Have you signed an Ethics Initiative Petition?

We have petitions for the "Ethics Initiative" here at the Ogden/Weber UniServ office (939 25th St). Please stop by and sign the petition and/or pick up a petition to take to your school to help get signatures. Check out the UEG website (www.utahnsforethicalgovernment.org) to read more about the initiative.

Enter the contest by going to the Ogden/Weber UniServ website and email me Brad Dee's voting record from the Political Action site.

We will pick winners at our OEA and WEA AR meetings in November.

Thanks Rick

Teachers Under Scrutiny: SL Tribune Article

In today's SL Trib, Kristen Stewart writes about a group of public school teachers (30-50) who "have come under scutiny for criminal violations severe enough to merit possible reprimand or dismissal." She writes, "that's only one-quarter of 1 percent of Utah's 20,000 licensed educators all of whom recently underwent criminal background checks in an effort to improve systems for vetting school employees."

Go to http://www.sltrib.com/ to read the entire article.

Don't forget the CONTEST: Go the http://www.ogdenweber.org/ and check the Political Action logo and email me (rick@ogdenweber.org) with Brad Dee's voting record.

Thanks Rick

Ogden/Weber UniServ Legislative Dinner

Our Ogden/Weber UniServ Political Action Committee met last week and planned a dinner for our association leaders, district superintendants, and local legislators to meet and discuss the upcoming legislative session. We will meet in December to share our concerns and listen to possible funding sources: Rainy Day Fund, Tax Increases, etc. Budget projections do not paint a pretty picture with no substantial increase in projected tax revenues. We will need pressure placed by you on the legislators to do the right thing. We are starting early to dialog with our county legislators. Talk to your legislator now.

Thanks Rick

Deseret News: "Don't Kill Charter Schools"

Last week the Deseret News editorialized that cuts in state budgets could hurt the growth of charter schools. Today, it was reported that only two of the seven proposed charter schools would be allowed by the state. The state charter board is looking close at the applicants and looking for quality. Budget cuts would naturally allow less money for new schools. The D News said "there is no clear-cut solution to this issue or, for that matter, to the dilemma lawmakers face balancing the 2010-11 budget during a significant revenue shortfall. Dipping into the state's Rainy Day funds is a given. So is raising the state tobacco tax. It remains to be seen if legislators will be willing to raise the state income tax, which is solely earmarked for the support of public schools and colleges, in order to keep class sizes at reasonable levels in K-12 education and tuition affordable for college students."

NEW CONTEST: GO TO TO WWW.OGDENWEBER.ORG CLICK ON THE POLITICAL ACTION LOGO AND GIVE ME THE VOTING RATING (PERCENTAGE) OF BRAD DEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thanks Rick

Class Size a First Priority

We were glad to see the Standard-Examiner editorial board encourage the Utah State Legislature to fund student growth. Ogden's elementary schools are busting at the seams. Heritage has swelled to 873 students almost as many as Ben Lomond High. All of the elementary schools in Ogden (except the newest Shadow Valley) have portable classrooms. The Ogden School Board is looking at possible solutions which could include opening up one or more of the closed elementary schools. Weber District is also anticipating growth returning. It will be important for the UEA and our members to continue to apply pressure to the legislature for substantial funding. Our Ogden/Weber UniServ Political Action Committee met last night to discuss ways of letting our Weber County legislators know of our needs. It is important that each of you pay attention to the concerns and communicate with your legislator. As the economy recovers, we hope that the tax revenues will increase and the legislature will use the "rainy day funds" to help backfill the deficits.

CONTEST: GO TO THE UNISERV WEBSITE (WWW.OGDENWEBER.ORG) AND EMAIL RICK PALMER THE LIST OF YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS. RICK@OGDENWEBER.ORG

Have a great weekend. Rick

Doug Stephens-OEA President

OEA has a new president this year. Doug Stephens teaches U.S History and Government at Ben Lomond High School. He is a graduate of Bonneville High, Weber State and Utah State University. He and his wife Julie (Hatch) have four beautiful children. Doug also teaches a class at WSU and loves to spend his free time riding his four-wheelers. He takes students on tours of the Washington, D.C area each year. It has been great to work with Doug this year.

Marlene Irons-President of Weber Education Association

Marlene Irons has been involved with WEA since 1991 (Jr. High Rep) in many different roles. Marlene teaches FACS at South Ogden Jr. High and has been a teacher since 1974 (she beats me by two years). She has served as WEA President since 2003. I have enjoyed working with Marlene because of her strong work ethic and willngness to fight for teachers. Marlene is a huge reason that WEA is as strong an association as it is today. Thanks Marlene for your many years of service to teachers and students in Weber.

Rick (sorry about no blog yesterday, visiting my parents in Aberdeen, Idaho)

If you are interested in entering the contest, please go to the UniServ website at http://www.ogdenweber.org/ and send me a list of the executive board members from your association. Thanks We will draw for gift cards at the Nov. AR meeting.