PORTLAND, Oregon — The Portland Public Schools teacher strike continued Friday, and for the first time in days, Portland Public Schools and its teachers union met for negotiations.
Gov. Tina Kotek and other state lawmakers have called on school board members to be present at negotiations, but on Friday, school board members told KGW that none were in attendance.
“Well, enough is enough,” said Ayn Reyes-Frazee, a teacher librarian at Franklin High School.
Teachers continue to ask for higher wages, smaller class sizes and more prep time for teachers, along with other demands.
To accommodate everything teachers are asking for, Portland Public Schools said it would cost more than $200 million.
Recently, district officials called on the state to provide more funding for the school district. Politicians told KGW it’s unlikely more funding will be granted to PPS.
“I’m puzzled by the fact that they can’t support teachers,” Oregon State Senator Elizabeth Steiner said.
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Steiner and other lawmakers recently sent a letter to Portland Public School board members, stating that they gave the district everything Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero asked for in the most recent legislative cycle.
“We have never seen investments like this in K-12 education,” Steiner said.
She cited more than $10 billion in educational funds statewide, as well as money for young students and high schoolers.
Instead of asking for more money, lawmakers told PPS school board members that the district should cut administrative expenses and refocus resources on classrooms and students. They also continued to call on board members to joining negotiations.
In a statement, PPS told KGW, “The PPS Board has given clear direction to our bargaining team and is united in our push for a contract that rewards our educators while also being fiscally responsible. We believe our current offer achieves these goals and we look forward to our team’s discussions with PAT.”
Though teachers are in agreement with lawmakers: More funding should be directed to their classrooms.
“Our students aren’t getting the one-on-one attention that they need,” Reyes-Frazee said.
“I have mostly classes over 30,” said Nate Watson, a chemistry teacher at Lincoln High School. “In the chemistry lab, it’s really hard to manage.”
The two sides are expected to continue bargaining into the weekend if a deal is not reached on Friday.