The Advocate, October 16, 2019

1. President’s Message: Size Matters!
2. Renew the Levy: Yes for Teachers, Yes for Kids!
3. Become a PAT Leader! Run for Union Office
4. Setting Priorities for the Student Success Act
5. PAT Game Night for Educators of Color: October 17^th
6. Help the Instruction and Professional Development Committee Address the GVC!
7. Overage Pay Determination
8. Complete Your Required Trainings by October 24^th
9. Donate to the Sick Leave Bank!
10. Reviewing Proposed Bylaw Changes
11. October 21^st Retirement Seminar—Is It Time to Retire?
12. Updates to the TELL Survey
13. Remember to Turn in Your Educational Credits by October 31^st!
14. Using Professional Development Funds
15. 12^th Annual North West Teachers for Social Justice Conference – October 19^th

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As educators, we know first-hand the difference a smaller class size or caseload can make for our students.

The smaller the class size, the more we’re able to give each student the individualized attention they deserve. We can formatively assess our students and give them timely feedback. Smaller class sizes allow for more inclusive practices and constructivist learning.

We know it, and our families know it too!

This November, Portland Voters will be asked once again to renew the Teacher Levy. The Levy renews the current rate that has funded an average of 825 teaching positions a year in Portland Public Schools. It is crucial for our students and our schools that the Levy passes, and as educators, we are its best spokespeople. Here is some information to help you talk to community members about the Levy.

Levy Facts:

The PAT Nominations & Elections Committee announces that nominations will open on November 13, 2019, at the November PAT Representative Assembly for election to several PAT positions. 

The positions are: PAT President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, PAT Executive Board Directors (5 positions), PAT Delegate to the Oregon Education Association or National Education Association Representative Assemblies.

During the October 22^nd staff meeting, your PAT Rep(s) and a building administrator will be facilitating a conversation about Student Success Act priorities. This conversation will inform the District’s allocation of Student Success Act dollars and hopefully help shape the PPS budget for next year. You will also be given time to take a survey assessing the District’s needs.

Consultation with educators is required as part of the new law, but PAT leadership expressed concerns over the District’s original proposal of doing a single evening forum. We’re very excited that the District has responded to our concerns, and we believe that, together, we’ve come up with a much better plan.

PAT's Racial Equity Task Force invites all Educators of Color to our upcoming Game Night. Please join us for an evening of games, food, drinks, fun, and an opportunity to connect.

Thursday, October 17th, 4:30-6:30 at PAT (345 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97232)

RSVP here if you can come, and select "Racial Equity Task Force" as your committee. Please contact Nichole Watson ([email protected]) with any questions.

We hope you can make it! Please help spread to word to other educators of color.

Our Instruction and Professional Development Committee has decided that one of our main goals this year will be to engage central office administrative leaders in a conversation about educators’ experience with the GVC.  To that end, we need your feedback about your experience with these elements of the GVC:

RSVP here

• Content
• Order of standards
• Interface/formatting
• Responsiveness to educator feedback

The current PAT/PPS contract states, “Student loads will be calculated on the third Monday in October and the third Monday in February.” (Article 8.3.2.1)

This year, the third Monday in October is Monday, October 21^st. 

All professional educators should save a copy of their Synergy class lists, and of their course preparation lists, on Friday, October 18th, and then keep a copy of that record.  PPS will make overage payments in the November check. 

If any professional educator does not receive payment for an overage, claims can be submitted to PPS in December.

Don’t forget, Article 7.10.3 of the PAT/PPS contract states that “Professional educators will be responsible for completing four (4) hours of District mandatory on-line training outside of scheduled staff meeting time.” 

The due date for completion is OCTOBER 24^th! 

All educators will be automatically assigned the 2019-20 courses under “My Current Courses” in Pepper, the District’s Professional Learning Management System. You can access Pepper at pepper.pps.net.

The PAT Sick Leave Bank (see PAT/PPS contract Article 17.2.1.2) provides aid for colleagues who have exhausted their accumulated leave balances but are unable to work due to extended or recurring personal illness. With the help of the Sick Leave Bank, they are able to avoid the additional hardships of lost salary and lost insurance coverage during their illness. 

The Sick Leave Bank is funded completely by voluntary contributions of sick leave days from PAT educators. PAT may solicit voluntary contributions up to 4000 hours each year. Thanks to your generosity, in school year 2018-19 the hours you donated allowed us to help twenty-two colleagues in need.