The Advocate - March 6, 2019

1. President's Message: Time to Turn Up the Heat
2. Contract Ratification Process
3. Staffing Process for the 2019-2020 School Year
4. Racial Equity Task Force - Spring Social Mixer - Thursday March 7^th
5. Retirement Seminar: Thursday March 14^th
6. Special Education Social: Thursday March 21^st
7. Get the Facts About PERS!
8. Music and Arts Grants Available from California Casualty

Download the PDF

PAT members have every right to be angry.

We’re all hitting a justifiable breaking point, as PPS continues to pile on new initiatives and demands on our time, all without proper support, thoughtful planning, or adequate input.

Every day it feels as if we have another fight on our hands, whether it’s curriculum changes, additional testing, or the lack of respect for our contract.

Last week, the PAT and PPS Bargaining Teams reached a Tentative Agreement on a one-year extension of our contract. The option to extend was written into the 2016–2019 contract, which we settled last year.

To go into effect, this Tentative Agreement must be ratified by the PAT Membership. Members can get their questions answered and find out more information throughout our ratification process:

The Spring staffing process is underway.  Educators are being notified of unassignment from their buildings or programs.  An unassignment is NOT a layoff.  Instead, the educator will be reassigned to another site by applying for available vacant positions.

Vacancies will be posted in the Internal transfer process from April 1 – 5, with interviews occurring April 8 – 12.  Contract educators, 3rd year probationary educators, and unassigned 1^st and 2^nd year probationary educators are eligible to apply for vacancies in the Internal transfer process.  No external applicant may be considered for a subject area until all unassigned current educators are assigned.

PPS will host informational meetings for unassigned PAT educators after work on March 20 and March 21 at BESC.   

Review these FAQs For specific information about the process: FAQ#1 – Unassignments & Transfers and FAQ#2 – Applying & Interviewing for Positions.

On March 7^th, PAT's Racial Equity Task Force is hosting another safe space for educators who identify as a person of color.  We will have our Spring Social Mixer. Come eat dinner, network, and learn about other events we will be working on.  Please RSVP and invite other Educators of Color.

When:             March 7^th, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Who:               All PAT Members who identify as a person of color
Where:            PAT Office, 345 NE 8th Ave.
What:              Eat dinner, network, and learn about other events

Join us for a retirement seminar with a special focus on members hired after 2003.

Topics Include:

• I have a pension? What's that look like?
• How does my IAP account fit into that?
• What is a TSA/403b? How does it work? Do I need one?
• IRAs compared to TSA/403b
• Roth versus Traditional. What's the difference?
• Are TSAs/403b portable? When can I get money out of it?  

Please RSVP here.

Date: Thursday, March 14^th
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Where: PAT Office

Back by popular demand, the PAT Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee will be hosting another Special Education Social, dedicated to members on the special education team!

This event is open to any educator who works as a special education educator, whether in a self-contained learning center, as an SLP, or as a school psychologist. Come network with other special educators, find ways to support each other, and build community. Let’s get organized! The social will be Thursday, March 21^st from 4:30 – 6:30 PM at the PAT office.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN DATE!

Please RSVP here

Date: Thursday, March 21^st 
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM
Where: PAT Office

PERS is the retirement system for Oregon teachers, firefighters, nurses and other public employees. We work hard and are proud of our public service. Even though many of us earn less than we would in the private sector, we believe in serving our communities.

Unfortunately, some lawmakers and special interest groups continue to blame teachers and firefighters for Oregon’s budget problems. They are pushing cuts to PERS, despite the fact that current employees are not cause of the state’s financial woes, and further reductions to our pension benefits will do nothing to solve the problem. The Portland Association of Teachers, and our statewide union, the Oregon Education Association, will continue to stand up for our members and defend against these unfair attacks.

It’s important for educators to get the facts about PERS. Download and share this PERS factsheet from the Oregon Education Association.

The California Casualty Music & Arts Grant was established to provide support for K-12 public schools negatively impacted by reduced budgets. California Casualty understands the importance of music and arts education for children. As a member of the Portland Association of Teachers and our statewide union, the Oregon Education Association, you can apply for a $250 grant award for a music or art need at your school.

 The California Casualty Music and Arts Grant program will consider grant requests for public K-12 schools whose music and arts programs are in jeopardy or in great need of funding. Requests will also be considered for individual classrooms wishing to integrate music and/or arts projects within school curriculum.

The deadline is June 30 for grant requests to be considered for the fall of the next school year. All grants will be notified of their status by September 30.

For more information about the California Casualty Music and Arts Grant or to apply online, go to: CalCasMusicArtsGrant.com or email [email protected].