NY Times Friday, April 16 Article on Teachers' Union

Mayor Bloomberg and NY City's teachers' union (United Teachers-AFT) have agreed to do away with "rubber rooms" full of teachers accused of wrongdoing or incompetence and speed up hearings for them, reforming a disciplinary system that has made City Hall and the teachers' union subjects of ridicule.

If you haven't read about these "rubber rooms", google NY teacher rubber rooms and see what comes up.

Each one of these terminations have to be assigned an arbitrator and the hearings go on forever.

Steven Brill also wrote an article about "rubber rooms" in the New Yorker Magazine last summer.

Rick

NY Times Reports Florida Gov. Crist's veto of Teacher Merit Pay Bill

Last Friday, the NY Times wrote about the veto Gov. Crist issued on a controversial merit pay bill. Conservatives and Republicans have criticized him greatly for that decision and it is probable that he will drop out of the Senate Republican Primary (where he is far behind) and run as an independent. The bill would have eliminated tenure for teachers and tie their pay and job security to how well their students perform.

Rick

Schools Face Dire Options

The SL Tribune reported (Lisa Schencker) last week that some struggling schools will have to make some major changes to receive part of the U.S. Dept. of Ed $17.4 million in Utah school improvement grants. Those options are:

• Replace their principals and half of the staff
• Convert to charter schools
• Replace the principal and do training for the staff
• Close their doors

Ogden District schools Madison, Gramercy, Dee, Odyssey, T.O. Smith, Bonneville, Lincoln, Ogden High, Washington High, and Ben Lomond High would qualify.

Weber District has Roy Elementary that would qualify.

Rick

Retirement information continued...

The complexity of the changes made by the legislature in our retirement seem to make it difficult to interpret. Here are some updates:

• The districts will pay an additional 2.1% for employees. (that is 2% that won't go to salary)
• Current rehired retirees could lose their 401K contribution. (we thought it was safe)
• The increase in cost of future and past service years will go up significantly, but not until January, 2011. (we thought it would start in July, 2010 and it might be phased in over three years)

As we learn more information, we will communicate it to you.

Vote in the UEA General Election. (your building reps have your voting cards.)

Rick

UEA House of Delegates April 24

Next Saturday, the UEA delegates from all over the state will meet at Copper Hills High to set the agenda for the 2010-11 year. They will discuss and approve the budget, the legislative platform and debate and vote on several changes to bylaws, standing rules and New Business items. Ogden and Weber will have 40 delegates representing our membership attending the House.
The delegates will also hear from President Kim Campbell, VP Ellen Thompson (both finishing their final terms) and the executive director Mark Mickelsen. Candidates for UEA President and Vice-President will also speak.

Rick

USA Today: Texas School Board and Textbooks

Monday, April 12 edition of USA Today (www.usatoday.com) has an interesting debate on the Texas State school board's attempt to rewrite history textbooks. The two views given in the debate are worth reading.

Rick

Shorter School Year an Option

The State School Board decided last Friday that Utah school districts again may slash up to five school days to cope with financial strains. Martell Menlove, state deputy supt. said "We really don't want to have any fewer days. What we believe is kids need to be in school more time, not less time." That is all well and good, but when the legislature cuts funding how are we supposed to pay for those days. Legislators and the Governor were still saying at their political conventions last week that "Education was held harmless." That is not true. The bad part of furloughing employees is a) no pay for those days and b) no retirement service for those days. Some districts did furloughs last year and we might see more this year. Neither Ogden or Weber Districts have proposed doing furloughs or cutting the school year.

Rick