UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh Keynotes WSU FEA Conference

Our UEA President, Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh gave the keynote presentation to around 150 FEA High School Students last Friday, April 1st at WSU. She talked about why she became a teacher and the great career that education presents to them. After the opening session the students attended breakout sessions. Students from Davis School District, Weber School District and Ogden School District attended. Rick

Legislative Voting Records Continued...

Here are the voting records of our Weber legislators on some key issues:

• HB 388: Operation and Management of Charter Schools provides charter school different standards than traditional public schools and a lack of oversight. Passed. Opposed by the UEA.

Those voting against our position were: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Pitcher, Wilcox, Christensen, Jenkins, Reid

Voting for our position: Greenwood

• SB59: School Grading System would assign a letter grade to a school based on student test scores.

Those voting against our position were: Froerer, Peterson, Christensen, Jenkins, Reid

Those voting for our position were: Dee, Greenwood, Galvez, Wilcox

More legislation Monday. Have a great weekend.

Rick

More legislation of note...

HB447: Kindergarten Literacy Improvement Program would create a computer-based kindergarten literacy softward program for all kindergarten students. Failed Opposed by the UEA due to cost. HJR 1: Joint Resolution Amending State and Local Taxing Authority would have required a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature to approve any tax or fee increase. Rejected in committee. Opposed by the UEA SB4: Current School Year Supplemental Public Education Adjustments contains provisions for education funding proposed by the Executive Appropriations Committee. Passed. Supported by the UEA More voting records tomorrow. Rick

More voting records...

Here are some more voting records on notable education legislation:

• HB264: State Board of Education Election Process Amendments would have provided for direct, nonpartisan election of state board members. Supported by the UEA Did not pass.

Voting against our position were: Dee, Foerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Pitcher, Wilcox

Voting for our position was: Peterson

• HB 301: School District Property Tax Revision was opposed by UEA because it reduced transparency and may lead to future funding restrictions. Passed.

Voting against our position were: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Greenwood, Peterson, Wilcox, Jenkins, Reid

Voting for our position was: Pitcher

Christensen was absent or did not vote.

More legislation tomorrow. Rick

More legislation of note...

Here is some more legislation from the past session:

• HB313: Charter School Funding Amendments would take money from the current revenue stream of property tax and redistribute it to charter schools. Opposed by the UEA Did not pass


• HB339 Charter School Enrollment Amendments gives the State Board of Education authority to approve an annual increase in charter school enrollment capacity equal to 2% of total school district enrollment. Opposed by the UEA Did not pass


• HB388: Operation and Management of Charter Schools provideds that a "chartering entity" may use certain data to measure the performance of a charter school; prohibits a chartering entity from imposing performance standards that would limit a charter school from accomplishing the purposes of charter schools. Opposed by the UEA. Passed

More voting records tomorrow.

Rick

More voting records

HB152 Forbids teachers from serving as the parent rep on the community council-UEA Opposed Voting for: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Pitcher,Wilcox, Greenwood, Christensen, Reid Absent or not voting: Jenkins HB183 Restricts association leave-UEA Opposed Voting for: Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Wilcox, Christensen, Jenkins, Reid Voting against: Dee, Greenwood HB 199 Advertisements on Buses-UEA Supported Voting for: Dee, Froerer, Galvez, Peterson, Pitcher, Christensen Voting against: Greenwood, Wilcox, Jenkins, Reid More legislation tomorrow. Rick Read Molly Farmer's article on public ed funding survey at www.deseretnews.com

More legislation of note

Here are some more legislation from the past session:

• HB264: State Board of Education Election Process Amendments would have provided for the direct, nonpartisan election of state school board members. Did not pass. Supported by the UEA.
• HB301: School District Property Tax Revisions rolls six specific property tax levies into two, and exempts school districts from certain truth-in-taxation notice and hearing requirements. Passed. Opposed by the UEA because it reduces transparency and may lead to future funding reductions for traditional public schools.
• HB302: Reading Program Amendments is a bill that imposes requirements for reading instruction in kindergarten through grade three and standardizes the reading testing for K-3 students. It makes the use of technology as an opt-in consideration, funded with new money to education. Passed. UEA did not support or oppose.

More legislator voting records Monday.

Thanks Rick