A reminder: all school team/committee leader positions are VOLUNTARY AND PAID. You should be paid your hourly rate for the loss of planning time or for extended hours. This is under Article 16.2 in our CBA.

PPS has moved away from the Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA) model by unassigning over 50 educators. With the elimination of TOSA positions, a lot of work that would have been supported by these experienced educators is now being put on to the plates of educators in the buildings.

One such way is the Instructional Leadership Teams: PPS Management is asking Principals to recruit volunteers to lead the Instructional Leadership Team and adding more responsibilities to those roles. These responsibilities include a 2 day training in August before the work year begins and 8 hours per month of additional responsibilities.

When this was presented to PAT at the Instructional Practices Council, we asked, “Many educators are overwhelmed by their workload. What if no one volunteers in a building?” One district leader responded, “Let’s not catastrophize”. :Deep breath to not lose it: We explained that this is not catastrophizing, this is our REALITY. Their response: “Well, the Principals are instructional leaders and will figure it out”.

This is not a plan. This is a guarantee that educators will continue to carry more on their backs. If you do not feel you have the capacity, skills, or want to take an extra responsibility, THAT IS OK. You can say no. In fact, several educators have already let us know that as a school team they have refused to accept this increase in workload. It is up to you. Just remember, we need PPS to understand: We can't squeeze blood from a stone. Educators are at the limit, and we refuse to run ourselves ragged to uphold a raggedy system.