PORTLAND — The School Department has ramped up its media presence with two new features on its website.

Earlier this month, the district launched “Let’s Talk Portland!”, a means for parents, students, teachers and residents to provide feedback to school administrators. The site will also feature a web series from Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk.

“Let’s Talk Portland!” can be accessed from any device at www2.portlandschools.org/letstalkportland and is designed for speakers of Acholi, Arabic, English, French, Somali, Spanish or Vietnamese. Khmer will be added in the “coming months,” according to a news release from the district.

The portal can be used anonymously. Or, users who wish to receive a response can submit an e-mail address.

The feature is part of an ongoing effort to engage the public, according to Caulk.

“Now community members can easily let us know exactly what’s on their minds,” he said. “All messages will receive careful, prompt attention and appropriate follow-up.”

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The monthly web series, also titled “Let’s Talk Portland!”, will be hosted by Caulk and features interviews and “timely” topics related to the district.

In the first installment, Caulk interviews Chris Hall, CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber, about budding partnerships between area businesses and the school district.

The web series can be found at www2.portlandschools.org/letstalkwebshow.

This year the district also made available a “Neighbor-to-Neighbor Toolkit” – an online guide to the budget process that is meant to encourage public participation and solicit feedback. Caulk also hosted a town hall-style meeting in February to discuss budget priorities.

Ben McCanna can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or bmccanna@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @BenMcCanna.


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