PPS says its all about school safety ... Just don't mention the earthquake, because there's almost no money for seismic upgrades in this bond!

From the Oregon Economics blog:

Now is a good time to raise, once again, the question of why we are being asked to pay $548 million for school facilities improvements that does almost nothing to address the very desperate need for seismic improvements in Portland Public Schools?

Maybe that's in the next $548 million phase.

Portland Tribune reader letters: Bond is bad news for Portland

A sampling of letters from the Portland Tribune.

John R. Lee sums up the thoughts of many Portlanders:

Of course [builders] will back the school bond measure(s). I would too if I could invest $10,000 to $25,000 for a chance at a multi-million dollar contract.

What is that, something like a 100 to 1,000 percent gain?

I’m sure they could care less about the schools being upgraded, but they sure care about their own pockets. What about the large increase in my property taxes of approximately $450 before any other bond measures that get passed either in May or November?

Oh, by the way, you renters out there who don’t believe that you pay property taxes – guess again. Your landlord pays taxes and you in turn pay them in your rent. How about a $35 to $50 bump in your monthly rent as soon as the measure(s) pass, which will include a portion of their property tax plus a little extra just to make sure they don’t miss out on their profit?

Ann Friday writes:

In the mid-1990s Portland schools were retrofitted to make them earthquake-resistant at great taxpayer cost. This was supposed to extend the life of these school buildings far beyond a mere 15 years. Now, we are supposed to agree to scrap all of that tax money spent retrofitting the schools and start over on them from the ground up? Crazy, greedy and unnecessary.

Ryan Arditi asks:

A question to ask is: What happens if these measures pass and the tax increase puts people in such debt-ridden holes that they are unable to pay the money on their property taxes?

PPS hastily approves teacher contract giving raises to thousands of teachers and firing hundreds of teachers

As reported in the Oregonian, the despite criticism from parents and one school board member's adamant opposition, the Portland school board approved a new teacher contract that will bring the district's 3,200 teachers slight pay raises and result in hundreds of pink slips.

The agreement between the union and the board was reached a light speed and behind closed doors. The Oregonian explains the reason for the super quick hush-hush agreement:

The quick approval of the contract, reached less than a week ago and prepared entirely out of public view clears the school board's agenda to work on securing voter approval of a record tax increase on the May ballot.

Hang on to your wallet: PPS and teachers union set to ink contract ... with ZERO public input!

The Oregonian reports that PPS administration and teachers union leaders have agreed to terms for a new two-year teachers contract. Some highlights:

• The deal will be signed, sealed, and delivered early next week. That was when the two sides' full negotiating teams were slated to meet to present their initial, yes initial, proposals for contract terms.

• The entire deal has been worked out behind closed doors, without involving the full negotiating team from either side or a single public discussion of potential contract terms.

• All terms of the contract are a closely held secret. According to communications director Robb Cowie, the district doesn't plan to reveal them until after the start of the school board meeting next week.

Looks like sometime next week Portland's teachers union will issue a statement fully supporting the largest property tax increase in state history.

The shot heard 'round Portland: Seattle superintendent fired for wasting taxpayer dollars

The Seattle school board voted unanimously to fire Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson over a $1.8 million financial scandal involving a district business development program. Board vice president Michael DeBell remarked:

What has occurred -- the financial scandal, the cronyism, the obvious lack of transparency -- is an insult to the taxpayers of Seattle. You pay your property taxes, you obey the rules. Others should do the same.

Last week, the state Auditor's Office released a report saying Seattle Public Schools' small business development program had spent about $1.5 million for services with a "questionable public purpose" and $280,000 for services that were never provided.

Sounds a lot like PPS ...

PSU students getting college credit for working to raise property taxes

The Portland State University Daily Vanguard reports that PSU students can get college credit for working to raise our property taxes.

With a $548 million bond measure on the line, the Portlanders for Schools campaign has recently reached out to students at Portland State to recruit advocates.

...

According to Student Leadership and Outreach Programs Adviser Amanda Newberg, Portlanders for Schools contacted her with an interest in disseminating information about the campaign to student groups.

"Not only is this an amazing opportunity to get hands-on political organizing experience, but interns can simultaneously receive political science credit as well," Newberg said.

PPS Board chooses bikes over books: Offers $5 million for Sam Adams' bike lanes, but can't find money for science books

The Oregonian reports that this week, the Portland Public Schools board agreed on textbook series that should be used in every school to teach science in grades six through eight.

At the same meeting, the board voted to hand over $5 million of bond money to fund one of Mayor Sam Adams favorite transportation projects.

It's not just about modernizing schools anymore: School bond money slated to support Sam Adams' pet projects

Willamette Week reports that this week, the Portland School Board and the Portland City Council are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding that commits $5 million of the district's proposed $548 million construction bond to transportation improvements around several schools should Portland voters approve the school district's new tax levy in May.

In addition to handing money over to the City of Portland, the agreement (pdf) would require the school district to use resources and class time to promote Mayor Sam Adams' pet project called Safe Routes to Schools. (The programs spends part of its multi-million dollar budget sponsoring a Safe Route to Schools haiku contest and a t-shirt design contest.)

The agreement between the City and PPS would require that the school district:

Pursue  the development and adoption of District policy promoting walking and biking to school.

The City Council meeting is Wednesday, March 2, 9:30 am at Portland City Hall.