Portland educators ask district to form progressive-discipline task force; superintendent backs May report
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Summary
Portland Education Association leaders asked the Portland Public Schools board to form a joint labor-management task force to draft a districtwide progressive-discipline protocol. The superintendent said the district will partner with staff and aims to report back at the first board meeting in May.
Members of the Portland Education Association urged the Portland Public Schools board on Feb. 11 to form a joint labor-management task force to draft a districtwide progressive-discipline protocol for students.
The association’s president, Carrie Dowdy, told the board the task force should "be co shared between labor and management with both parties taking on an equal part in the organizing, scheduling, and agenda setting of this group" and asked that the group deliver a draft proposal "by the first school board meeting in May." The PEA’s Jen Cooper added that embedding parent collaboration into the process is critical for student success.
Superintendent (name not specified) told the board the district is already working on related efforts and that a joint task force would complement the district’s strategic-plan work on social-emotional learning and reducing suspensions. He said the district would partner with the PEA and other staff and confirmed the timetable suggested by the association: "our goal is to have a report back to the Board at the first Board meeting in May so that we are in place with training and support for the beginning of the 'twenty five-'twenty six school year."
Board Chair Carol Lentz closed public comment after the PEA speakers and asked that their remarks be emailed to the board for follow-up. The board did not take a formal vote creating the task force during the Feb. 11 meeting; the superintendent’s remarks constituted direction to staff to work with PEA and report back by the May board meeting.
Why it matters: The request and district response set a public schedule for district staff and labor to align on student-discipline expectations and supports ahead of the 2025–26 school year. The work touches suspension practices, supports for students with individualized education programs, and responses to incidents that occur outside regular school hours—topics the PEA asked the task force to consider.
Next steps: The superintendent indicated staff will partner with PEA and other stakeholders to develop the draft and return to the board at the first May meeting. The board did not approve a formal motion at this meeting; no ordinance, policy, or binding resolution was adopted on Feb. 11.
