# 2026-09-15 Board of Education's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

The Portland Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee met on September 15, 2026, to discuss key issues related to the public employee retirement system (PERS) and legislative priorities for the upcoming session. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the financial impact of PERS on school district budgets, highlighting that approximately two-thirds of PERS contributions are allocated to retirees rather than active employees. Committee members discussed the challenges this poses for school funding and considered potential legislative approaches, including the use of the education stability fund to mitigate rising PERS costs. The committee also reviewed draft legislative principles aimed at securing adequate funding for student needs, supporting students with disabilities, and improving teacher training programs, particularly in science-based reading. The group agreed to recommend these principles to the full board for approval. Additionally, the committee planned an advocacy training session to prepare board members for legislative outreach. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were made during this meeting, but the discussions on budget allocations and funding strategies have implications for future resource planning and legislative advocacy.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Policy
**Published:** September 15, 2026

### Sources
- [2026-09-15 Board of Education's Intergovernmental Affairs Committee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfANSrxqAMI) - PPS Board of Education