The message below was sent to all Reps on Tuesday, September 3rd. With the Heat Advisory, I have a scheduled conversation with the Superintendent this morning to discuss concerns I'm hearing from across the district.

If your room is hot and you believe it is above an 80 degree heat index (table below):

• Email your rep and principal and ask for them to come and do a reading with the district tool.
• A PAT rep should join the principal to do the reading and take a picture to document the time and date.
• The principal should email the temps to Risk Management at [email protected] and cc the rep. A member of the Risk Management team will reply.

I have shared with Dr. Armstrong that we have heard there are similar issues at multiple "new build" HS with half of the HVAC not working, that multiple sites did NOT have the windows opened before they arrived this morning (or have been told they cannot open 1st floor windows), that some places do not have access to 32oz of water for each adult available at all times. Please document and share the data, the Superintendent has committed to reviewing the ALL the data they receive. Do not suffer in silence!

In Solidarity,
Angela Bonilla

Original Message below:

*If you are not a current rep, you have received this email because your building has not had their rep elections or has not yet reported their rep elections. Please pass this information on to the current reps and the rest of your site. Thank you!*

This week’s forecast shows the heat is going to reach dangerous levels. Many of you have reached out to see what contract protections and district protocols are in place for the upcoming heat.

I have already communicated with Genevieve Rough from Employee and Labor Relations who has shared that the PPS Risk Management has already met and is reviewing the early release thresholds for tomorrow and Thursday, as well as the school closure thresholds for Friday. As of now, the National Weather Service (NWS) reports:

• Wednesday: Heat index passes 80 at 1pm and reaches 91 at 4:00pm, peak temp 92 at 4:00pm
• Thursday: Heat index passes 80 around 10:30am and reaches 95 at 2:30pm, peak temp 99 at 4:00pm
• Friday: Heat index passes 80 around 10:30am and reaches 96 at 4:00pm, peak temp 99 at 4:00pm
• The threshold for school closure consideration for Friday, after a heat index above 91 for three consecutive days, is met in the forecast.

What should we do?
These heat indices are for the general outside temperature. We know that classrooms and indoor spaces heat up past these points. Please document the heat index in your hottest rooms by 10am at the latest. This will provide the data needed to address the school closure thresholds outlined in PPS’ School Closure handbook pg 9-12:

Thresholds

• The School Closure Decision Team will meet when:
  • Heat index for the day expected to be >80° beginning at 10 a.m. or earlier
  • Heat index for the day expected to be >95° while school activities are in session
  • Heat advisory warning is sent out by the county
  • Other excessive heat concerns

Notes

• The decision to close will be based upon the determination of whether the environment is deemed safe based on the temperatures within the classrooms and after steps have been taken to alleviate the excessive heat conditions.
• The District will NOT make decisions to close all schools (or all schools without A/C) due to heat conditions.

The decision to close schools will be on an individual basis, as our schools have varying HVAC and A/C systems. That is why it is CRUCIAL you communicate with your administrators the temperatures at your site in writing.

After documenting the temperature, the first step is to contact your administrator in email with the conditions of your classrooms. Using the PAT thermometers or the district provided measurement tool, send the heat index to your principal and request relief. Here is a template email to share with administrators about the heat for the week, and a template email to share with admin as the temperatures heat up. 

Please see below for additional information and links.

Environmental Safety Contract Language
Language about environmental safety can be found under Article 9.12 and 9.13.

9.12.4 Mitigation and Relief Plan 

9.12.4.1 The District will provide an actionable plan that provides immediate relief for an/or mitigation of issues identified during the initial Safety Committee Inspection Checklist conducted at each building by the Safety Committee. The actionable plan will include: 

1. An estimated timeline for the completion of the relief action that contains immediate relief, midterm relief, and long-term resolution. 
2. “Immediate relief” will mean within 2 weeks, with extreme temperatures (as defined in 9.13.3) mitigation being provided within 24 hours. 
3. “Midterm relief” will mean solutions that are not permanent but actionable within the work year. 
4. “Long-term resolution” will mean the solution that will resolve the issue completely.

Specifically about heat:

9.13.3 When temperatures reach below sixty (60) degrees and/or the heat index reaches above eighty (80) degrees in a professional educator’s work setting (for example, classroom or office) the following shall occur: 

9.13.3.1 The educator will inform their administrator of the conditions outlined in 9.13.3 in writing; 

9.13.3.2 The District will provide relief according to the process outlined in 9.12.4 and PPS Heat Mitigation Plan; 

9.13.3.3 If the temperature cited in 9.13.3 occurs during the student day, the district will provide an alternative space for learning as outlined in the PPS Heat Mitigation Plan; 

9.13.3.4 If the temperatures cited in 9.13.3 occur outside the student day, the professional educator will have the ability to complete their work duties and planning in an area without temperature stress. The professional educator will inform the administrator of their new location in writing. 

9.13.3.5 If all of the above do not occur and the hazardous environment continues, educator may use article 9.12.1, if applicable.

National Weather Service (NWS)’s forecast and Heat Index
PPS School Closure Plan 2024-2025
OSHA Extreme Heat Plan
PPS Heat Mitigation Flow Chart
PPS Heat Management Plan
PPS Heat Illness Prevention Plan

As always, please reach out to the Executive Board Director/Zone liaison for your zone with questions. You can email their personal email or reach out to [email protected] for help.

In Solidarity,
Angela Bonilla
Portland Association of Teachers
https://www.pdxteachers.org/