Good morning Duniway,
Thank you to everyone who turned out at the Principal's Coffee today to meet with City Councilor Mitch Green and State Representative Mark Gamba. It was an engaging conversation with our lawmakers. For those who were and were not able to join, we have some quick actionable items for you that make a real difference. We heard it loud and clear from our lawmakers, constituent voices move the needle!
PPS families are being asked to accept closures and cuts caused by years of state underfunding. PPS has cut $171.8 million in services since 2023-24 and is already projecting another $65.2 million deficit for 2027-28. Our city councilors and state legislators told us directly to do the following. Pick one, two, or all.
1. Email ALL city councilors
Email all three of your councilors (and CC the other six) with two asks:
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Put K-12 education funding on the City’s 2027 state legislative agenda.
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Ask the PPS School Board to pause school closures so Portland can unite and go to Salem together.
District 1: Councilor.Avalos@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Dunphy@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Smith@portlandoregon.gov
District 2: Councilor.Pirtle-Guiney@portland.gov, Councilor.Kanal@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Ryan@portlandoregon.gov
District 3: Councilor.Koyamalane@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Morillo@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Novick@portlandoregon.gov
District 4: (Likely your district) Councilor.Clark@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Green@portlandoregon.gov, Councilor.Zimmerman@portlandoregon.gov
2. Email legislative leadership (5 min)
Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner decide what moves in Salem. Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov, Sen.RobWagner@oregonlegislature.gov
Ask: make stable, adequate school funding a top priority for the 2027 session.
3. Write Governor Kotek
Ask her to fully fund schools in her December budget. Mail your postcard (if you picked one up today) to the Governor’s OfficeL
900 Court St. NE Suite 254
Salem, OR 97301.
Sample script (email or call):
“Hi, my name is ___, I live in [neighborhood] and my child attends Duniway Elementary. I’m asking you to [put education funding on the City’s legislative agenda / make school funding a top priority in 2027]. I also ask that you encourage the PPS board to pause closures so our community can unite and go to Salem together. Our schools have been cut for years, and our kids can’t wait. Thank you. Add one sentence about your own kid.
In solidarity for our children and our public schools,
Your Duniway Advocacy Committee