Negotiations Season is Here

Hi everyone,
Tis the season for coming up with ideas for our negotiations team to look at. With the legislative session just days away...hold your breath...and the prospect of very little money, it is important that we look at contract language and policy changes that don't cost money. Please give those ideas to Marlene Irons and Mary Courney, WEA and OEA presidents. We will survey you and see what priorities appear. Our negotiation teams will meet and write proposals that will then be given to the district. After the legislature finishes their funding and the district gets a good idea of how much money they will receive, we can set dates and meet. Again, this year looks bleak as far as pay raises go. We will have to work hard to preserve lane changes and steps and fund increases in insurance premiums. Give us your ideas. Thanks Rick

More on Budget Cuts

Congrats to to the winners of 25.00 Chili's Gift cards in WEA. Portia Ericksen (Early Intervention at Two Rivers), Debbie Green (AR at Sand Ridge) and Marlene (there will be an investigation) Irons, WEA President for the December Blog Contest.

Important budget cut info>

• Districts are being advised to look at least 4.5% cuts in the current year.
• The legislature has the official job of making cuts of state money.
• 4.5% is 2,737,818.00 in Ogden District and 6,435,232.00 in Weber.
• The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee meets Jan. 21.

To enter January's blog contest email rick@ogdenweber.org with the words "budget cuts" in the message. Thanks for reading. Rick

January Blog Contest

Congratualations to Sherrie Dame, OEA winner of the a 25.00 gift card, in the December contest. WEA will be drawing for their winners today. Legislators will continue meeting in preparation of the Jan. 26 session opening with the goal of proposing cuts that will balance the Billion Dollar deficit. Our goal will be to work to protect people over stuff. We need to fight for enough "growth money" to pay for those new kids who will enroll this fall. Class size is always the first victim of lower funding. We are hearing that there will be no increase in the WPU this year. Finding money for increases in insurance costs will also be a challenge. Lanes and steps (salary increases built into the schedule) will need to be preserved. We need to be aware of any reduction in force policies and make sure they are followed. These are the types of things your association is monitoring. Thanks Rick

Have you read your acceptable use policy lately?

Just a reminder to all teachers that you have all signed a paper or checked a box stating that you have read and understand the acceptable use policy that details use of technology in your district. If you were like me, you signed and maybe scanned the policy. I would suggest you take another look at it (especially the employee part), because failure to follow it can lead to disciplinary actions, termination, and licence revocation by the State Board of Education. Take a couple of minutes and look over it. You are responsible for anything on your school computer and you are responsible to follow the policy. Thanks for all you do. We will have another Blog Contest this month. Please email me rick@ogdenweber.org with the words "acceptable use policy" in the message. Thanks Rick

Legislative Session Begins January 26

Our UEA Lobby Team has already started working on the legislative session that will start January 26. Vik Arnold, head of the team, joins Courtney White, Susan Kuziak, Mark Mickelson, Kim Campbell, and Ellen Thompson up at the capitol working hard for public school funding. This year will be a difficult one because of the economic recession and the deficit in the budget. UEA will work hard to maintain funding, pay for new students and find money for salaries and benefits. We will be asking you to contact your legislators with your stories about class size, workload, and successes. This is a great opportunity to be part of the solution. Thanks Rick

Orientation at Weber State University

Happy New Year. It was nice to start my new year speaking to new College of Ed Level One students this morning at WSU. Each semester I give a short presentation on the benefits of joining UEA as a student member. I get their emails and stay in contact with them through their college career. Hope your holidays were great. Good to be back. Rick

Merry Christmas

As this winter storm blows in from the north, I wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am looking forward to seeing grandchildren and family in the Phoenix area. Yes, Dorothy, there are golf courses in Scotsdale. 63 degrees looks pretty good when we compare it to the forecast here for this weekend. I know we all need a break and it will be a good time to recharge our batteries and finish off the year. We are meeting this morning with two of our legislators, Brent Wallis (District 10) and Richard Greenwood (District 12). Susan Kuziak, one of UEA's lobbyists (retired Exec. Director of UEA), is coming down to meet and talk about the upcoming session. We will impress upon them to limit any reductions in public school funding. It will be a tough session for all state government.

Enjoy your time with family and friends and again thank you for all you do to make WEA and OEA so strong. It is an honor and a pleasure to work for you. Rick