Call to Action: Grading Schools

UEA sent out a call to action last Friday on SB59: Grading Schools.
Please contact your Senator or Representative and ask them to oppose Sen. Niederhauser's bill that would assign one single letter grade (A-F) to a school based on a formula combining acheivement, growth and graduation rates. Do not use your school computers to email your legislators. You can find their contact information at our website: www.ogdenweber.org Under Political Action.

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Our Blog Contest Drawing for gift cards in Ogden will take place today in OEA AR meetings.

Today's Contest Question: Who won the Super Bowl last night?
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Reporting from the Hill Today

I am at the Legislature this morning with Vicki Winn (OEA Exec Bd) and Lisa Vipperman (OEA VP) for the UEA "Educator on the Hill". Vicki and Lisa, along with educators from Davis, Washington County, Salt Lake and Cache County are receiving a briefing from UEA staff and President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh in preparation for lobbying their legislators today. They will contacting their local legislators with talking points about funding, offensive bills (see Grading Schools) and other issues. Educator on the Hill is a program for teachers to come up to the hill on Fridays and lobby their legislators.


Today's Lobbyist Blog Contest Question: Who is on the UEA Legislative (Lobby) Team? (Hint: Go to "Under the Dome" at www.myuea.org

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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Some question whether new students will really be funded

Lisa Schencker writes in today's Salt Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com) "Shifting of funds assailed as 'smoke and mirrors'. The preliminary budget proposes $76 million for enrollment growth, but it takes that amount from another pot of money, called the 'flexible allocation WPU distribution' that school districts already get to help them cover Social Security and retirement costs. Without that money, districts must make other budget cuts to cover those costs."

Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Hts, expressed concerns when the bill hit the House floor. "I'm concerned that what we're doing here is just a shifting of funds, kind of like using your Mastercard to pay off your Visa bill.

Today's smoke and mirrors Blog Contest question: What does WPU stand for?
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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UEA President's Blog

Go to www.myuea.org and read UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh's blog on "Union Obstructionists". It will give you an idea of the attack public ed is receiving from around the country.

Frigid cold Blog Contest Question: What is the "Educator on the Hill" program? (Hint: go to the "Under the Dome" spot on the UEA website)
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Legislature Eyes Cuts to Public Education Budget

Go to www.myuea.org and read the Jan. 31 summary from Kory Holdaway and Jay Blain (UEA Lobby Team) at "Under the Dome" under Politics/Legislation. The appropriations committee went beyond the 7% across the board cuts and put in jeopardy programs such as adult ed, K-3 reading program and busing. We hope that revenue projections in later this month come in higher and they will restore the cuts. The cuts would lower the WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) by 295 dollars.

Depressing news Blog Contest question: Who is the chair of the Senate Public Education Appropriations Committee (clue: His name rhymes with "nutters")

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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UEA President Editorial on Teacher Evaluations

If you did not get a chance to read President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh's editorial in the paper Jan. 29th...you can go to www.myuea.org and read it under "News".

Today's "Back in the Hood" Blog Contest questions is: Who is UEA's new Vice-President (hint: he is from Tintic District)

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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Member Advocacy

Advocating for our members is large part of my job...I assist members in dealing with upset parents, colleagues and administrators. We use our building reps to be our ears and eyes at the schools to let us know when our members need our help. In many cases our building reps are able to answer questions or represent members at the building level. Our local presidents and executive board members also advocate for our members and investigate issues. As a member of the OEA and WEA you also have the opportunity to advocate for the profession by contacting your legislators and telling them your stories. As we enter the legislative session, we will be asking you to be involved.

I am traveling home early this morning and I have several meetings with members this afternoon. I look forward to getting back and helping our members solve their issues.

The new jet lag Blog Contest Question: Who is the leading scorer in NCAA College Basketball: Hint: He wears white and blue> Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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