Deseret News and SL Tribune Editorialize Support for Public Education

It was good to see editorials in both the SL Trib and the Des News this week supportive of increased public education. Both editorials commented on the UEA reports of low funding expressed during sessions of the UEA Convention. Public support will be crucial in another tough budget year...maybe even tougher than last year..

Spotlight on Sherrie Dame-OEA Executive Board

Sherrie Dame, Polk Elementary, has taught for 38 years. She has three children, Nathan (an actor in NYC), Shannon, a graduate student, and Tammy a beautician. Beckam is her grandson and a cute kid. ( I still have his cute handprints on my patio door). Sherrie graduated from Weber State College (hmmm) and received her Masters from BYU. She is a great teacher and fantastic member of our negotiations team and is serving on the boundary committee. We value her experience and wisdom. Thanks, Sherrie, for your service to Ogden teachers and students.

Thousands Attend UEA Convention

Teachers from all over the state attended the two-day UEA Convention last week. The New Teacher Workshop was especially well-attended. Terie Maxfield (UEA Board), a teacher at Farr West, said that her sessions were full and they had to send people away. Keynoters, Lily Eskelsen and Harry Wong highlighted the conference. Two Weber teachers, Norm Unck and Pam Searson, received Excellence in Teaching awards at the banquet Thursday night. Ogden's teacher of the year, Jill Hislop Gibson, and Weber's teacher of the year, Matt Patterson, also attended.

Check last week's blog for contest directions. Rick

New Contest: Visit the Website www.ogdenweber.org

Both OEA and WEA are sending out the Link Newsletter electronically this month. Your building reps will be receiving it today and they should forward it to you by email. We are also posting the pages on the UniServ website: http://www.ogdenweber.org/ Our web master, Mike Fazzio at Riverdale Elementary, has done a great job designing our new page. To enter our CONTEST please go to the website and send me an email listing the executive board members from your association (WEA for Weber and OEA for Ogden). My email is rick@ogdenweber.org and we will compile all of the entries and draw for $25 dollar gift cards at our November AR meeting. Bookmark this blog on your favorites and check it each day for updates on education isssues.

Thanks Rick

Ethics Reform petition drive held up by Lt. Gov. Bell

Lt. Governor Greg Bell held up the petitions for the Utahns for Ethical Government initiative until he could be sure it was constitutional. Petitions can not be distributed until they are certified by his office. Seven open hearings (as needed by the law) have been held with an extra hearing to take place at Mound Fort Junior High at 7 pm tonight. You can read more at www.deseretnews.com with Bob Bernick Jr.'s article. You can also go to www.utahnsforethicalgovernment.org to see the petition.

Rick

Open Hearing for Ethics Initiative

Go to the website www.utahnsforethicalgovernment.org
to find out more out about the initiative campaign. An open hearing will be held at Mound Fort Junior High Media Center, Sept. 29, Tuesday, at 7 pm. Representatives from the UEG will be there and questions will be taken.

UEA Convention Oct. 1 and 2

Hope everyone is planning to attend the UEA Convention, Oct. 1 and Oct 2 at the South Town Exposition Center in Sandy. Go to http://www.utea.org/ to see the schedule. New teachers and students are welcome to register online for the New Teachers Workshop on Friday, Oct. 2. Thursday night, two of our fine educators will receive awards at the UEA Superstars Banquet.

Pam Searson, Special Ed teacher at Sand Ridge was nominated by Debbie Green and Norm Unck, Science teacher at Wahlquist was nominated by Warren White. We congratulate these fine educators for their dedication.

Rick