Rally and Testimony to Support Equity in Education in PPS
Come and show your support for all learners in Portland Public Schools. The recommended budget cuts to special education and ESL services are disproportionate and will impact all students in PPS negatively.
More details to be announced soon. We need students, peers, siblings, teachers, staff, community members, organizations, alumni, parents, grandparents, foster parents, and extended family to testify or write something in support.
Monday, August 23rd
4:30 PM
PPS Central Office
501 N. Dixon
14 comments
This is great. However sped needs to ask why we are being funded 5 percent more from general ed. and still have so many cuts??????? Why is sped so over budget that 5 percent more general fund is not helping save programs and staff??? Why are kids going out of district again at a greater cost? why do we have so many home instructors for the first time in 10 years? why is sped paying for a genral ed program at columbia? There are lots of questions that need to be answered. It should be great to see so many families speak up for our kids. since staff in sped are afraid to speak up, our families are more important than ever.
Join the rally page on facebook and share with others. You can read the letter signed by 59 family members, students, and citizens on the rally page. http://tinyurl.com/2ao42rl
It is too bad that school administrators and board members are unwilling to discuss questions such as moonlighting’s. There really needs to be a forum where questions such as these can be expressed AND receive responses. It has just become rediculous that the administration and board are so isolated. Of course, certain political people get good access. Way of the world, I guess.
They changed the meeting time for the board meeting. I informed PR on August 9th that we would be having a rally prior to the board meeting. I guess the rally will start at 4:30pm now with testimony at about 6:15. How much do the PR people make again?
Stephanie have you gotten the word out for the change. When they hear about big numbers they often make these changes. You try to play nice and they do what is best for themselves, best and easier.
I have been personally contacting confirmed speakers and will work on the mass contact as best I can tomorrow and over the weekend. I have been so angry all day I feel numb.
Stephanie a couple of years ago, Pioneer staff were going to talk and rally at school board meeting and to play nice they contacted them and let them know ahead of time and they changed the time to meet in the afternoon so staff could not come or make different arrangements. Nice huh???
Pioneer for what it’s worth I have a pretty fired up team and the plan is to stay on it even after this rally; especially if the cuts to teachers and paraeducators are made. I have heard that the budget is overspent and I will be sure to post here when the community meeting about the special education budget is planned. We asked Joanne for transparency on the budget and word is that something is being planned and I will let the people setting that up know that an evening meeting is a non-negotiable. There are Pioneer parents on the rally team. I definitely do not forget about you all in my advocacy because I know just how hard you work.
Stephanie I heard the rally went really well. How come the newspapers didnt cover it? Usually when lots of parents come to a meeting it is covered? Have you spoken to anyone ? I know it is not as important as Lincloln HS getting its football coach but you would think there was something important about parents taking time out of busy schedules to attend and speak at a meeing???
I was surprised too actually because we did send press releases far and wide and again after the time change. KOIN interviewed parents before the meeting but did not come inside. They missed out because we really made an impact on most of the board and Supt. Smith. Pam Knowles is emerging as a possible ally and has had some productive correspondence with members of the septap board. We brought our own videographer so we will get copies of the testimony out with links. I will get the info to Carrie this evening but for now save the date for August 31st at the United Way building downtown for a budget presentation from PPS about the special education budget. We started a wordpress blog that has the testimony listed at http://rallyforspecialeducation.wordpress.com
Stephanie,
while you are at the meeting. Would you ask Joanne why she gutted the transition program. She cut students from 27 hours attendance to 15. Initially this was under the guise of saving money, but the reality is they cut no staff. teachers are now required to make a case as to why a student needs to attend more than 15 hrs.
Bob – if there is a parent or student that you can connect me with will you have them email me at stephanie.c.hunter@gmail.com
Is that even lawful to do that? I will check in with some folks around the law piece. I will ask though and would just like as much information as I can get before I ask. If anyone wants to email me questions to bring up at the meeting please do. For what it’s worth I would never tell on anyone and would also not bring up information if it is easy to direct back to an informant but you have to let me know that beforehand.
I just have to remain objective and the best way to do that is to get someone that wants to tell their story or actual documents in hand. I will check on the transition piece though because that would make me so sad if they COULD cut hours to 15. What are some of the rationale they are accepting for an increase? Look no further than the mission statement that claims the goal is to prepare students to make productive life decisions.
They should not be able to cut like that. The IEP drives the placement and the IEP is based on students needs. Ask for data. They cant change an IEP without data saying the student is doing so well they can put less time. The data has to be on current IEP goals. Hint: they rarely keep data. Don’t let them cut accross the board.
Who is assessing the student’s needs typically? What kind of data am I asking for that would not be confidential? That is where connecting me with a parent/guardian of a transition student works best because they can sign a release and then I can ask for person specific data and freely communicate with staff and teachers. If the person is over 18 and their parent has not become their guardian then the student can sign a release for me to ask for data and advocate as well.
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