Retirement Reminder

Some of you turned in a letter indicating you planned to retire intending to reexamine your situation following the legislative session. If you did that, this is probably the week you need to make a final decision. Although you should contact the Utah Retirement System or the district regarding your specific situation, here are some general reminders.

• The Davis School District retirement incentives will remain in place through at least the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
• Retire and rehire will be more restricted after July 1, 2010.
• The changes made this legislative session do not impact current employees even if they temporarily suspend employment and return to work later.

Caucus Participation Assessment

Please click the link below and tell us what you are willing to do to help raise awareness of educational needs in both parties.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7XDRNQL

Education NOT Held Harmless

You have probably heard news reports that some legislators claim to be holding education harmless. While it is true that education has come out of the legislature with fewer cuts than other state agencies, that does not mean the new budget will not impact classrooms and students. Today's Salt Lake Tribune has two editorials that reflect the impacts of legislative action on schools. Follow these links:

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_14649529

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_14649518

Final Reaction from Educator Day on the Hill

I had a wonderful time at the Capitol today! I really learned a lot about how bills are presented and debated, passed or not passed, in both the House and the Senate. I got to meet and shake hands with two representatives, Representative Barrus from the area where I teach, and Representative Wallis, from the area where I live. I even found out that two years ago I was the second grade teacher to Representative Barrus' grandson! I told Representative Wallis that I was excited to go to my neighborhood caucus coming up in a couple weeks and be a voice for public education. I also got to meet and visit with Senator Dan Liljenquist and thank him for his hard work in supporting ongoing funding for public education.
Thanks to the PAC for allowing me this opportunity!


Valerie Lindeman
Eagle Bay Elementary

Educator Day on the Hill

As an educator and member of our United Teaching Profession, I am pleased and proud of what our UEA and DEA lobby teams do for us. Without this valuable service provided by our association, we would be totally at the mercy of our lawmakers without any recourse for the far-reaching influence they have in what happens to us as employees personally and in our classrooms. I have seen this service first-hand.

Friday, March 5, I was on the hill and left encouraged by the wonderful support we have from a number of our lawmakers and the friendly way they treat us. Others I feel see us as "over-educated peasants" who should be seen in our classrooms and not heard advocating for our students. As we approach caucus time we need as many educators elected delegates as possible so that our voice is heard in a much more influential way. Your elected representatives will respond to you in a totally different way if they know you are a delegate in their senate or house district. The only way we can increase our "clout" as teachers is to be responsible for electing education-friendly legislators in the actual general election--county and state party conventions.

Richard Heath
DEA Executive Board

Tomorrow is the final UEA Educator Day on the Hill. We have five teachers currently planning to attend. Thursday is the final day of the legislature. As it closes, we will begin to get a picture of the total funding for next school year.

Retirement - Minority Viewpoint

Representative Neil Hansen, House District 9, had this guest commentary in Sunday's Standard Examiner.

http://www.standard.net/topics/opinion/2010/03/06/utah-residents-dont-want-proposed-retirement-changes

Legislature Tackles Budget

You should have received an email legislative update yesterday. The budget will be finalized by next Thursday. Please continue to contact your legislators. Some of them believe the cuts made have not impacted classrooms. Share your personal stories about how the budget cuts are impacting your classroom and your students. Be specific and detailed. Let them know budget reductions have impacted you and your students and how further reductions would hurt.

We are also interested in HB 295 which would allow some flexibility for districts to move capitol money into operations. This bill would help Jordan School Distict and might help Davis as well.

SB 77 continues to haunt us. This bill would impact how Davis School District does business. It would make it more difficult for teachers to sit on the insurance committee and for negotiations to occur during the school day.

Click here to contact your legislators.

It's Raining - Bring an Umbrella

This late notice came from Kim Campbell this morning, but some may want to stop on the way home today.

There is an impromptu, hostless gathering today in the Rotunda of the Capitol for those people and organizations concerned about cuts to education, higher education and human needs programs encouraging the legislature to use the rainy day funds.

WHEN: Thursday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Capitol Rotunda.

Umbrellas of all shapes and sizes are welcome.