I wanted to share this link I received from a Portland Public School parent about the looming budget cuts. At this point, those cuts include the "Principal on Special Assignment - TAG," which is I believe Pat Thompson's position. PPS is challenged to provide appropriate services as it is. If that position is cut, who will assume those duties and how will we make our voices heard?
Here's the story: Portland Public Schools to lay off 23 central administration employees, cut 15 other jobshttp://mobile.oregonlive.com/advorg/pm_32330/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=wSowEZc9

I'm having conversations with approximately 8 PPS TAG parents about how to respond to this news. We're in the process of identifying how we'll work together to advocate for our PPS TAG students. Who will join us? Please reply to me at adept_diva@hotmail.com if you're interested in joining the conversation.

PPS TAG Parent Advisory Council meets on Tues. 3/20 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice School

The PPS TAG Parent Advisory Council meets on Tues. 3/20 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice School (6433 NE Tillamook / Portland, Oregon 97213). We are focusing a lot of energy discussing how to get the PAC up and running and how we would impact district policy. At this time, the PAC is seeking several new members - ethnically, geographically, and socio-economically diverse. The group is especially interested in outreach to Title 1 schools in the district with a focus on outreach to North and NE Portland and outer Southeast schools. The next meetings are scheduled for April 17, and May 15. Please feel free to contact me or to refer potential new members to Pat Thompson at Portland Public Schools at 503-916-3358.

PPS TAG Parent Advisory Council meets on Tues. 3/20 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice School

The PPS TAG Parent Advisory Council meets on Tues. 3/20 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice School (6433 NE Tillamook / Portland, Oregon 97213). We are focusing a lot of energy discussing how to get the PAC up and running and how we would impact district policy. At this time, the PAC is seeking several new members - ethnically, geographically, and socio-economically diverse. The group is especially interested in outreach to Title 1 schools in the district with a focus on outreach to North and NE Portland and outer Southeast schools. The next meetings are scheduled for April 17, and May 15. Please feel free to contact me or to refer potential new members to Pat Thompson at Portland Public Schools at 503-916-3358.

Portland Public Schools - Parent Advisory Council (2/22/12 Meeting Recap)

The TAG Parent Advisory Council for Portland Public Schools met for the first time in several months last week. The meeting was staffed by Pat Thompson, the District's TAG administrator, and Roxanne Coleman TAG Coordinator. I was joined by two parents - one from Robert Gray and another from Buckman. We exchanged information about how our children and schools were involved with the program. I described the work we'd been doing at Llewellyn and my role as a member of the OATAG Board of Directors. I'm very interested in outreach to create more interest in advocating for TAG at the district levels and potential to advocate for the TAG budget and other resources. We spent a lot of energy discussing how to get the PAC up and running and how we would impact district policy. At this time, the PAC is seeking several new members - ethnically, geographically, and socio-economically diverse. The group is especially interested in outreach to Title 1 schools in the district with a focus on outreach to North and NE Portland and outer Southeast schools. The next meetings are scheduled for March 20, April 17, and May 15. Please refer potential new members to Pat Thompson at Portland Public Schools at 503-916-3358.