2011 Legislation: The last of the worst...

Here are the last of my blogs on legislation of note. You can go to www.myuea.org and check out all of the legislative voting records and more detailed explanations of legislation.

• SB179: Math Education Iniative would require the legislature to appropriate money to award grants to school districts and charter schools to adopt the Singapore math program and would impose requirements for honors math courses and teachers. UEA opposed because it is not the legislature's job to decide curriculum. Did not pass.


• SB206: Labor Organization Provisions in Teacher Contracts requires that an employer promptly cease or commence a union dues wage deduction upon the written request of the employees. Passed. UEA opposed it as unecessary since we already do it.


• SB224: Partisan School Board Elections would have required that Utah State Board of Education members be elected in partisan elections. Did not pass. UEA opposed.


• SB256: Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation Process moves the teacher evaluation system to the district level and removes the requirement of "reasonable assistance" for improving performance. Passed. UEA opposed it.


• SJR1: Joint Resolution on State Board of Education Authority would have placed control and supervision of public education in the hands of the legislature. Did not pass. UEA opposed it.


• SJR9: Joint Resolution-Governance of Public and Higher Education would have amended the constitution to place public and higher education under the governor's control. Did not pass. UEA opposed.

Whew....that was painful.

Rick

OEA Receives Fact Finder Report

Michael Zimmerman, Hearing Officer for our Fact-finding, sent OEA President and Ogden City School Board his report. The report includes the following recommendations:

• Pay an amount equal to 100% of the value of the steps to all step-eligible teachers paid in equal amounts (each teacher would receive the same one-time stipend)


• The district should reiterate its statement made last year that it supports the payment of steps when state funding improves and that the district will work to restore permanent step increases.


• The district should pay all teachers an additional full day at the daily rate this year. 1/2 half to be worked May 27, 2011 and the other 1/2 to be used for professional development


• The district should pay all teachers an additional 1/2 day at the daily rate in March of 2012.


• The district should put the 2011-12 ARRA days at the beginning of the school year and pay them at 75% of daily rate.

The OEA ARs and Executive Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to support these recommendations. Now, we must wait for the OCSD Board to act.

I think a copy of the findings has been sent to ARs and members. If you have questions please email Doug Stephens at stephensd@ogdensd.org or me at rick@ogdenweber.org

Thanks rick

Grading Schools and other bad votes...

SB59: Grading schools: UEA opposed. Those voting for UEA's position were: Galvez, Dee, Greenwood, Wilcox Those voting against UEA's positon were: Froerer, Christensen, Jenkins, Reid, Peterson, Pitcher SB65: Statewide Online Education Program: UEA opposed. Those voting for UEA's position were Greenwood and Christensen Those voting against UEA's position were: Froerer, Jenkins, Reid, Peteson, Pitcher, Dee, Galvez, Wilcox More legislation tomorrow. Rick

More legislation....

Here are some more education bills:

• SB65:Statewide Online Education Program establishes a statewide online education program. Passed. Opposed by the UEA.


• SB73: Public School Teacher Tenure Modifications in its original form would have classified educators as either "proficient" or "low performing" based on student scores. As passed, the bill prohibits school districts from using last-hired, first-fired as a policy for reduction-in-force. Passed. The UEA opposed it.


• SB119: School District Superintendents Amendments provides that a district superintendent is not required to hold an administrative/supervisory license. Passed. Opposed by the UEA.


• SB127: Post Retirement Employment Amendments allows a retiree who begins employment with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2010 to be reemplyed whithin one year. Under the new law, an employee will be able to retire and after a 60 day wating period can come back and work without benefits and make less than $15,000 or 50 percent of the retirement allowance. Passed. Supported by the UEA

More voting records tomorrow.

Rick

HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK

Enjoy your time off, you deserve it...RICK

More legislation of note...

Here is some more of the legislation that affects schools:

• SB38: K-3 Reading Amendments revises the language to assess the reading level of first, second or third grade students and notify parents by Feb. 15 of each school year if a student is below grade level. Passed. Supported by UEA.


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


• SB63: K-3 Reading Improvement Program Accountability provides allowable uses for K-3 Reading Improvement Program money. Passed. Supported by the UEA

Have a great spring break.

Rick

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