More new legislation

Here are some more bills of note:

• HB 152: School Community Council Amendments modifies provisions pertaining to the membership, selection and operation of school community councils. Passed. The UEA objects to a provision that forbids certified school employees from serving as parent representatives on a school community council.
• HB 183: School District Leave Policies limits the association leave a local school board may grant for certain employee association or union duties. Passed. Opposed by the UEA
• HB 191: Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments originally would have eliminated in-state tuition for all nonimmigrant alien students, regardless of how long they lived in Utah. Did not pass. Opposed by UEA.
• HB 199: Advertisements on School Buses would allow for up to 35 percent of a school bus to be used for advertisements. Money collected through advertising will stay in the transportation budget of the school. Passed. Supported by the UEA
• HB 220: Civics Education Amendments requires schools to teach about specific forms of government and political philosophies, including that the U.S. is a "compound, constitutional republic." Passed. Opposed by the UEA on the basis that curriculum decisions should be left to the local school district.

More tomorrow.

Rick

Grading your legislators

The UEA Legislative Team took 17 important votes and gave a grade to all representatives and senators this session. Here are the grades for our Weber County legislators. The percentage represents the number of times they voted with UEA's position. If you have a different legislator, let me know and I will give you their grade.

• Senator Allen Christensen 44%
• Senator Scott Jenkins 25%
• Senator Stuart Reid 20%
• Rep. Richard Greenwood 65%
• Rep. Brad Dee 54%
• Rep. Dixon Pitcher 50%
• Rep. Jeremy Peterson 40%
• Rep. Ryan Wilcox 38%
• Rep. Brad Galvez 35%
• Rep. Gage Froerer 29%

Even grading on the curve that isn't a very good report card, is it?

Rick

Legislation of Note in the 2011 Legislative Session

HB 75: Dangerous Weapons Amendments eliminates the 1,000-foot restricted perimeter around a school zone for carrying a weapon. Passed. Opposed by the UEA
HB 92: Public Education Regional Service Centers gives school district regional service centers legal standing. Passed. Supported by the UEA
HB 98: Capital Outlay Funding Modifications allows a local school board of a school district with an enrollment of fewer than 2,500 students to use the proceeds of a capital outlay levy for certain maintenance and operations functions. Passed. Supported by the UEA
HB 110: Teacher Salary Supplement Program Amendments allows teachers who have the qualifications, but not the degree to apply for math and science incentive pay. Passed. Supported by the UEA
HB 111: Full-day Kindergarten would have allowed funding for two half-day kindergartens, but prohibit funding for full-time kindergarten. Did not pass. Opposed by the UEA
HB 123: K-12 Education Amendments would have dramatically modified how education money is distributed to school districts and charter schools. To study during interim. Opposed by the UEA.

More tomorrow.
Rick

All-day classes improve scores

Read Sara Lenz's article on the benefits of full-day kindergarten at www.deseretnews.com

Of course, you will also read Gayle Ruzinka's (Eagle Forum) criticism: "It seems more and more they try push little children out of the home sooner. I believe a child does better if they can stay at home with their mother or father and prepare for all-day in first grade". Duh, yes Gayle in a perfect world that would be great...but we have lots of our little kiddies coming unprepared for school because they don't come from the greatest homes that some of us were blessed with...get real Gayle.
Rick

Ogden Fact-Finding Begins

OEA's negotiation team met with our Hearing Officer, Michael Zimmerman last evening to answer questions and give him more information on our position. Michael Zimmerman is the past Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court and was appointed by State School Supt. Larry Shumway to serve as hearing officer for our fact-finding. We delivered our information to him last week and had a conference call to answer questions Monday afternoon in preparation for our first face-to-face meeting. We will continue to update you as new information comes to us.

Thanks for your patience in this long process.

Oh and it is time for negotiations to start for this year. WEA will begin their negotiations process next week.

Thanks Rick

Congrats to Blog Contest Winners

Congrats to Lynette Grow (West Haven), Glen Larsen (South Ogden), Marty Chen (Uintah) and Christy Olsen (Roy Elem) for winning gift cards in this year's final blog contest...thanks again for the tens and tens of people who enjoy my blogging.

Go to www.myuea.org to "Under the Dome" for a good summary of this year's legislative sesssion.
Rick

WEA Blog Contest Ends Today

We will be drawing for gift cards today in WEA AR meeting. Good luck to all my loyal readers.
Today's final WEA Blog Contest Question is: Who does BYU play in the first round of March Madness? (hint: the college is in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick