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Portland school board approves furlough MOUs and shortens 2025–26 school year
Summary
The Portland Public Schools board unanimously approved memoranda of understanding with four unions that create four furlough days, and adopted a revised 2025–26 calendar that shifts the last day to June 5 and converts two early-release days into full instructional days.
The Portland Public Schools Board of Education on March 31 approved memoranda of understanding with four labor partners to implement four furlough days as part of a package of measures to close the district's midyear budget shortfall.
Superintendent Armstrong told the board the agreements were a "last resort" and reflected "a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility during a very difficult moment for the district." Armstrong summarized the calendar changes tied to the labor agreements: May 1 will be a no-school day, April 22 and May 13 will be converted to full school days, and June 5 will become the last student day of the 2025–26 year.
The board voted 6–0 on the memorandum of understanding with the Portland Association of Teachers (Resolution 7285), and then approved identical agreements with the Service Employees International Union (Resolution 7287), the Portland Federation of School Professionals (Resolution 7288) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (Resolution 7289). The revised school calendar (Resolution 7286) also passed 6–0.
Superintendent Armstrong acknowledged the seriousness of shortening the school year in midyear and thanked educators and labor leaders: "This is the worst case scenario," she said, adding that the district had worked with unions to reduce the impact on students and staff. District human-resources leaders who joined Armstrong at the podium thanked union partners for reaching agreements staff called painful but necessary.
A public commenter, Nick Cowlett, a district administrator and parent, urged the board to consider the equity of the furlough distribution, saying the "current approach to furlough days is inequitable" and that those who lose jobs bear a disproportionate burden. Cowlett urged the district to consider exemption or reimbursement options for employees being laid off; board members acknowledged the equity concern and said staff would continue to explore mitigations.
Board members framed the votes as measures to avoid larger personnel reductions. In an Oct. 2025 budget update preceding these votes, staff had identified a midyear gap and proposed a mix of one-time and recurring changes; the MOUs and calendar adjustments were presented as part of that mix.
The resolutions passed by recorded voice votes with the student representative indicating an unofficial yes. Board members and staff said they will continue to work with unions and community partners to reduce harm to students and families and to pursue longer-term revenue and structural budget solutions.
The next procedural step is implementation of the calendar changes for schools and notification to families; staff said they will continue to seek ways to preserve end-of-year activities and coordinate supports for affected students and staff.
