The top issues include compensation, student discipline, class size caps, and using school resources to provide housing for students of homeless families.

In keeping with the current inflation rate, Portland Public Schools is offering a cumulative 10.3% cost-of-living increase over the next three years: 4% in the first year, then 3% in the second year, and then 3% in the third year. The district has also offered to raise the salary for starting educators by 3.4%. These increases would make our starting educators the highest paid teachers in the metro area's six largest districts.

PAT wants a 23% cost-of-living increase over the next three years: 8.5% in the first year of the contract, then 7% in the second year, and then 6% in the third year.

The district initially offered 2.5% for each year of the contract, then raised our offer to 3% for each year of the contract, and has now offered 4%/3%/3%. PAT has not changed their offer.

The district has also offered a $3,000 stipend per year for special education educators, including school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and qualified mental health professionals funded by special education.

PAT seeks mandatory 5-day suspensions for specific student behavior.

Portland Public Schools believes more discretion is required to match consequences to student misbehavior. That belief comes from years and years of student discipline records that show Black and Brown students are far more likely to be referred, suspended, and sent to disciplinary hearings, as are special education students.

Both sides agree optimal class sizes benefit student learning.

PAT is calling for a hard cap on the number of students that can be in a class. Once a hard cap is reached, a student would not be able to join a class. This could force the district to hire an additional educator, assuming that was possible. If there were no other classrooms, it would mean a student would need to attend another school away from the child’s neighborhood. For older students, it could mean missing an elective that might inspire a new passion – or missing a graduation requirement.

It is serious, as evidenced by comments made by PAT in bargaining sessions and in their President's communications with members. We know a strike would harm our students, and we do not want any outcome that closes schools. We are committed to good-faith bargaining and a student-centered, sustainable contract that honors our teachers and their critical work.

If teachers strike, Portland Public Schools would have no choice but to close schools. That would mean no in-person class or online instruction. This could disrupt critical work to close pandemic-related learning losses, and put significant pressure on families – especially those with elementary-age children. Limited essential supports will be available. We will share those plans with you as soon as possible, and if necessary.

The most serious impact would be the disruption to our critical work to close pandemic-related learning losses. It would also put significant pressure on families – especially those with elementary-age children. The strike would affect other district employees, many of whom have children in our schools.

Programming and services could also be impacted, such as:

• Athletics
• Child care services in district schools
• Performing arts rehearsal
• Extracurricular clubs
• College application support