For years, one of PAT’s highest priorities has been reversing the thirty-year disinvestment in PPS and across the state. Securing more funding—exponentially more funding—is the only way we can truly deliver on our promise to our students and their families.

And the Student Success Act is an important down-payment on the schools our students deserve.

This fall we have the opportunity to shape the District’s priorities for Student Success Act funding. In October and November, PAT will convene a series of discussions—both among educators and with our community partners—to really sift through what PPS should do with the additional revenue, and make sure this money is going to address what our students really need.

We also will kick off contract negotiations with the District in January, which will be another chance to advance our priorities and ensure the things that are best for teachers and students are backed up with enforceable contract language.

And whether it’s setting Student Success Act priorities or bargaining our next contract, we’re going to keep our racial equity priorities front and center.

We know from hard experience that PPS won’t do the right thing just because we ask nicely—we’re going to have to organize our colleagues and community partners to push. Over the next few months we’re going to be working on several pieces of our campaign and we need your help. Be on the lookout for: 

• End of September: Bargaining Survey #1 (For all active PAT members to give input on contract priorities)
• October-November: Community Meetings (Hosted meetings throughout the city for any family or community members invested in PPS students to give input on vision, both for contract as well as SSA priorities)
• October-November: Building Level Meetings led by reps (An opportunity for any active PAT member to give feedback on SSA priorities, to inform both our bargaining team as well as SSA priorities)
• Mid-November: Bargaining Survey #2 (For all active PAT members to give more detailed input on contract priorities to help the bargaining team refine proposals)

We’ll need your input at each of these stages of the process, so don’t let it slip through the cracks. And if you’re interested in doing more to boost our community outreach and engagement this fall, contact our Racial Equity organizer, Nichole Watson at [email protected].

I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.

In Solidarity,

Suzanne Cohen
PAT President