Ballot Drop Off Locations

Ballots for ratification can be dropped off at the following locations:

DEA Office
Bountiful Junior High School
Clearfield High School
Legacy Junior High School
Syracuse Elementary
Buffalo Point Elementary

All ballots need to be to the DEA Office by 3:00 PM Friday. After noon Friday, ballots need to be dropped off at the DEA Office in Farmington. Please call the office if you have a problem.

Statement Regarding Reduction in Instructional Days

Reducing the number of instructional days is neither desirable nor easy. Everyone not attending school on those days will be hurt. Children will lose two opportunities to learn. Teachers and administrators will lose money. Bus drivers, cooks, and custodians will lose money and may even owe the district money to cover the cost of insurance. Parents' schedules will be disrupted and they will be inconvenienced. There are no winners when schools are closed due to lack of funding from the legislature. We hope alternative funding can be found in time to restore any days reduced for lack of funding.

Negotiations Settlement One Step Closer

The DEA Executive Board met for two hours Wednesday evening for a report on the tentative negotiations package. The board voted unanimously to forward the tentative settlement to the building reps with a positive recommendation. Building reps will be getting notice from Susan regarding time and location for the meeting.

Also, a reminder to those designated for IT that if you are called for an interview or offered a position it is very important that you accept. If you need guidance please call the DEA office at 801-451-2277.

Tentative Settlement Reached

The negotiations teams have reached a tentative settlement. The settlement still needs to be approved by the School Board and ratified by DEA. The settlement next will be presented to the DEA Executive Board which will determine whether to recommend the settlement to the building reps. If all goes well, details should be available in the schools before the end of the traditional school year.

Be Sure to Read This

http://neatoday.org/2010/05/13/florida-teacher-issues-rallying-cry-for-respect-for-educators/

Negotiations Teams Continue to Make Progress

District and DEA teams have been working hard to finish negotiations as quickly as possible. They are scheduled to meet all morning Friday, May 14, in hopes of making significant progress. We are hoping to have a meeting for building reps sometime in the last two weeks of school and vote before traditional school ends.

As you know, the retirement window remains open through the day today. Those who have made recent decisions to retire have opened positions which it is hoped will help the process of placing those displaced by cuts before the end of the school year or early in the summer.

Retirement and IT Updates

Retirement Reminder

Remember, this Friday, May 14, at 4:30 p.m. is the deadline for those who have decided to take advantage of the window that was opened to allow for late application for Davis District retirement incentives. It is important that a letter be received by human resources by that time. Allow extra time if you are relying on the post office or the pony. As always, we recommend that you discuss your individual circumstances with human resources (801-402-5122) or the Utah Retirement System (801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877).

IT Procedures

DEA and the District are working together to place educators identified for involuntary transfer as quickly as open positions can be identified. We have been asked if the potential exists for a reduction in force. Although we are confident that nearly all educators identified for IT will have a job next year, there is a possibility that some with specialized certification could end up without a placement. Should that happen, the RIF policy with some modification for the unusual circumstances we are facing might need to be used. The IT process will continue through June if necessary, but we hope those identified as IT will begin hearing about placement soon.

Huntsman Award for Excellence Winner

Congratulations to DEA member Michael Thompson from Fairfield Junior High for being selected as one of ten winners for the Huntsman Award for Educational Excellence. The award will be presented Friday, May 14, at Little America Hotel.

Close to Home

Follow this link to view a comic which hits "Close to Home."

http://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/2010/05/06/

Golf Tournament Scheduled

The annual DEA Golf Tournament has been scheduled for May 20. Details have been mailed to members. Click below for more information.

Tournament Details

"Works-4-Me" Weekly Newsletter

Utah resident and NEA Member Benefits employee, Sean Mabey, produces a weekly email newsletter called "Works-4-Me" which includes teaching tips and updates regarding NEA membership benefits.

Sample Newsletter - Click Here

If you would like to receive this weekly email, you can email Sean at smabey@neamb.com and ask to be added to his list for the "Works-4-Me" newsletter.