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 ...