Portland teachers strike: Portland-area House Democrats tell PPS and PAT to put extra funding toward reducing class sizes
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| House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland) and seven other Democratic representatives from the Portland area sent PPS and its teachers union a letter about ongoing contract negotiations before the two sides headed into a Sunday mediation session. (The Oregonian/2012) |
Eight state representatives, including House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland), wrote Portland Public Schools and its teachers union, suggesting the district use extra dollars from the state to reduce class sizes, which has been a key union priority during contract negotiations.
Negotiators from Oregon's largest district and its teachers union are currently in a critical mediation session after teachers overwhelmingly authorized a Feb. 20 walkout.
Few updates have come from either camp after they started early this afternoon, but both sides are preparing to go late into the night if progress continues.
In a letter sent Saturday, the state representatives, most of which represent Portland districts, said they remained hopeful the two sides could come to an agreement on a new contract.
"We know teachers bring energy, expertise, and