Portland Public School (PPS) custodians are facing a request to return overpaid wages earned during the January ice storm. The district’s error in overpaying custodians has caused financial hardship for many, who are now struggling to adjust their budgets. The overpayment issue stems from the lack of a contract at the time of the storm, resulting in confusion over pay calculations. Despite requests for clarification, custodians were not provided with transparent information. As a result, some custodians are expressing concern about future participation in severe weather events if the issue remains unresolved.