School District Board Ratifies New Contract With Teachers' Union

From PPS: The Portland Public Schools Board of Education is beginning the ratification process of a new contract with the PPS teachers’ union, after members of the Portland Association of Teachers voted to ratify terms of the three-year agreement.

The District and the PAT reached a temporary agreement in late January after discussions over the past two years.

Here are the highlights:

• Adds one instructional day and one additional professional learning day (192 total);
• Creates more time for teachers to plan their lessons;
• Creates student and caseload goals for all grade levels, with specified options if thresholds are exceeded;
• Retroactive and future pay increases: 3 percent for the 2016-17 school year, 2.75 percent for the current school year, and 2.25 percent for 2018-19; and
• Maintains current benefits.

Both PPS staff and PAT leadership praised the proposed new contract.

“It’s great to have agreement on a new contract, but even more important is a new commitment to working together for solutions that improve our school system and advance student outcomes,” said Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero. “I look forward to this refreshed relationship, where we are able to talk about how to better serve our students, support our teachers, and take PPS to the next level.”

“After more than two years of negotiations, I’m excited that we’ve finally reached agreement with PPS,” said PAT President Suzanne Cohen. “We were able to address the issues that matter most to parents, students, and educators by making compromises, not sacrifices. I believe this contract will serve as a turning point for PAT’s relationship with the District, and really pave the way for building the schools our students deserve together.”

Now that the association has ratified the contract, the PPS Board of Education will consider the contract for ratification. A special meeting of the Board is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8 for a discussion and ratification vote.

PAT represents some 4,000 educators who serve more than 49,000 PPS students and families.

The contract duration is July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2019, with an agreement to meet by October of this year to consider a one-year extension. Pay increases are retroactive for the first two years and have been built into the current budget.

Image via Shutterstock