OEA Negotiations

The OEA Negotiations team, Mary Courney, Doug Stephens, Sherie Dame, Chris Tea, Jenny Venegas, Bonnie Darlington, and Whit Freund met yesterday for two hours to prepare for the Federal Mediation that begins Wednesday at 10 AM. We discussed the budget and areas that we wanted to present to the mediator tomorrow. We agreed on our proposals and strategies and we will express our desires tomorrow to the mediator. During the process we will meet seperately and together with the district's team. We are optimistic that the next two days will be fruitful and we will be able to get the best results for you our members.
Rick

OEA Negotiations Meeting

The OEA Negotiations Team is meeting today to prepare for our mediation with the District that begins Wednesday. We will be discussing our proposals and looking at the budget. I will report out more later today. Rick

Reporting from Cody, Wyoming

We are enjoying the day in Cody, WY. A little golf and museum stuff and then down through the park tomorrow. Negotiations will start up again next week. Stay tuned for reports. Rick

Mediation Countdown - 6 Days

Our OEA Negotiations Team will be meeting Monday to discuss our positions going into Mediation next Wednesday. We hope to give you a full report next week. Rick

UEA Transformation

Our UEA Transformation Team met yesterday to look at the notes from the small group discussions at UEA Summer Leadership in June at the Zermatt. The following themes appeared from the notes: Communication, Transformation, Engagement, Leadership Training and Capacity Building, External Leadership and Data Collection. Most of these fit into what our team have been discussing for months. We will be presenting recommendations at Local Presidents meeting in August with the final presentation to membership at the UEA Convention in October.

Jordan Education Association is preparing for their mediation next Monday and Tuesday. OEA Negotiations Team will meet Monday to discuss our positions and then begin mediation Wednesday and Thursday.

Rick

School Trust Lands Money to Increase

An article in the SL Trib today by Lisa Schencker (www.sltrib.com) says that school community councils will have about 4 million more dollars than expected this year. Instead of a 24% cut in money, schools will see a 10% cut. The deep recession we are experiencing dropped the trust funds from $974 million in June of 2008 to $863 million as of June 2009. It will be good to see some more money going to those school trust land plans.

Countdown to mediation-11 days.

Rick

NEA Representative Assembly

Go to NEA web page to see a summary of activities at this year's NEA RA.