More legislation of note...

HB447: Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program would create a computer-based kindergarten literacy softward program for all kindergarten students. Failed Opposed by the UEA due to cost. HJR 1: Joint Resolution Amending State and Local Taxing Authority would have required a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to approve any tax or fee increase. Rejected in committee. Opposed by the UEA SB4: Current School Year Supplemental Public Education Adjustments contains provisions for education funding proposed by the Executive Appropriations Committee. Passed. Supported by the UEA More voting records tomorrow. Rick

More voting records...

Here are some more voting records on notable education legislation:

• HB264: State Board of Education Election Process Amendments would have provided for direct, nonpartisan election of state board members. Supported by the UEA Did not pass.

Voting against our position were: Dee, Foerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Pitcher, Wilcox

Voting for our position was: Peterson

• HB 301: School District Property Tax Revision was opposed by UEA because it reduced transparency and may lead to future funding restrictions. Passed.

Voting against our position were: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Peterson, Wilcox, Jenkins, Reid

Voting for our position was: Pitcher

Christensen was absent or did not vote.

More legislation tomorrow. Rick

More legislation of note...

Here is some more legislation from the past session:

• HB313: Charter School Funding Amendments would take money from the current revenue stream of property tax and redistribute it to charter schools. Opposed by the UEA Did not pass


• HB339 Charter School Enrollment Amendments gives the State Board of Education authority to approve an annual increase in charter school enrollment capacity equal to 2% of total school district enrollment. Opposed by the UEA Did not pass


• HB388: Operation and Management of Charter Schools provideds that a "chartering entity" may use certain data to measure the performance of a charter school; prohibits a chartering entity from imposing performance standards that would limit a charter school from accomplishing the purposes of charter schools. Opposed by the UEA. Passed

More voting records tomorrow.

Rick

More voting records

HB152 Forbids teachers from serving as the parent rep on the community council-UEA Opposed Voting for: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Pitcher,Wilcox, Greenwood, Christensen, Reid Absent or not voting: Jenkins HB183 Restricts association leave-UEA Opposed Voting for: Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Wilcox, Christensen, Jenkins, Reid Voting against: Dee, Greenwood HB 199 Advertisements on Buses-UEA Supported Voting for: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Pitcher, Christensen Voting against: Greenwood, Wilcox, Jenkins, Reid More legislation tomorrow. Rick Read Molly Farmer's article on public ed funding survey at www.deseretnews.com

More legislation of note

Here are some more legislation from the past session:

• HB264: State Board of Education Election Process Amendments would have provided for the direct, nonpartisan election of state school board members. Did not pass. Supported by the UEA.
• HB301: School District Property Tax Revisions rolls six specific property tax levies into two, and exempts school districts from certain truth-in-taxation notice and hearing requirements. Passed. Opposed by the UEA because it reduces transparency and may lead to future funding reductions for traditional public schools.
• HB302: Reading Program Amendments is a bill that imposes requirements for reading instruction in kindergarten through grade three and standardizes the reading testing for K-3 students. It makes the use of technology as an opt-in consideration, funded with new money to education. Passed. UEA did not support or oppose.

More legislator voting records Monday.

Thanks Rick

More Voting Records

HB98: Capital Outlay Funding Modifications for small districts-UEA Supported

Voting Against: Froerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Wilcox

Voting For: Pitcher, Christensen, Reid, Dee

Not voting or absent: Jenkins, Peterson

HB110: Teacher Salary Supplement Program Amendments helps math and science teachers- UEA Supported

Voting For: Froerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Wilcox, Pitcher, Peterson, Dee, Jenkins, Christensen, Reid

Continued tomorrow.
Rick

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

Good news...bad news...

Would you like the good news or bad news first??? Let's start with good news...there is less to talk about. You can go to www.deseretnews.com for a summary.

Good news (with scepticism)

• The legislative session is over...no more damage to teachers (maybe)
• The budget funded growth in education. (that is if costs of everything don't continue to rise)
• The budget funded 2.2% more in education. (why don't I believe it)
• Sen. Chris Buttars retired...(yes, I did see the zombie movie where they come back to life)

Bad news (do I have room on this blog for everything?...no)

• Seniority taken away as a way to reduce staff...older doesn't mean better eh?
• Teacher Association leaders denied time for association business...anyone want to volunteer to spend countless hours representing teachers?
• Guns near schools...makes us all safer...huh?
• Private online schools receiving public money...does not compute!!!
• Legislative transparency diminished...Gayle Ruzinka texting me sweet nothings.
• Grading schools based on test scores...oh yeah only 80% are A and B schools.
• More charters, more charters, more charters...yeah
• Teaching that we are a "compound republic"...huh?

