As the school year comes to a close, it’s time to elect your site’s PAT Building Representatives. Each site is entitled to one Rep per every nine members. 

Our building elections are how we ensure that Reps at each site are trusted, respected leaders. To run be a Rep for your sight, let you your current Head Rep know you are interested. Each site should create a ballot and hold an election at a 10-minute meeting before the end of the year.

For more information and resources, go to www.pdxteachers.org/pat_elections.

All active members of the PAT PAC (Portland Association of Teachers Political Action Committee) are invited to a brief meeting on Wednesday, April 26th, at 6:30 PM at the PAT office, immediately following the RA.

Recent changes to the contract increased the number of hours PAT may collect from members for the Sick Leave Bank. This helps ensure that hours will be available through the end of the school year for your colleagues who have exhausted their leave and need assistance. 

Donations of hours are still needed, as there are several pending applications for grants from the sick leave bank.

Please donate here – and thank you!

• Agenda
• Why Unions Matter Presentation
• PAT Bylaws DRAFT
• May School Board Election:
  • Get 10 Campaign
  • Sample Postcard Messages
  • Ten-Minute Meeting Slides: Get 10
• Reduction in Staff/Layoff FAQ
• May Day Action
• Zone Organizers Chart
• Building Elections:
  • Printable Form to Report Election Results
  • Online Form to Report Election Results
  • The Role of a Building Rep
  • Organizing Your Site
  • Ballot Template
• Death by a Thousand Cuts: Education Town Hall
• May Checklist
• Complete Slides from the RA

Progress, but not yet Close to a Settlement

Your PAT team met with the District on Monday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. We originally described the meeting as a “settlement” day, but quickly realized that both sides needed some additional financial information not yet available to the group. We therefore set up new bargaining dates on May 8^th and 9^th. We were disappointed that we were not able to schedule the next group bargaining session earlier, but there were several conflicts with schedules.

The Advocate - April 12, 2017

• President's Message: Fighting on All Fronts
• PAT PAC Endorsements - How to Get Involved in the May School Board Elections
• Applying to Transfer for the 2017-18 School Year
• Get the Facts About PERS
• Addressing School Climate Issues In the Statehouse
• Leveling the Policy-Making Playing Field
• Know Your Rights If You Are Stopped By the Police
• Divesting From Private Prisons
• Industry for a Day
• April 27th - National Retirement Security Advocacy Day
• Mobilizing for May Day

This weekend we wrapped up four full days of bargaining with the District, and we’re meeting again on April 17^th. Be sure to read the latest Bargaining Brief to get all the details. There are lots of balls in the air, since neither the state legislature nor the District has finalized their respective budgets, but we are still trying to reach a fair settlement.

The PAT PAC is proud to announce our recommendations for the May 2017 election. Candidates share a proven track record of leadership and commitment to strengthening our public schools so that our students can receive the education they deserve.

For Portland School Board:

• Zone 4: Rita Moore
• Zone 5: Scott Bailey
• Zone 6: Trisha Parks*

 For MESD Board:

• Pos. 1, Zone 5: Susie Jones
• Pos. 2, At Large: Helen Ying
• Pos. 3, Zone 2: Mary Botkin 

The transfer application process for current PPS employees will begin with the posting of vacancies on April 18^th – April 24^th.  Contract, Probationary 3, and unassigned Probationary 1 and 2 educators may apply in the Internal Phase. Interviews will be held from April 25^th – May 1^st.  Find out more from this FAQ on applying and interviewing for positions.

Several bills in the Oregon legislature will cut PERS benefits by as much as 31 percent. Find out more about the pending legislation and read this PERS factsheet to learn more about how PERS works.

Educators across Oregon are seeing a rise in serious student behavioral issues and disciplinary challenges. The Oregon Education Association supports a variety of bills that would help us address these school climate issues. Find out more in this one page factsheet.

