News You Can Use

It is finally spring...how can you tell? It snowed two inches last night. With spring brings our Early Enrollment Program to sign up new members to the association. Representatives will coming around to our potential member friends and giving them the opportunity to sign up for membership in NEA/UEA/OEA/WEA. You can help by talking to your colleagues and letting them know the work we are doing for teachers.

OEA has 553 members (80% of licensed educators) and signed up 74 new members this year.
WEA has 1062 members (63% of licensed educators) and signed up 107 new members this year.

As you can see, we have some work to do. We can do so much more with the solidarity of strong membership. We are starting negotiations soon and we will be battling to preserve steps and lanes, class size, and fund insurance increases. We need everyone with us.

Thanks Again for reading. Rick

The UEA House of Delegates

The legislative body of the UEA, "House of Delegates", meets in April to set the budget, legislative priorities and mission of UEA. Delegates from locals around Utah meet for a Saturday in Salt Lake to hear speeches from their UEA leaders and set the business of UEA. Parliamentary procedure governs the meeting and the bylaws, constitution, and budget are discussed. It is an annual opportunity for members to see UEA at work. If you are interested in being a delegate next year let your leaders know.

Both OEA and WEA have traded negotiation packets and will begin meetings soon. The districts will be forming their budgets and we will assist and looking where the cuts will be made.

We were saddened to hear of the loss of Gary Wilder, history teacher at OHS (formerly at BLHS). Gary coached and taught the students he loved so much. He will be missed.

Rick

OEA Elections Results

Congratulations to Doug Stephens, Lisa Vipperman, and Celeste Gardner in their elections to OEA President, OEA Vice-President, and Executive Board member. Thanks also to all those candidates who ran for office.

UEA's Educator on the Hill was a big success as nearly 100 educators were able to lobby the legislator for public school funding. Lee Claycomb, WEA Executive Board member from West Haven Elementary, said the experience was educational. He said that he especially enjoyed his discussion with Sen. Chris Buttars over SB 48 "take a test to teach".

The UEA "Under the Dome" website also was new this year and afforded teachers the opportunity to keep up on legisative business and communicate with their representatives.

Thanks for all of your help in making a "bad" year not quite so bad. Rick

Utah School Law Update-UPPAC Newsletter

I presented a Professionalism power point at Hooper Elementary this morning. It is important to remind us all of the higher standards and trust that parents hold for teachers. Jean Hill, USOE attorney, reminds us of an important point in this months Utah School Law Update. (www.schools.utah.gov/uppac/)

She writes about relationships with students. (I am sure it is a reaction to the Bountiful Jr. High case). I encourage you to read it and subscribe so you receive it each month. Jean also gives a good legislative wrap-up.

Thanks again for reading. Rick

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to award grants for school reform

The federal stimulus plan passed by Congress also has $5 Billion to award lasting school reform. According to today's Deseret News, states are supposed to:

• Improve teacher quality and get good teachers into high-poverty schools;
• Set up sophisticated data systems to track student learning;
• Boost the quality of academic standards and tests;
• Intervene to help struggling schools.

Applications for the special grants will be available later this spring.

To enter the April BLOG CONTEST for gift cards please email me: rick@ogdenweber.org and add the word "Stimulus" in the message.

Thanks for reading. Rick

Future Educators Association Comptetions at WSU

I had the opportunity to help judge some FEA competitions at Weber State University today. We had students from OHS and Davis County competing in several categories including displays, impromptu speaking and "FEA Moment". The FEA program met with the UEA Board of Directors a couple of weeks ago and they were very impressed with the possibility of recreating FEA chapters around the state.

Education Bill Bogs Down on Charter School Issues

The Deseret News reports this morning that the Education bill remains in limbo until the House and the Senate can agree on whether on not to expand Charter Schools next year. Sen. Howard Stephenson, no friend of public education, is leading the charge for more Charter Schools. Today is the last day of the session so it would be good to let your legislator know how you feel. UEA is not opposed to Charter Schools in principle, but in a year of cuts everyone should share in the pain.

Thanks again. To enter the MARCH BLOG CONTEST please email rick@ogdenweber.org with the words "CHARTER SCHOOLS" in the message. We will draw for prizes in the April OEA and WEA AR meetings.