As I sit here at my desk, reviewing the information that is trickling into me from HR regarding layoffs, I find myself consumed by both overwhelming sorrow and anger.  In all of my time with Portland Public Schools, this is, by far, the saddest period I can recall.

There’s no way to cushion the distress and anxiety that many of you will be facing in the weeks ahead, and for that, I extend my sincerest sympathy.  PFTCE Classified employees have been hit hard by the budget cuts, and it appears that over 120 classifieds may be laid off in mid-August, or, at best, be moved to another worksite.  You may have already received word of your pending layoff or unassignment, or have heard rumors, and a few of you may not have been told anything, yet.  The Special Ed paraeducators have been dealt the toughest blow, as we are losing at least 60 of those working in classrooms with special needs students.  But layoffs will affect all departments, and employees from every seniority level.  Principals will be reviewing staffing in the upcoming days, and making decisions regarding where and how to make the additional cuts necessary to remain within the FTE allotments assigned to their schools.

I realize that many of you felt that signing the “Letter of Projected Assignment” assured your position in the fall.  In reality, this letter simply serves as a notice of intent, and provides no guarantees.  This most recent round of cuts negated dozens of “projected assignments”, not just for classified staff, but for teachers and others, as well.  I also have heard from a number of paraeducators, and others that were first unassigned in the spring, that are upset because the placement requests they made in May seem to have been overlooked, or ignored.  I assure you, they were not—at first.  When the initial round of unassignments were made, because of the SPED “continuum” moves, and other changes, these requests were very much a part of the placement process.  Sadly, once the state’s dismal budget forecast was announced, and the PPS School Board chose to make cuts to staffing to balance the budget, those requests were tossed into the winds of “get it done–now!”

Unfortunately, I was not included in the most recent re-assignment meetings, and some placements were made that will affect classrooms and paras negatively.  I will be meeting with HR next week in an attempt to resolve some of these issues.  Please keep in mind, however, that because we will have 60 fewer para positions available this fall, there will be very little movement made to these assignments, and those changes will be made based on the urgency of the situation.  To those of you that have been assigned to a non-preferential location or classroom, I beseech you to take a step back and assess the “bigger picture”.  My hope is that you can accept your placement with the grace and goodwill that makes the PFTCE Classified Employee unique in this district.

It is with the greatest concern that I address the PFTCE employees who will be laid off.  In some cases, particularly for paraeducators, there may be some positions opening up as we near the beginning of school, and current employees resign.  If there are new openings in ANY classification from which there have been layoffs, for a period up to fifteen months, those laid off will be returned to work in the inverse order of layoff.  For unemployment information, please contact http://www.employment.oregon.gov/ .  The Oregon unemployment division can guide you through the process of applying for unemployment benefits.

Our offices will be open most days this summer, although I am hoping to take a few days off in early August, and Allison may be gone, as well.  I will continue to check emails and phone messages when I am not here.

Please know that you are all in my thoughts a we approach the difficult times that lay ahead.

~B.