Increased Revenues Help

Tuesday's news that tax revenues will come in higher by $47 million for ongoing programs and another $26 for one-time programs was good news, but doesn't completely cover the cuts that the legislature made in their base budget. They are still a ways from the Governor's budget proposal that added $50 million and paid for growth of 14,000 students. We still have three weeks left for the budget decisions to be made. Several teachers will visit the hill Friday for "Educator on the Hill". If you have postcards for your legislators let your Building Reps know so we can get them delivered.

Today's "Wear red for Ed" (Wisconsin solidarity) Blog Question is: What is the Wisconsin governor trying to do to teachers?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

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Food Tax to fund schools?

Lisa Riley Roche writes in today's Salt Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com): "restoring the sales tax on food is being quietly pushed as an option to ensure there's enough money to fund growth in public education this legislative session."

Today lawmakers will get new revenue numbers that could help reduce the cuts in public education.

Today's "Wear RED in support of Wisconsin teachers" Blog question: What tax is the main revenue source for education in Utah?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Senator to rework bill on bad teachers

You can read in Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com) Lisa Schencker's article about a Republican lawmaker's plan to rework a bill (SB 73) intended to make it easier to fire ineffective teachers after hearing from educators Friday who feared it would unfairly penalize whose who teach in poor areas.

The hearing room was packed with educators (most of whom attended Educator on the Hill) including our own Weber teachers, Jo Egelund (Fremont High), Cynthia Auble (South Ogden Jr.) and Mary Oregon (Washington Terrace Elementary). Several testified along with UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh and UniServ Director Starr Orrullian from Granite Education Association.

The committee decided to hold the bill to allow the sponsor to rework it.

It is an unnecessary bill with severe consequences to teachers in Title One schools or any underperforming schools.

Today's "Long Weekend" Blog Contest Question: Who is the sponsor of SB 73? (Hint: He is also the chair of the Senate Education Committee and Executive Director of the Utah Taxpayer's Association. email me at rick@ogdenweber.org enjoy your President's Day.

UEA President's Blog

I refer you to UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh's blog at www.myuea.org under the Politics and Legislation Icon at the top of the web page.

Also, you should have received a "Call to Action" postcard in the mail that asks you to contact your legislator about the many issues dealing with your classroom. It is easy to go to the website (info given on the card) and email your legislator.

Also your building reps have postcards that can be written to your legislator and I will deliver them on the "Educator on the Hill" Fridays. Please let me know and I will pick them up from you.

Today's "Whose your legislator" Blog Question is: Who is your legislator? (House or Senate)
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Lawmakers can't agree on ed funds

Lisa Schencker writes in the Tribune today (www.sltrib.com) that the appropriations committee is still having trouble agreeing on what programs should be cut and which should be funded. The base budget (they have to start with one at the beginning of the session) shows a 7% cut in funding and then there is another $91 million that has not been allocated that adds another 4% to the possible cuts (11% total). It is imperative that you contact your legislator. You all received a "Call to Action" from UEA with information on how to contact them. Also your building reps have postcards that I can deliver to the legislators on our Friday "Educator on the Hill" days.

Today's "Don't cut my budget" Blog question is: Name one of the programs that could get cut this year. Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick

Lawmakers: Teach U.S. is a republic..huh?

All is well at the Capitol with legislators like Rep. Michael Morley R-Spanish Fork (why did I not have to guess he was from Utah County) working overtime to make sure those Socialist, Communist and probably Al Queda loving government and history teachers correctly teach that the United States is a "republic" not a "democracy". Read it today at www.sltrib.com. Fiddling while Utah's public education system is burning seems to make a lot of sense to 57, yes 57 representatives who took time (even 10 minutes is too long) to waste debating and voting for HB220. Our country is safe now from the pervasive teaching of "democratic" government in the U.S. Please...really??? How about coming up with the millions we need to fund our classrooms? We can't even get a discussion of the governor's idea to have businesses pay state income tax quarterly (it would give us $130 million one time money) because they call it a "tax increase". Frustrated...then email your legislator and let them know.

Today's "gnashing of teeth" Blog contest question (Oh, congrats Karen Draper, Glen Larsen, Cheryl Parkinson and Cindy Wallace for winning Chili's Gift Cards) is: What Rep. said "Let's let the teachers and the curriculum specialists make those decisions."?
Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Most want Education independent

Read Molly Farmer's front page story at http://www.deseretnews.com/. She writes "Changing who oversees Utah's public education system might seem like a novel idea to some lawmakers, but a recent Deseret News/KSL survey by Dan Jones shows that notion isn't popular among the public."

Today's "who wants the legislature in charge of education" Blog Question is: What percentage Strongly Oppose placing the State Board of Education under the supervision of the state Legislature"?

Email me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks Rick