OEA Tentative Agreement-Ratification Mtg. August 12 3:30 OW UniServ Office

Our webmaster is having some problems getting my summary up, so I will try and explain a bit more each day here on the blog.

The district paid 1.188 Million dollars into keeping the insurance premium increases down. Last year employees paid 12% of the premium. This year we will pay 14%. That number (without the 1.188 million) could have approached 30%. Jordan teachers, for example, pay almost 50% of the premium. The new monthly premium amounts for medical are: Alitus Peak: Employee-47.55 Employee + 1 dependent -107.46 and Family 154.54. We were able to keep the benefit package without any big changes.

Steps on the salary schedule will be frozen this year. The district has promised to pay those steps retroactively if funding for next year (after the 2010 legislature) reaches the amount we received in 2007-8 (before the reductions of 3 million dollars). Our team fought hard for the steps and we will continue to fight to see that those are paid in the future.

The one time payment in December is based on 75% of the cost of the steps for this year (approx. 418,000 dollars plus ss and retirment costs) That payment will paid out equally
to all teachers in December. The amount should be over 400.00, but we won't know until the Nov. 15 count of teachers.

We hope to get the summary up on the web soon. thanks Rick

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH DISTRICT

Monday afternoon the OEA Negotiations Team reached tentative agreement with the district. We will present the details to members next Wednesday, August 12, at 3:30 PM at the UniServ office (939 25th St.,Ogden). Here is a summary of the tentative agreement. (A MORE DETAILED ONE SHOULD APPEAR ON OUR WEBSITE http://www.ogdenweber.org/ BY THURSDAY.

1. Payment in lieu of steps at 75% of step costs for 2009-10 paid equally to all licensed employees according to their FTE (Full Time Equivalent). Applies to licensed employees under contract as of November 15, 2009. Paid in a single payment before Christmas.
2. 2009-2010 steps will be paid in 2010 if state funding for 2010-2011 returns to 2007-2008 level. 2010-2011 steps will be subject to negotiations at that time.
3. Payment of all lanes. (educational lanes)
4. Six professional development days (ARRA) paid at 75% of the daily rate.
5. District pays 86% of premium for health insurance.
6. Changes were made in the following sections of the Negotiated Agreement:3-22, 2-10, 2-16, 2-20, 2-35, 3-30, 3-41, 4-10, 4-15 (new), 4-20 renumbered from 4-15, 4-25 renumbered from 4-20, 4-45, 4-60, 4-70,71,72, 4-83, 4-91, 8-30, 8-51, 9-10, Renewed memos 1-4, changes to memo 5 and added a memo 6 (ARRA days) and a memo 7 on correction action.

If you have any questions email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks for your patience and we will see you Wednesday.

OEA Negotiations to meet today

OEA's negotiations team will meet with the district today. We have not met since our two days of mediation took place two weeks ago. The school board met last Tuesday and we hope to have some news today. With school starting soon, we know that your patience is wearing thin. Principals are in meetings today and Instructional Coaches will be meeting in training sessions this week and next. August 17,18,19, and 20 are professional development days (ARRA) with the mornings for instruction and the afternoons for implementation. These days are optional and we are still talking to the district about how they will be paid. August 21 is your first contract (not optional) day and then students attend August 24. Whenever we reach a tentative agreement we will ask for a membership meeting to explain the details and vote on ratification of the contract.

Doug Stephens is the new OEA President and Lisa Vipperman is the new Vice President. We again want to give a big thanks to Mary Courney for her many years of service to OEA.

Rick

OEA Negotiations to resume Monday, August 3

OEA's Negotiation Team will meet with the District Monday, August 3, to continue negotiations. We hope to arrive at an agreement that is best for our members.

Ogden School District's budget reflects a $3 Million dollar loss in state funding because of the legislative cuts due to the recession. Our state funding comes mainly from State Income Tax Revenue. The revenue (due to job losses) is significantly less this year. The largest cut in state funding was the Quality Teaching Block Grant of about $1.7 million. Another large cut was in the social security and retirement line item of about $1.2 million. Our district is seeing a slight growth of students and even though several secondary teachers were tranferred or non renewed, the number of FTE's (Full Time Equivalents) will increase in the district with most of those added to the elementary schools. The growth we are seeing is mostly at the elementary level.

Our OEA negotiations team has taken all of this information and looked at the budget during this process. We look forward to the district coming back to the table with an acceptable proposal.

Thanks Rick

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Most of us recognize the term "stimulus package" as the federal money used to help the state backfill the loss in tax revenues because of the recession. The money comes from federal legislation called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The state legislature was able to mitigate the double digit revenue deficits in the budget with millions of federal dollars. The budget cuts went from double digit to around 5% for this fiscal year. Ogden School District is using some of the funds (about $1.2 million) to help move us out of District corrective action with the state and federal government. Ogden teachers will return back to school August 17-20 for professional development and implementation of our district and school plans of improvement. The mornings will be professional development under the direction of the principal and the afternoons will be used for "implementation" of the plans. Another 2 days are imbedded in the contract year for a total of 6 "ARRA" days. These days are optional and we are still negotiating the rate of pay. August 21 is the first (not optional) contract day. We look forward to the new school year.

The OEA Negotiations Team will resume meeting with the District Team on Monday. More info to come. Today's Deseret News has a short article on Jordan and Ogden Negotiations. Go to www.desnews.com and look for the Amy Stewart article, "Teachers Unions Grow Closer to Resolution. Rick

Computer-adaptive testing gaining favor

Amy Stewart writes in the Monday, July 27 Deseret News about the pilot program Sevier School District tried out with computer-adaptive testing. Go to http://www.desnews.com/ to read that article and yesterday's (July 28) article on...surprise...Utah ranks dead last in per-pupil spending.

Waiting to hear any word from the OCSD Board meeting last night. I remain optimistic.
Rick

Ogden School Board to Meet In Executive Session Tonight

The Ogden School Board has planned a special session tonight, Tuesday, July 28 with the intention of going into an executive session to discuss negotiations. Hopefully we will get some news for you soon. Rick