PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

If teachers strike: School information

This guide will continually be updated as new information is available. Go to www.pps.net.
February 6, 2014
The labor union representing PPS teachers has authorized a strike. The
school district continues working with the teachers union to reach an
agreement on their labor contract. If agreement is not reached, the union
will call for teachers not to report to work Thursday, Feb. 20.
Until then, schools continue to operate as usual.
Should a strike occur:
PPS cannot replace the essential role of our teachers. Our goal is to keep schools
open and to continue to support students and families. Our highest priorities
will be to continue to provide a safe and secure environment for our youngest
students and to ensure that students have access to meals at school so that
children are not hungry. Detailed school schedules will be provided.
Bus transportation will continue. Most before- and after-school programs and
child care ofered by community partner organizations would operate, but school-
sponsored activities and athletics would not.
What to expect at school if a strike occurs
Will schools be open during a strike?
If teachers proceed with a strike February 20, PPS will prioritize opening elementary, middle and PK/K-8 schools with high
schools to follow, putting the needs of our youngest students frst and supporting the ability of most families to not have
sudden child care concerns.
Following is our anticipated schedule. Updates will be provided in a timely manner:
Monday, Feb. 17 Presidents Day, no school
Tuesday, Feb. 18 Regular school day
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Scheduled late start is cancelled (with or without strike). Instead, school dismisses 2 hours early,
after-care providers will accommodate early dismissal, except for SUN schools*
Thursday, Feb. 20 Teachers strike begins, schools closed for training of staf.
Friday, Feb. 21 Schools closed for staf training
Monday, Feb. 24 Schools closed for staf training
Tuesday, Feb. 25 Prioritize opening elementary, middle and PK/K-8 schools with high schools to follow
*See page 2 for item about before- and after-school care.
How will schools be stafed during a strike?
We are recruiting replacement teachers, PPS substitute teachers, and substitute education assistants because they have
the most experience supporting and engaging students. Support staf, administrators and central ofce staf will also work
together at the schools to support students.
Why open schools at all?
The job of a school district is to educate students but we are also an institution that provides safety, security and support
for children during the day. We cannot replace the specialized role of our teachers. Our goal is to keep schools open and
provide meaningful activities in order to serve the day-time support needs of students, especially our youngest and most
vulnerable, as well as the ability for families to work. Every day PPS provides students across the city with 11,000 breakfasts
and 21,000 lunches. We want to make sure that students still have access to meals.
Can I keep my child home if I wish to?
Families can choose to keep their student home during a strike.
Updates
2/11: PPS Community Hotline
new launch date, page 4
2/12: Class Size, page 3
2/12: Early Dismissal, 2/19, page 1
2/12: Focus classrooms, page 3
2/14: After-school activities, page 2
2/14: Special Education Focus
Classrooms, page 3
2/14: Make up days, page 2
2/14: School sports, page 2
2/14: SUN School childcare
update, page 1, 2
PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS If teachers strike: School information
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How will bus transportation work?
Our goal is that PPS buses for general and special education students will operate as normal.
What level of security will be ofered at schools?
Security personnel will be present at schools to ensure that students, parents and staf can come and go from the school
safely, while also acknowledging the right of teachers to picket of of school grounds. PPS will tightly control access to the
school. Visitors must check in at the front ofce and may not be permitted elsewhere in the school.
Will before- and after-school child care continue?
PPS is working with community partners (including SUN and all other partners) to continue to provide before- and after-
school care or programs on days when school is open. Some may choose to ofer full-day care on days when school is
closed. Your childcare provider will inform you. PPS will work to share information about a range of childcare options with
families for days when schools are closed. NOTE: SUN Schools will NOT be able to provide care during the 2 hour
early dismissal on Wednesday Feb. 19. You will receive more information from your principal.
Will students still be able to receive meals?
Our goal is that PPS Nutrition Services will continue to provide all meals as usual to students. We will place top priority on
children not going hungry.
What will be ofered in schools during a strike?
PPS is planning a range of educational and social activities focused on the needs and grade levels of students.
What about recess?
Supervised recesses will continue according to the schools modifed schedule and stafng.
Will a strike impact high school students ability to graduate or younger students ability to advance to the next grade?
PPS will work with students as well as with state education ofcials to keep students on track to advance to the next grade
or graduate, rescheduling tests or creating plans for making up work where necessary.
Will missed school days have to be made up in the summer?
PPS will wait to determine plans for makeup days until the number of missed instruction days is known. PPS will work with
the state to determine the proper remedy if a strike goes forward.
What about after-school activities?
All before- and after-school activities are canceled during a strike. This includes clubs, PTA, plays and play practice,
enrichment classes, choir performances. See item about before- and after-school care above.
What about sports?
PPS hopes to continue varsity sports at the high school level. Teams will be informed of schedules. All other sports and after-
school activities will be cancelled in the event of a strike.
Can parents or community members volunteer at the school during a strike?
Each principal will decide how best to use volunteers. Only approved volunteers with already completed background
checks will be permitted to assist in schools.
Specialized services
Special Education Services
Programs & services that WILL operate in the event of a strike:
Focus Classrooms Behavior, Communication/Behavior and Intensive Skills Classrooms
If there is a strike, Focus Classrooms in elementary, middle and PK/K-8 schools will open Monday, Feb. 24 to give students
and staf an opportunity to get settled before the general education students arrive Tuesday, Feb. 25. You will be notifed
if your student is in one of these classes that will open on Monday, Feb. 24. Focus classrooms in the high schools will open
when high schools open. PPS will communicate with high school families about timing.
