Oregon Public Broadcasting

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"Embracing dynamic reform" is a pie in the sky notion when you’re fighting tooth and nail to privately raise enough money to fund a librarian.  PPS is faced with daunting budget shortfalls that puts many schools and children at risk.  They could mitigate that shortfall by nearly 8.5 million by creating equity within its health care benefits.  All PPS employees other than PAT union members are covered with a generous plan that costs the district $9,815 per employee.  PAT members, through contract negotiations, receive their health care from a private trust that cost $13,303 per person.  By standing for equity and providing PAT members (some 2,450) with the same plan as their colleagues, the district could save 8.5 million; saving jobs and schools from projected cuts.  Maybe then we could think about reform.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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