Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is urging Portland Public Schools leaders to slow down and listen to families before deciding whether to close as many as 14 schools, but she has not called on the district to abandon the proposals. In a letter Tuesday to Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong and School Board Chair Eddie Wang, Kotek said families had described feeling “shock,” “disappointment” and “confusion” about the plans. She said they need a clear account of the factors and trade-offs behind the decisions, and a meaningful chance to weigh in. “Taking the time to get this right is not a delay in making difficult decisions, but rather an essential part of the commitment to community partnership,” Kotek wrote. The district says it faces pressure to make changes to school buildings, boundaries and programs. Portland Public Schools, Oregon’s largest school district, has cited rising personnel costs and declining enrollment as key contributors to its financial problems. It is considering two options, each of which could affect more than 7,000 students. A district spokesperson said PPS plans to hold regular listening sessions in the coming weeks and is expanding opportunities for families, students and staff to share their views. “We are listening and taking action to ensure community voices help inform the decisions ahead,” spokesperson Valerie Feder said. Families opposing the proposals have criticized the process as rushed. Kotek said confusion about how decisions are being made is unacceptable and that families should have time to understand the plans before a decision is reached. The debate is unfolding during a close gubernatorial race between Kotek, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan. Drazan has argued the district should try to keep schools open. In a Wednesday statement, she questioned whether closures would produce meaningful savings, noting that voters had approved bonds that provided millions of dollars for some schools. The proposals could reshape school communities across Portland. The district’s upcoming listening sessions will offer families and staff additional opportunities to respond as leaders weigh the options.