Legislative Visit This Morning

I visited with several of our legislators today. Retirement, of course, was the main subject. Susan Kuziak and Kory Holdaway, our main lobbyists, stressed the need to keep the system as is. One part of the Liljenquist bill would also do away with is the 1.5% 401k contribution that we all receive from our employers. I spoke with Sen. Greiner, Rep. Wilcox, Rep. Gibson, Rep. Greenwood and Rep. Froerer.

Remember the Retirement Rally, Feb. 6, @ 11:00 AM at the capitol. We need everyone there to support our current system.

Rick

Retirement Rally-Saturday, Feb. 6, 11:00 AM at the Capitol

We are asking all UEA members to attend the Retirement Rally at the State Capitol, Feb. 6 at 11 AM. Why Rally? Our employee retirement system is under attack. We need to fight back and let the Utah Legislature know how we feel.
The purpose of the rally is to:

• Show unity among public employees.
• Show how many organizations will be affected by reduced retirement benefits.
• Show our knowledge about the importance of investing in educators and public employees.
• Garner support for our retirement benefits and educate the public.

Participating organizations include: UEA, Utah School Employees Association, Utah Public Employees Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

We will be sending out talking points for our members. See you there.

Rick

Retirement Rally Planned-Feb. 6 at the Capitol

Sen. Liljenquist also wants to combine the two state retirements (Public Employees and Public Safety) into one retirement system. The new hires would have the option of a defined contribution (401k) of 8% or a hybrid plan with 1% for each service yer, 35 year minimum retirement and a 3-5% contribution to a 401K.

UEA is planning a Retirement Rally, Feb. 6, Saturday at the State Capitol (11:00 AM). You will receive more information from your local leaders. We need members, nonmembers, classified employees and administrators at this rally to show support for our retirement system.

Rick

Proposed Changes for Rehires

Sen. Liljenquist also wants to make some changes on what our retirees who are rehired receive in compensation. His bill would take away the 401k contribution that our rehirees receive in place of a retirement contribution. (this would affect current employees) For newly rehired retirees hired after July 1, 2010 the employee would earn additional service years, but their pension payments would be suspended.

This is just another case of the legislature overreacting.

Rick

Legislator Proposes Changes to State Retirement

Sen. Liljenquist (Davis County) is filing bills that will make major changes to our state retirement system. This is one example of a change for all new employees hired after July 1, 2011.

• All employee groups would be in one retirement system. Public employees, Public safety, Fire Fighters and judges would be together in one plan.
• Employees would be given the opportunity, upon hire, to choose between two different plans. (hired after July 1,2011). They would choose either Plan A or Plan B.

• Plan A: Defined Contribution Plan (8% retirement contribution into a 401(a) plan that would be administered by the Utah Retirement System)

• Plan B: A Hybrid Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Plan with a 35 year minimum service requirement, 1% per year service credit, 2.5% COLA based on the Consumer Price Index, and based on highest five years of salary. The Hybrid plan would also have a contribution to a 401(a) plan.

UEA opposes any changes to our retirement plan. Our future teachers need us to fight for them.

Go to www.utea.org for more information. Stay tuned to this blog for more ugly bills.

Rick

Rick

Defined Benefit VS. Defined Contribution

Our current Utah Retirement System is a Defined Benefit system in that you are assured of a monthly benefit upon retirement. It is based on an average of your three highest salaries, you receive 2% for each full year of service and it is a lifetime benefit. You have several options at retirement such as a Lump-Sum payout that, of course, would reduce your monthly benefit. You can also choose to lower your monthly benefit to allow for a death benefit for a spouse.

A defined contribution is usually thought of as a 401-K contribution that hopefully earns for you through the investments the URS makes. It is portable, in that, you can roll it over into an IRA or other tax-deferred area. The benefit is not guaranteed as it is in the Defined Benefit system.

We want to preserve our current system without changes.

Stay tuned for more information as we approach the opening of the Leg session Monday, Jan. 25.
Go to the UEA website at www.utea.org for more retirement information.

Rick

10 Minute Meetings on Retirement

We are asking our building reps to hold a 10 minute meeting with their staff to talk about retirement issues. We have talking points that include proposals for the upcoming leg session, the difference between Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution, and the need for all employees to get involved. Ask your building rep to contact us for more information if needed. The session starts Monday, January 25th.

Rick

WEA and OEA Leaders Attend NEA Conference

Leaders from OEA and WEA spent part of their MLK Weekend attending the NEA Western States Region conference in Mesa, AZ. They heard President Van Roekel, VP Lily Eskelsen, and Sec-Treasury Becky Pringle speak about NEA's agenda and mission. They also attended leadership sessions and met with other leaders of UEA in caucus meetings. It was a good opportunity for our local leaders to network with our neighboring states and be trained in communication, membership recruitment and other important aspects of our job.

