeting, identifying risks associated with the proposed purchase of the One North building.
The FIOC is scheduled to conduct its first public review of a due diligence report on the proposed acquisition of the One North property, which is intended to house the planned Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE).
“While the board and oversight committee are reviewing all aspects of the Center for Black Student Excellence and purchase of a building, we have submitted two documents analyzing the risks associated with the One North purchase,” Charles said. “I hope the board finds the documents helpful as part of their due diligence.”
One of the submissions is an eight-page memorandum authored by Charles that examines potential legal liabilities associated with the CBSE under both federal and Oregon state law.
The second document, a 17-page Analysis of Proposed One North Property Acquisition for Portland Public Schools’ Center for Black Student Excellence, was prepared by economist Eric Fruits, Ph.D. That analysis highlights what Cascade describes as a procedural failure in determining programmatic requirements after selecting a building, rather than before acquisition.
Fruits’ report also outlines what it characterizes as unfunded operational liabilities connected to the purchase, along with potential legal and safety risks. In addition, the analysis raises questions about compliance with Oregon Revised Statute 328.205, which restricts the use of bond funds to expenditures on “school buildings.”
Cascade Policy Institute said the documents are intended to inform PPS board members and the oversight committee as they consider the proposed acquisition and its long-term implications.
About the Author
