States to establish uniform standards for teaching

The Deseret News reported, Thursday, June 3, "new education benchmarks released Wednesday called the Common Core State Standards, a prject that aims to replace a hodgepodge of educational goals varying wildly from state to state with a uniform set of expectations for students. It's the first time states have joined together to establish what students should know by the time they graduate high school."

Rick

Cash-strapped districts cutting summer school

Heather Hollingsworth (AP) reported in the Deseret News, May 24th that many school districts across the nation are cutting summer schools because of budget cuts. Kansas City district gutted its summer school program this spring. Across the country, districts are cutting summer school because it's just too expensive to keep. The cuts started when the recession began and have worsened, affecting more children and more essential programs that help struggling students.

Both Ogden and Weber have summer school programs that are continuing this summer.

Rick

Canyons Board of Ed oks 5 furlough days

Anne Forester reported on KSL.com that "students in the Canyons School District will have five fewer days in the classroom next year. The Canyons Board of Education voted Tuesday night to take five district-wide furlough days t help meet a $13 million budget shortfall. The furloughs affect all Canyons employees, from teachers to superintendents.

Rick

Jordan district cutting teachers, aides

The Associated Press reported last week, "Jordan school officials say they plan to cut 88 positions from district special education programs, including 19 teachers and 69 full-time classroom assistants. The Jordan School District's special education department has a $6.5 million shortfall."

Rick

Ogden School Board meets in special work session

The Ogden School Board met in an early morning work session today to discuss the tentative budget and discuss possible cuts needed because of reduced funding from the state legislature. They met afterward in a closed session to discuss negotiations.

OEA's negotiation team will be scheduling our next session with the district.

Weber's Business Administrator, Robert Peterson, was interviewed in the Standare-Examiner today on cuts that the district is proprosing. It is too bad that he didn't mention that negotiations were still going and that nothing has been agreed upon.

Rick

National Emergency funding could save Utah teaching jobs

Amy Stewart wrote in today's Deseret News (http://www.deseretnews.com/): "Some Utah teachers' jobs may be saved if emergency federal funding being pushed by the Obama administration is approved by Congress to be distributed nationally. The $23 billion would support the jobs of approximately 300,000 educators nationally."

Rick

Negotiations Update

OEA's negotiation team met with the district Monday and discussed contract language. The district's team did not discuss financial proposals because the school board is meeting Friday morning to discuss the budget. The insurance committee met last night and is working on recommendations for this year's package.

WEA's team will meet again with the district June 23rd.

Davis plans to cut 2 school days from their calendar next year saving the district approx. $2.97 million in salaries.

Canyons is planning on cutting 5 instructional days. Nebo district has agreed to cut 3 instructional days.

These furlough days are for all employees.

Rick