OEA meets today with District for more IBB negotiations

The OEA team and district team will meet again today to continue negotiations talks.   Sen. Osmond's bill SB 64 will come to the Senate Ed Committee today at 2:00 pm.

Rick

Senator Osmond introduces evaluation and performance pay bill SB 64

Go to www.myuea.org to read more about SB 64. Sen. Osmond introduced his bill yesterday. The UEA worked with and supports the bill.
Rick

OEA will meet in their third Interested Based Negotiations Meeting Monday

Our OEA negotiations team will meet Monday with the district team in our third meeting to discuss our concerns and issues and work on solutions.
Rick

Legislative Updates at "Under the Dome"

Go to the following site to read the daily legislative updates from UEA's lobby team.

http://www.myuea.org/politics_legislation/uea_under_the_dome.aspx

Rick

Contact legislators on Sen. Howard Stephenson's bill

UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh would like you to contact the members of the Senate Education Committee and tell them that SB 151 (Howard Stephenson) is just another voucher bill taking money from public schools and sending it to private schools.

Go to this site to get more info.

http://www.myuea.org/politics_legislation/uea_under_the_dome.aspx

Rick

Linda and Richard Eyre Column: What schools could do to help families.

Interesting column: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700222472/What-schools-could-do-to-boost-families.html

Rick

Visit to the legislature today

Today we visited the legislature and got some updated info on bills of concern:

HB 106 Grover is a bad bill that would limit collective bargaining for teachers.  Please contact your legislator and let them know that we meet collaboratively with our districts which is a positive for both of us.

Sen. Karen Morgen has a good bill on setting some limits on the class sizes in K-3.  We support her efforts.

The budget is always important and we need continue pressure on our legislators.  We met with Rep. Jeremy Peterson and Dixon Pitcher and they listened to our concerns.
For more info go to www.myuea.org and click on "Under the Dome".

Rick

Collective Bargaining under attack by legislature

Read this article by Robert Gehrke on Rep. Keith Grover's attempt to restrict collective bargaining by public employees.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53424938-90/allow-bargaining-bill-collective.html.csp

For more info go to www.myuea.org and click on "Under the Dome"

Rick

Legislative updatesat "Under the Dome"

Go to Under the Dome at www.myuea.org to read daily updates from the UEA legislative team.
Rick

Language Immersion Programs in schools

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700220292/Language-immersion-classrooms-Programs-are-popular-diligence-translates-to-performance.html

Interesting article on language immersion programs.  Ogden and Weber have both spanish and chinese programs.

Rick

Utah legislature begins

Go to www.myuea.org and click on the under the dome under politics to read the daily updates. The first educator on the hill begins Friday, Jan. 27.
Rick

NEA UniServ Conference

I am attending the NEA UniServ Training yesterday and today learning organizing ideas to help engage our members in the defense of our organization and public schools.
Rick

WEA Leaders attend NEA Western Region Training

WEA President Jo Egelund and WEA Executive Board members Glen Larsen and Cheryl Parkinson left today for Oklahoma City for the annual Western Region training this weekend.  They will receive information on important topics and leadership training.

Rick

Future Educators have been active.

The Future Educators Association at OHS and in Weber has been very busy this year.  They have participated in "Read for the Record", led activities at Halloween for elementary students and participated in WSU's FEA Conference.

They have lots of other activities planned for second semester.  Thanks go to Suzy Davis (OHS), Joan Iverson (Weber) and Stephanie Heath (WSU).

Rick

Legislative Session begins Jan. 23

The Utah Legislature begins their session next Monday, Jan. 23.  Stay informed by going to www.myuea.org and click on the Under the Dome icon.

Rick

First Educator on the Hill Jan. 27

The first UEA Educator on the Hill is scheduled on Friday, Jan, 27 at 7am.  Contact your local president if you are planning on attending.  You will need to use personal leave to go.  Go to www.myuea.org and click on Under the Dome for more info or contact us. rick@ogdenweber.org

Rick

OEA participates in district appraisal

President Doug Stephens and I met witha member of the RMC staff to discuss our district relationship. Focus groups met across the district. A report will follow. This audit was mandated by the state.
Rick

Report gives Utah Public Ed a C grade

Read today's article in the SL Trib about the grading of our public ed program here in Utah.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53279780-78/education-utah-percent-report.html.csp

Thanks Rick

Salt Lake Tribune Editorial supports more education funding

Read this SL Trib opinion piece that supports increased public ed funding.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53272304-82/state-utah-education-business.html.csp

Thanks Rick

Parents for Public Education meeting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6:30 pm

Our UniServ will be hosting our second Parents for Public Education meeting tomorrow, Wed., Jan. 11 at 6:30 pm at our UniServ office.

Rick

Interest Based Bargaining Training

The OEA Negotiations Committee: Doug Stephens, Sara Byrd, Whit Freund, Clay Kirkham and Ann Olsen met with the District team today for the second part of our Interest Based Bargaining training facilitated by Kathy Yamamoto, Boise Education Director.

Rick

Interest based bargaining training with Ogden district Monday

The OEA negotiation team will meet with the district for interest based training Monday with our trainer Kathy Yamomoto from the Boise Education Association.

UEA Board and Successor Delegate Election Deadline

http://www.myuea.org/sites/utahedu/Uploads/files/Form/Declaration%20of%20Candidacy%202012.pdf

The deadline for getting a application to run for the UEA Board of Directors and for the Successor Delegate for the NEA Representative Assembly is January 12th.  You can click on the site above to download a form.

The UEA Board Member represents OEA and WEA on the the governing board of UEA.  This term is only one year, because of changing the terms of offices.  Usually it is three years.  The successor delegate to the NEA RA is in case the UEA board member cannot attend the convention in July.

If you are interested please download the application and send it in to UEA before Jan. 12.

Thanks Rick

Bullying in U.S. schools causes long-term harm

Read Lois Collin's article on Bullying in Schools in today's Deseret News.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700212212/Bullies-do-long-term-damage-to-themselves-as-well-as-victims.html

Happy New Year.
Rick

WSU Orientation Yesterday

I visited with over 100 new WSU student teachers yesterday in their orientation.  I told them a little bit about the association and gave them some membership forms.  As they come into the schools we will invite them to join as student members.  I also spoke to three groups of Level 1 teacher ed students.

Rick

Happy 2012: Deseret News article on OHS and BLHS Tardy reductions

Read the article in the Des News today about the efforts at Ben Lomond and Ogden Highs to reduce the number of tardies.

Happy New Year.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700211827/Longer-lunch-period-proves-an-effective-motivation-for-Ogden-teens.html