Things are bad all over...New Jersey

Thursday, April 22 NY Times reported that New Jersey schools plan heavy cuts after 58% of their school districts rejected their schools' spending plans. "School officials across New Jersey said on Wednesday that they would most likely have to lay off hundreds of teachers, increase class sizes, eliminate sports teams and Advanced Placement classes, cut kindergarten hours and take other radical steps to reduce spending after 58% of districts' budgets were rejected by voters on Tuesday, the most in at least 35 years."

Rick

Gov. Herbert's Education Commission Lacks Diversity

Amy Stewart (Deseret News) wrote a lengthy article last week about the lack of diversity in Gov. Herbert's Ed Commission. The editorial board also spoke out, "it was troubling to learn there is no minority representation on Gov. Gary Herbert's new Education Excellence Commission." The commission is made up of leaders of different constituency groups (Kim Campbell represents UEA). "Considering the changing face of Utah's educational system, addressing these issues--with the contributions of minority members on the commission--seems a natural direction for this panel".

Rick

OEA and WEA Delegates Meet Saturday at Copper Hills

The UEA House of Delegates met from 9am to 3pm Saturday at Copper Hills High. Delegates from OEA and WEA listened to reports from leadership including Kim Campbell, outgoing president, and Mark Mickelesen, Executive Director. Candidates for UEA President and VP also spoke to the house. Bills were passed that would allow the UEA dues to decrease for the first time in many years. The dues are based on an average of teacher salaries. Resolutions, statements of belief, were also debated and voted on and the budget was approved.
Thanks go to all who gave up a beautiful spring day to do the association's business.

Rick

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