Currently, educators don’t have enough input when decisions are made at the state level. There is only one non-voting educator on the State Board of Education, while the rest of the Board is dominated by non-educator political appointees, the majority of whom lack firsthand experience educating students in our public schools. The Oregon Education is supporting legislation that would level the playing field and give educators more voice – find out more!

This one page fact sheet from the American Civil Liberties Union details your rights if are stopped by the police, immigration agents, or the FBI. It is also available in Spanish.

Below is testimony from PAT President Suzanne Cohen in the Oregon Legislature:

Thank you Chair Prozanski, and members of the committee for allowing me this opportunity to speak in support of divesting from private prisons.

I’m Suzanne Cohen a proud public school teacher, with the privilege of serving as President of the Portland Association of Teachers, representing over 4,000 educators.

Registration is now open for “Industry for a Day,” scheduled for April 19^th from 1:00-5:30 PM. This is a unique chance to bring K-12 educators and leaders face-to-face with careers in the trades and manufacturing in an effort to shift perceptions, dismantle stigma and build awareness of these high-quality, high-growth career opportunities. Last year’s event was a big success, and this year organizers are hoping to recruit 125 teachers from across the county. See the attached flyer for more information.

Our April 27^th National Education Association members from across the country will be pushing Congress to protect our retirement security. We’re asking members to participate in local lobbying efforts or call and email your congressional representatives.

May 1^st is a great opportunity for educators to stand with their colleagues and the community to fight for the schools ALL our students deserve. Educators across Oregon will be mobilizing to make sure our schools are places where all students feel safe to learn, especially those targeted because of immigration status, ethnicity, or gender identity. We have to defend the public schools that are supported by our community, defend the community that supports our public schools, and protect our students from people who see them as sources of profit. Our public schools are not for sale!

Download the latest Bargaining Brief

Sub Bargaining Update
As all of you know, the 2012 – 2016 Substitute Teachers’ Agreement expired on June 30, 2016. We reported to all Substitutes that we entered into an MOU with the District that extended the terms of the CBA until December 30, 2016. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a successor agreement in place before the expiration on December 30.  During the period after a contract has expired and before a new contract is finalized, state law requires districts to generally maintain the status quo on contract provisions.

March 22 Representative Assembly

• Agenda
• PAT PAT/ OEA PIE Contribution Form
• Recommended School Board Candidates
• Slides for your 10-minute meeting
• DRAFT PAT Budget 2017-2018
• DRAFT Bylaws changes
• Bond
  • Summary of Changes to Ed Specs
  • Draft pre-amble to Ed Specs
• Snow Days FAQ
• Unassignment and Transfer FAQ
• Staffing Timeline
• Complete Slides from the RA

The Advocate - March 22, 2017

• Devastating State Budget Cuts Will Hit Staffing and Support Services
• School Board Candidates For Strong Public Schools
• Support Candidates Who Support Public Education! Give to PAT PAC and OEA PIE
• Congratulations to PAT Election Winners
• Promoting Racial Equity Through PAT
• PAT Bylaws Review
• 2017 Members Scholarships
• Deadline for Requests for Full-Year Unpaid Leave is April 15^th
• Calling All Troublemakers!
• 6th Annual Oregon School Employee Wellness Conference: March 26-28^th

View the PDF

By now, the devastating effects of Oregon’s school budget are no longer an abstract discussion. Educators across the state are face-to-face with the crushing reality of what this budget means in our buildings.

The PAT PAC is proud to announce our recommendations for the May 2017 Portland School Board election. These candidates share a proven track-record of leadership and commitment to strengthening Portland Public Schools so that our students can receive the education they deserve.

• Rita Moore for Zone 4
• Scott Bailey for Zone 5
• Trisha Parks for Zone 6

Now more than ever, we need to amplify the voice of educators in decision-making and politics.

This spring, we are asking all members to contribute to the PAT PAC and OEA PIE. In the fight to preserve and strengthen public education, we are up against big-money interests who want to cut our budgets and privatize our schools. Together, we can fight back!

Ballots were counted on February 20^th for several PAT positions. Congratulations to the following members elected to represent our union: