LEBANON - Parents of Lebanon High School students plan to try again to talk with teachers and administrators about the high school's math program.

However, it's unclear whether the new meeting, set for 7 p.m. Sept. 24 in the high school auditorium, will be the open forum parents desire.

Parent David Champion spoke Monday during the public comment portion of a special meeting of the Lebanon School Board, calling for such a forum.

He said he represents "a number of parents" who want to talk with teachers, counselors and administrators to communicate their concerns.

Specifically, Champion said, they want teachers to share observations about how parents can help improve student performance, and they want Principal Mark Finch to acknowledge and comment on parent concerns about several issues.

Among these are the high school's "academy system" and its trimester schedule, how the school communicates with parents when students are struggling, and concerns that some students advance even if their skills are not up to speed.

Champion also asked for findings from groups visiting other schools to ask about their academic achievement. A five-person coalition visited Oregon City on Monday to discuss math scores with school officials there.

In an interview following the meeting, Champion said he and other parents had hoped to air their concerns at a meeting Sept. 10, but were frustrated when administrators insisted on dividing the audience for small-group discussions instead of listening to everyone at large.

Dozens of parents, many with angry shouts, left the meeting early when it became apparent the administrators would prevail.

"We have to have good community involvement and collaboration here, and they just wouldn't allow that," Champion said. "If you just lock it down, 'Here's the procedure, here's a big pill, swallow it,' that just doesn't work."

Superintendent Jim Robinson said Finch has scheduled a meeting Sept. 24. However, he said, the district considers the meeting "school-initiated" and that Finch will set the agenda.