Project Launch-Weber State University-Future Educators

For five days incoming WSU students, interested in teaching, will attend Project Launch on campus at Weber State University. Stephanie Heath, College of Ed recruiter and Future Education Association-WSU advisor, has organized activities, trainings and opportunities for several new WSU students to learn more about the career of teaching. Students who have participated in the Teachers for Tomorrow program in Davis, Weber and Ogden school districts will staying on campus and rubbing shoulders with professors and other college personnel. Many of these students received scholarships to attend WSU after attending concurrent enrollment ED 1010 classes last year.

Our association has contributed greatly to the activities of the local FEA chapters. Our advisors, Suzy Davis (OHS), Tammy Brown-Johansen and Mindy Knowles (BLHS) and Joan Iverson (Bonneville High) do a great job with our students.

Rick

WEA negotiations team to meet with mediator

The WEA Negotiations team is scheduled to meet with the mediator, Lynn Trenbeath, July 26th to start the mediation process. Lynn has already met with the district team. We will come together again in August.

Rick

Weber Negotiations Update-July 13

The WEA Negotiations team will be meeting with the mediator, Lynn Trenbreath, next week to start the mediation process. Lynn met with the Weber School District Team yesterday and we will schedule a time to meet with her next week. WEA declared impasse in negotiations and according to the state law we must go to mediation. We will keep you updated as we get more information.

Rick

Jordan Layoffs a done deal

You can read Rosemary Winters's article in today's Trib at www.sltrib.com.

Jordan District has completed layoofs of 190 general education employeees and an additional 97 special education workers. This is to pay for a $29 million shortfall the legislature left them with.

Rick

WEA Negotiations Update

WEA and Weber School District have reached impasse in negotiations over the district's refusal to pay step increments for those eligible teachers on the salary schedule. The legislature did not fully fund education and the district is having to go to the taxpayers for a tax increase and look for cuts in other places. WEA feels that the contract steps should be paid and that the district has an obligation to their employees to honor the contract. This represents about 60% of our teachers and we feel it is is worth the time to go to mediation over this issue. WEA also has worked with the insurance committee to look at recommendations that would keep insurance costs down, but is dismayed that the district is not willing to share in those increases. The loss of three more quality teaching days (the legislature hasn't funded those for two years) is also a hit for teachers only. We feel that the cuts should be more equitable and we should look at other options. Hopefully as we enter mediation we can achieve a more acceptable agreement.



Rick

UEA Children At Risk Foundation Grant for FEA

Our three Future Education Chapters (Ben Lomond, Ogden and Bonneville) received a shot in the arm for funding with the approval of a $5,000 Children at Risk Foundation grant for this fall. This will help us fund the activities of these future teachers in Ogden and Weber District. Our advisors, Suzy Davis (OHS), Tamara Brown-Johansen and Mindy Knowles (BLHS) and Joan Iverson (BHS) have organized some great activities to start the year. Weber State will be hosting a week-long experience for incoming freshman that will include FEA sponsored activities. This year a group will also be organized at Mt. Ogden Jr. High.

We look forward to growing the program with the help of Stephanie Heath at WSU College of Education. She sponsors a college chapter of the FEA and there are also several chapters in Davis District.

Rick

NEA RA Delegates Return Home

After being inspired by speeches from President Dennis Van Roekel, our 2010 teacher of the year, Maryland's governor and others our delegates are returning home this morning.

WEA's President, Marlene Irons, will return home to organize the negotiations team to start mediation with Lynn Trenbeth as mediator. Both teams will sit down with Lynn and list their interests in negotiations. Lynn will look to see where our interests coincide and find an area of cooperation and agreement. The sessions will be starting soon and we hope for a positive result.

OEA's President, Doug Stephens, will be setting up our next negotiations meetings as we return to town.

It is a heat wave here in Northern Washington, 85 degrees, and we are enjoying the time off. We will be back to work Monday.

Rick