The Portland Teachers Strike Ended, but What's Next?

Portland Public Schools’ teacher strike ended last week. But its impact is still being felt.

In the short term, there’s been some grumbling — from teachers, parents, and students — about losing half of winter break to make up for missed days. (The district is proceeding with the plan.)

In the longer term, there’s a lingering question: Does the state need to overhaul funding for schools?

Here are some updates:

Why Record School Funding Wasn’t Enough

There’s an apparent contradiction between record school funding passed by the Legislature this year and the shortfalls that Portland Public Schools complained about during the teachers strike. This excellent explainer makes Oregon’s complex school funding situation if not simple, then understandable. One problem for districts is the end of federal pandemic funding. But also, there’s been an ongoing conflict in the way the state and school boards calculate what money is needed. Notably, in Oregon, two-thirds of school districts’ funding comes from the state. [OPB]

Gov. Kotek Calls for Changes

Under pressure during the strike to get kids back to school, Gov. Tina Kotek says she’ll take a look at how the state budgets money for education, so there aren’t as many problems in the future. Among the changes she already says she supports: Lifting the cap on what extra local tax monies can be collected for schools in expensive areas of the state. (That was an issue when the Portland Association of Teachers mistakenly suggested early last month there was $21 million available this year and next.) Kotek also wants to consider overhauling the state budget process and setting minimum teacher salaries statewide. The Legislature ultimately is in charge of passing a state budget. [Oregonian 🔒]

City Hall Funding for School Buildings

While building conditions weren't the major focus of negotiations, Portland Public Schools is still struggling with aging buildings. As part of the effort to resolve the strike, City Hall pledged $20 million from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund to fix extreme heat and cold in some classrooms. [Willamette Week]