School districts are canceling school May 8 as teachers across Oregon plan a walkout to advocate for more school funding.
Portland Public Schools, North Clackamas and Gladstone are among the school districts that have made changes to their school calendars.
For Portland students, the school year will be extended by one day at the end of the year. The last day of school is now June 12, except for seniors who finish earlier.
Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) president Suzanne Cohen expects to see more districts cancel school as May 8 gets closer.
“We’re coordinating with lots of other school districts, so we anticipate that many other school districts will be needing to close to ensure safety so that their educators can go participate," Cohen said.
Cohen said there will be a rally on May 8 at the waterfront — and with schools closed, she hopes to see students and their families alongside teachers.
“The district does not support a walkout, but the district absolutely supports our cause,” Cohen said.
A written statement made to PAT by PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero reads: “Our educators and students deserve better. It is long overdue that we prioritize schools in Oregon.”
Instead of a teacher in-service day this Friday, Gladstone will have class. Teachers will make up their day at the end of the year — an extra day for teachers, but not students.
The North Clackamas School Board will decide at a meeting next week whether to extend their school year by a day, to make up for the lost instructional day on May 8.
Gresham-Barlow School District recently announced a calendar change too, swapping out a teacher training day in late April to make up for the day teachers plan to walk out. District officials say they cannot extend the school year because of bond construction work.