Pioneer Programs Holladay/Youngson/Annex
Pioneer Programs will continue to operate following the schedule of the other schools. Holladay and Youngson will open
when PK-8 level schools open. Annex will open when high schools open. Students will follow their normal schedules. All
compensatory services will be made up in summer 2014.
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Programs & services that WILL NOT operate in the event of a strike:
Students who normally receive the following services will instead follow the same class schedule as their grade-level
peers. Any services missed beyond 10 school days will be made up in the summer.
Adaptive Physical Education
Home Instruction
Learning Centers
Related Services Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy
Community Transition Program: This community-based program for 18-to 21-year olds will not operate during a strike.
Columbia Regional Program:
Specialists will provide limited services for itinerant students.
Deaf and hard of hearing classrooms: Following the brief, district wide shutdown for training substitute staf, these
classrooms will then be open for students.
All other services will continue. Buses will run on normal routes and schedules. Nursing, safety and behavior support
protocols will continue for students attending school.
Making up services: Any lost service or class time will be made up.
Alternative education programs:
The following Multiple Pathways to Graduation programs will continue to operate:
Charter Schools (Arthur Academy; Emerson K-5; LEP High School; LeMonde Immersion; Opal K-5; Portland Village K-8; SEI
Academy (6-8); Trillium K-12)
Community-Based Alternative Schools (DePaul, Helensview, Mt. Scott, NAYA, New Avenues for Youth, Open Meadow,
Outside In, PCC, Portland Youth Builders, Rosemary Anderson POIC, SE Works, Youth Employment Institute, Youth
Progress Association)
The following Multiple Pathways to Graduation programs will not continue to operate in the event of a strike until
further notice:
Alliance Alternative High School (Meek and Benson campus programs)
Portland Evening Scholars
The Reconnection Center
Teen Parent Services and PPS Child Care Centers
Day and Residential Treatment (DART) Schools will work individually with partner agencies to coordinate treatment and
academic services.
Dual Language Immersion:
All instruction will be ofered only in English during a strike due to stafng limitations.
English as a Second Language Services:
Students will remain in their regular classrooms and would not have ESL instruction. Where possible, PPS will have bilingual
education assistants supporting students in classrooms.
Head Start Pre-School:
Head Start pre-schools will be open for students.
What is the status of the teacher contract negotiations?
The District and the PAT have worked for 10 months to reach a contract agreement but no agreement has been reached. The
district has a mediation proposal on the table and is continuing to work toward a settlement.
What is PPS doing to address class size?
PPS shares teachers concerns about class size and recognizes the signifcant challenges when a teacher has a large number
of students. To address class size, PPS has proposed using 100% of the additional funds allocated from the Legislative
special session to add 88 K-12 teaching positions as part of the contract agreement. In addition, PPS will propose adding
more teachers for next year as part of the public budget process, involving the entire community, for 2014-15. PPS has also
proposed to create a joint PPS/PAT committee on workload relief that teachers with specifc hardship situations can appeal
to for workload relief. This committee will also pursue longer-term approaches for addressing workload concerns. PPS is
PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS If teachers strike: School information
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also working in contract talks to ofer an appropriate pay raise that does not compromise the ability to hire more teachers to
further address workload. The average class size in PPS schools is lower than most Portland metro area school districts.
The school districts mediation proposal includes:
Adding 88 new teaching positions across the district grades K-12.
Adding three school days for high schools and two for K-8 schools.
Steps (approximately 3.5 percent each year) plus 2 percent salary increase each year over 3 years. Plus 1.05 percent (per
diem rate) for 2 additional days. This increases teacher pay by 7 to 17 percent over three years.
No change in the current contract agreement on health benefts. Teachers maintain current share at 7 percent (about
$117 per month) and PPS maintains current share at 93 percent (about $1,397 per month).
Using a clear defnition of competence when making teacher layof and transfer decisions.
A hiring process that allows PPS to ofer and compete for high-quality external teacher candidates in the same time
frame as other districts by reducing the internal transfer process to one step.
Phase out early retirement program. For retirement eligible employees, phase out health insurance payments over the
three years of the contract (District paid premiums for 60, 48 or 36 months depending on early retirement date). For
retirement eligible employees who have 15 consecutive years of district service by June 30, 2014 eligibility for a $425
monthly stipend upon retirement (up to age 62).
Go to www.pps.net and click on the Labor Relations button to learn more.
Stay informed and learn more
Please make sure you have up-to-date contact information on fle with your school ofce. PPS will use Rapid Broadcast
phone calls to communicate key information to families in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali and Russian.
If you have questions:
A PPS Community Hotline will be available starting Thursday, Feb. 13 weekdays in all supported languages from
7:30 am to 6 pm at 503-916-3260. Questions can also be emailed to ppshotline@pps.net.
Community meetings for ESL and multilingual families will be:
Feb. 12, 6:30 to 8:00 pm: Harrison Park School, 2225 SE 87th Ave.
Feb. 13, 6:30 to 8:00 pm: Cesar Chavez School, 5103 N. Willis Blvd.
Families can choose the meeting most convenient for them. Information will be presented in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese,
Russian, Somali, Arabic, Oromo and Hmong.
For updates and more information you can also:
Visit the PPS website (www.pps.net) or the PPS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pps.homepage) or follow us on
Twitter @PPSConnect.
Talk to your school principal.