Today's WEA Blog Question: Who did BYU beat yesterday? (Hint: Horned Frogs)

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

WEA Blog Contest Question

WEA Blog Contest Question: What ends today??? Thank heavens...

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Education funding projections positive

I am always reluctant to celebrate too early when discussing appropriations. Until the dust settles Thursday evening we won't know for sure, but it looks brighter than previous years. There are some things that bother me still...putting money in the WPU is good, but taking it from line items that help pay for lanes and steps is not good. Especially after the two years Ogden has fought for steps and Weber's fight for steps this year. Why give the districts any reason to cry poverty when it comes to the salary schedule. Yes, they are saying growth will be funded for the first time in three years. Again, cautious optimism may be the best we can hope for this year.

WEA Blog contest ends Monday, March 14...today's "snow melt question" is: What is my favorite pastime...besides helping teachers in need.. email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Congrats to OEA Blog Contest Winners

Congrats to Lisa Vipperman, Rosemary Salazar, and Christine Heslop for winning Chili's gift cards. WEA's contest will continue until we draw for winners March 14th at WEA AR meeting.

Countdown to the end of the legislature on Thursday, March 10 at midnight.
Keep informed at www.myuea.org and click on Under the Dome for the best summary of what is happening.

WEA Blog Contest Question: (sorry Christine, you have won enough) What great basketball coach (Jazz) was honored at the legislature yesterday?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

HB 313 Charter School Funding

This (very bad) bill modifies funding provided to a charter school to replace local discretionary property taxes that are not available to charter schools.

UEA opposes it because:

• This bill would take money from the current revenue stream of property tax and redistribute it to charter schools.
• USOE data show that charter schools enroll fewer limited English proficient students, economically disadvantaged students, special education students, and minority students. Yet, charter schools still do not ouperform traditional public schools.
• This bill would result in a disparity of funding to those districts with charter schools.
• Local elected school boards set property tax levy rates (they must hold "truth in taxation" meetings). This bill would give property tax money to charter schools with no accountability to taxpayers through elected officials.

Please contact your legislators this final week of the session.

Today's "pray for good weather" Blog Contest question (today is the last day for OEA entries) is: Why doesn't the Standard Examiner like us?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Educators on the Hill

Four Weber educators and one Ogden teacher attended the "Educator on the Hill" today at the legislature. Barb Wayment (UEA Board member), Nikki Longmore (Washington Terrace), Belen Pulsipher (Washington Terrace), and Lee Claycomb (WEA Board Member) attended the hill today along with Elizabeth Carlin (Dee Elementary). They received information regarding pressing issues and were able to visit with their legislators. They also were able to listen and question our 2nd District Congressman, Jim Matheson.

Today's "Go Silverwolves" Blog Contest Question: Who defeated Fremont High at the State 5-A basketball tourney today?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Last week of Blog Contest

Today's issue is SB 59: School Grading System
This bill would assign a letter grade (A,B,C,D,F) to public schools based on a formula combining achievement, growth and graduation rates. It would also require that no more than 80 percent of schools would qualify for a grade of A or B.

UEA opposes this bill because: (let me count the ways)

• We believe the concept of one single grade for a school oversimplifies the complex nature of schools and contributes to a lack of transparency for parents.
• The legislation creates a new, redundant reporting system. U-PASS reports are already in place, providing multiple indicators of school achievement and progress.
• SB 59 requires that no more than 80 percent of schools would qualify for a grade of an A or B. This ensures some schools will always fall behind. The UEA supports standards where each school can achieve excellence.

Today's "Grade the Legislator" Blog Contest questions is: Give the legislator a grade for this session.

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

SB 179 Math Initiative

SB 179 (Howard Stephenson again) creates a program that awards grants to districts and charter schools for Singapore Math and the improvement of math education. The estimated cost is $1,813,000.

UEA opposes this bill because:

• During this current budget crisis, a new program with a fiscal note of more than $1.6 million is irresponsible.
• This bill specifies the adoption of Singapore Math rather than providing money that would allow a district to select and implement a math program best suited to meet the needs of its students as determined by their local school board.
• This bill oversteps the role of the legislature by mandating coursework, textbooks and detailed curriculum for our public schools.

Today's "Where in the world is..." Blog Question is on what continent do we find Singapore?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org Last week of OEA blog contest and Next week is last week for WEA Blog contest.

Thanks Rick

Statewide Online Education Program

SB 65 (Howard Stephenson's bill...surprised?) would create a statewide online education program to allow students to earn high school graduation credit through the completion of online courses. The estimated $2.5 million cost for this program will be borne by the individual school districts.

We oppose because:

• It would divert public education funds away from school districts to private providers with little accountability just as school vouchers would have done.

Nuff said.

Today's "Congrats Fremont High and go Ogden High" Blog Question is: What issue did I discuss yesterday on the blog?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick