NEA Priority Schools Webcast

Doug Stephens (OEA President) and I participated in a Webinar from NEA yesterday dealing with strategies for associations that are facing School Improvement Grants. Ogden District is applying for three of these grants that go to low performing schools. There are four options for these grants: 1- Close and send students to other high performing schools. 2- Replace the principal and half of the staff 3-Reopen as a charter school 4- Transformation (replace the principal and change the school performance) This fourth option was one created because of the appeals of the NEA and the AFT. Doug and I will be traveling to NEA in Washington, D.C. with Brad Smith (Ogden School Board member) and Rich Moore (Ogden Elementary Director) to be trained in Interest Based Bargaining to help us collaborate in the execution of these school improvement grants.

Rick

Jordan School Board Makes Cuts

Amy Stewart wrote in the Deseret News (www.deseretnews.com) today that the Jordan School Board is proposing cuts that would eliminate 190 jobs...including 23 administrative, 54 classified and 16 non-classroom teachers (reading coaches). They are also proposing moving away from year-around schedules at some schools. Jordan is facing a $30 million deficit. In comparison Weber is looking at filling about a $6.9 million dollar funding shortfall, and Ogden is trying to fill a $2.3 million deficit.

Rick

Sec. Arne Duncan promotes "parent engagement"

"Schools can vie for "engagement money. Continuing a trend it began last winter by handing out a portion of federal stimulus funding in a national competition, the Obama administration said Monday that it would double funding for parental involvement in schools but make local groups, school districts and other organizations compete for the money. Speaking to parent advocates at Georgetown University, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the administration would give schools $270 million for "parent engagement" but would require schools and other groups to vie for their share of the funding." USA Today-Greg Toppo

NY Times Editorial: Saving the Teachers

The NY Times Editorial from last week said, "Last year's $100 billion education stimulus plan insulated the public schools from the worst of the recession and saved an estimated 300,000 jobs. With the economy still lagging and states forced to slash their budgets, Congress must act again to prevent a wave of teacher layoffs that could damage the fragile recovery and hobble the school reform effort for years to come".

Another stimulus bill, introduced in March, contains a $23 Billion school rescue plan. School districts are prepared to cut as many as 275,000 jobs in the next school budget. That loss of paychecks and consumer spending could kill off any recovery in the communities where the teachers and other school employees work. We need that bill to pass.

Rick

No Teacher Layoffs Expected for Granite-Deseret News

Amy Stewart wrote in the Deseret News that "Granite School District is forecasting no teacher layoffs as the school board plans to vote on the district's 2010-11 school year budget recommendations..."

The district has to cut $17 million from its budget. The district does plan to cut 30.5 full-time, non-teaching positions, such as custodians, security officers and information systems employees. The board is hoping to recoup $2.5 million by opting for a voted leeway for transportation needs.

Rick

Weber School Board Announces Admin Changes

Last night at the Weber School Board Meeting the Weber Teacher of the Year was announced, Sheri Heiter, Math Teacher at Weber High. Linda Carver gave her a glowing introduction pointing out the many people and students she has affected over the years. Congratulations.

Admin changes for Weber District were also announced:
Dale Pfister replaced the retiring Mary Johnston as Secondary Supervisor
Gina Butters- Roy High Principal
Jay Anderson- North Ogden Jr. Principal
Kevin Chase- Lomond View Principal
Mike Geilmann- West Weber Principal
Melissa Copeland Country View Principal
Linda Smith- North Park Principal
Steve Short- Roy High Asst. Principal
Rod Belnap- North Ogden Asst. Principal
Scott Elliott- Wahlquist Asst. Principal
Nick Harris- Roy Jr. Admin Intern
Chris Earnest- Sandridge Admin Intern
Michele Parry- Fremont Admin Intern
Larry Hadley- Weber Admin Intern
Matt Patterson- Bonneville Admin Intern
Krista Bernsten- Elementary Admin Intern

Rick

Utah Teacher Gets Major Ed Award-Deseret News

"Second graders at Dilworth Elementary School listen as teacher Sharon Gallagher-Fishbuagh reads them a story about a young boy who loves to explore his grandma's button box. Gallagher-Fishbaugh then proceeds to pass around an enormous jar of her own buttons of all shapes, sizes and materials. The students learn math skills as they count and sort their buttons. Sharon-Gallagher-Fishbaugh then encourages the children to imagine where the buttons might have come from and who wore them. It's that type of nurturing, student-centered teaching method that recently earned Gallagher-Fishbaugh the top honor at the Academy Awards for public educators-the National Education Association Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education Gala." Deseret News

Sharon won $25,000 for the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and is also running unopposed for UEA President.

Rick