The Advocate - March 8, 2017

• The Leadership We Need for PPS
• Building Utilization and the Upcoming Bond
• School Board Votes Yes on Contract Changes
• 2017 PAT Members Scholarships
• Early Notice of Retirement/Resignation Stipend Deadline is March 15^th
• Deadline for Requests for Full-Year Unpaid Leave is April 15^th
• Read Across America 2017 Grant Winners
• OEA Symposium: Culturally Responsive Teaching, March 18^th
• Calling All Troublemakers! Labor Notes Troublemakers School April 8^th
• 6th Annual Oregon School Employee Wellness Conference: March 26^th-28^th

View the PDF

In the next few months, PPS will have a new superintendent and could have as many as three new school board members. Given these big changes in our District, it’s an important time for us to reflect on our values and work to ensure our future leaders are prepared to deliver the schools Portland students deserve. We also have to make sure they are ready to lead the fight for great public schools for all Oregonians. 

The School Board voted to refer a $790 million bond to voters in May. The bond would continue PPS’ Long Range Facilities Plan, and includes money to rebuild Madison, Benson, and Lincoln High Schools, and Kellogg Middle School, as well as $150 million to address health and safety issues across the District.

On Tuesday March 7^th the school board voted to approve both our snow day agreement and the mini-package of tentative agreements. There are several key issues that we continue to work on in Interest-Based Bargaining. However, these changes do have some immediate benefits for PAT members including: increasing hours in the sick leave bank; compensation for classroom moves; improved benefits for temporary educators; improved member protections; and new mother-friendly workplace language. Bargaining continues with the District and we are still hoping to wrap up negotiations in April.

The 2017 PAT Members’ Scholarship Application is now available.  If you are a member of the Portland Association of Teachers and you have a high school senior who is planning on attending college in the fall of 2017, they would be eligible to apply.  Six of these scholarships will be awarded in 2017

Our contract includes a stipend if members give early notice of retirement or resignation.  If members give early written notice of retirement/resignation prior to March 15^th, the professional educator will receive $700 in the final paycheck. See Article 15, Section B1 on page 45 for more information. 

Requests for a full-year personal, exchange or career development leave of absence, whether part-time or full-time for the next school year, must be submitted to the PPS Human Resources prior to April 15^th .  Requests submitted after that date will not be approved, except in extenuating circumstances.  See Article 14, D, on page 40.

Each year the National Education Association, the Oregon Education Association, and the Portland Association of Teachers sponsor Read Across America, an event designed to encourage reading and community involvement in our schools.

Please join us on Saturday, March 18 for the 7^th Annual OEA Symposium, Students in the Lead: Culturally Responsive Teaching. This year, we welcome educator and author Zaretta Hammond for a day of provocative dialogue, discussion, and learning.

On Saturday April 8^th join union members, shop stewards, organizers, and community activists from across the Pacific Northwest for a day of skill-building workshops and strategy discussions to create a stronger workers’ movement in our region. The school will be held from 9 am to 4 pm at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 290 Training Center, 20210 SW Teton Ave in Tualatin, OR.