Attending from OEA were Clay Kirkham and Lisa Vipperman. Attending from WEA were Marlene Irons, Terie Maxfield, Paul Fawson, Cynthia Auble, Cheryl Parkinson, Glen Larsen, and Jo Egelund.

Rick

Eye on Legislation

Jean Hill, UPPAC attorney, writes in her monthly newsletter that the following legislation will be introduced:

• Sen. Howard Stephenson- Wants more computer -adaptive testing
• Rep. Rhonda Menlove- Wants provisional teachers to have five years before they get career status rather than three years.
• Rep. Curtis Oda- Wants a resolution asking public schools to provide age-appropriate information about family and dating violence to students.
• Rep. Wayne Harper- Legislation titled "Educator Training Amendments"???
• Rep. John Dougall- Legislation titled "Local control of Public School schedules"???
• Sen. Pat Jones- Legislation titled "Vending machines in elementary schools"???

Yes, it will be another interesting year. First day of the session, January 25th.

Rick

Ogden Board Policy Changes

Ogden school board is in the process of changing personnel policies regarding "background checks" and "reporting arrests and convictions". The changes come from the state rules that have been added. The state is requiring background checks/fingerprinting every five years and employees will have to report convictions or arrests within 48 hours. We have copies of the policies and when the board passes them they will be on the District website. Let me know if you have specific questions.

Congrats to Allison Pfister (Lakeview), Shari Combe (Roy Jr.) and Karen Roylance (T.H. Bell) for winning a $25 gift card for Applebees. Thanks for reading. Rick

Ogden and Weber School Board Policy Changes

Because of changes in state office of education rules, both Ogden and Weber boards are in the process of changing rules on background checks and reporting of arrests or convictions. In Weber's AR meeting last night we gave the new policies in Weber which include the requirement for all employees to report to the Human Resource office any arrest or conviction within 48 hours. I will continue to update you on changes to both district's policies.

Rick

Our sympathies go out to an OEA member passing...

We are sad to announce the passing of Todd Suzuki, counselor at Washington High, last week. You can send your sympathies to Shannon Keeney at 216 E. 1325 N., Layton, UT 84041. Shannon is a counselor at Odyssey Elementary. You can go to the Standard-Examiner today for the obituary.

Rick

Worst is Over for Utah, U.S. Economy

In today's SL Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/ ,in the MONEY secton C, the headline reads:" Worst Is Over for Utah, U.S". Economists and business leaders used different words, but offered the same message: We have seen the worst and are recoverying slowly. Our public education system is funded with Tax dollars. If Income Tax, Sales Tax, and Property Tax revenues are down, our funding is hurt. Plus, we have 11,000 to 12,000 new students ready to enter our schools in the 2010-2011 year. The legislative session is only 17 days away and the legislators will have to make tough decisions that will be passed on to our districts.

Rick

Weber School Board Meeting

The Weber School Board honored Geoff Anderson, Fremont High music teacher, with the "I Love Teaching" award at their monthly board meeting last evening. Judy Krebs, Beth Paur, and Ami Loder, Third grade team from H. Guy Child, also were awarded the "E+ Team" award for their fine collaboration and teaming.

Project Lead the Way students and instructor demonstrated a Christmas tree carrier that their class had designed to help deliver "Festival of Trees" to the community
Rick

Federal "Race to the Top" Proposals

The state of Utah, along with the other states, is applying for Federal Education Stimulus Money called "Race to the Top". Several Billion dollars is available to states that formulate a plan of reforms which could include differentiated pay (Performance Pay) and changes in the evaluation laws. Many of these reforms have been started by the Utah Legislature and we will surely see more. The possibility of millions of dollars, especially in these tough budget times, is enticing to the districts. It will be important the we monitor these reforms and be a part of the process.

Rick

OEA Winners

Congratulations to Cheryl Zuniga (Horace Mann) and Mary Courney (OHS) for winning $25 gift cards to Chili's. Thanks for reading the blog.

We will draw for WEA's winners Monday.

Hope you have a great New Year.

Rick

Weber State University visits

Today I will present to five groups of WSU education students and student teachers. I will be talking to both elementary and secondary level one students in their opening orientation and also both elementary and secondary student teachers. I am showing the new (see it on www.utea.org) 100 year anniversary video of the UEA's long history of supporting public education in Utah.

Good luck on your resolutions.

Rick