Beverly Cleary K-8 School Opening Delayed By One Day

PORTLAND, OR – Most of the students who attend Beverly Cleary K-8 School in northeast Portland are getting an extra day of summer. Officials announced Friday that students will now start school on Tuesday instead of Monday.

In a letter to parents sent Friday, Principal John Ferraro said that the delay was necessary because clean-up from construction was taking longer than anticipated and had prevented teachers from being able to get into their classrooms.

Ferraro wrote that school officials including PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero, two members of the Board of Education, and members of the Portland Association made the decision after touring the school.

"They saw how construction activity in the building this past week has made it challenging for our teachers to access their classrooms, making it impossible to be prepared for students on Monday," Ferraro wrote.

"All were in agreement that we must delay the opening of Beverly Cleary by one day to allow more time for our teachers to prepare classrooms and allow proper cleaning to take place.

The delay only affects students in first through eighth grades. Kindergartners will start as planned on Aug. 30.

Ferraro wrote that he appreciates parents being flexible and said that the school recognizes the delay could put a burden on some.

Around 2 p.m. on Friday, the school posted to its Facebook page a link to a form for parents to apply for daycare services on Monday. The option was available for 50 students.

Parents had one hour to respond.

Once school opens, work will continue on the building's roof and sprinkler system. Ferraro says that work will not begin until 4 in the afternoon and will be complete by 6 the next morning.

Photo via Beverly Cleary/PPS.