Dear Members and Staff,
The Utah Education Association has been very active in working to make sure the Education Jobs Bill funding, which Congress passed earlier this month, is something that we as a state will be able to benefit from.
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to many of you who took time from your summer to contact your Congressional representatives to assure the passage of this important legislation.
Since the passage of this legislation, we have been meeting with the Governor and other state leaders to make sure they understand the benefits this funding will provide. For those that are not aware, Congress passed a $26 billion jobs bill to benefit public education across the country. Of the $26 billion, Utah will be awarded $101 million. This money can be used to recall teachers and other building level employees, reinstate lost instructional days, reduce class sizes, or fill anticipated funding shortfalls for the 2010-2011 school year.
This past week the Governor said he will be making application for the $101 million. There are some challenges we are working through in educating the legislature as to the positive impact these monies will have on our state’s economy. It is anticipated that there will be a special session called as this money is distributed to the local districts. We are trying to expedite this process in order to enable the monies to be made available as quickly as possible. As you have conversations with your legislators, please share your thoughts related to this funding investment to our schools, children and economy.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our staff here at the UEA. Get in touch with Kory Holdaway at kory.holdaway@utea.org or Jay Blain at jay.blain@utea.org, and they can answer many of your questions or visit our web site for the status related to this funding.
Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh M.A., N.B.C.T
UEA President
801-266-4461
Toll Free 800-594-8996
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
School Board Approves Two of Four Tax Increases
"We must renew our commitment to adequately fund quality public schools," said DEA President Susan Firmage during the truth in taxation hearing Tuesday night in Farmington. DEA was well represented by board members Andrew Owens, Jennifer Tanner, Jessica Dunn, Richard Heath and Vice President Don Paver all of whom addressed the board and audience. Other board members, building reps and DEA members were in the audience to show support for the proposed increases.
Much of the opposition to the tax increase seemed to have more to do with general frustration with the economy than with this particular tax increase or a lack of support for educators and education.
The DEA negotiation team will likely be called back to the table to discuss the impact on the budget of these tax increases and the federal jobs bill passed last week. Watch this space for updates on these and other important developments as school begins.
Much of the opposition to the tax increase seemed to have more to do with general frustration with the economy than with this particular tax increase or a lack of support for educators and education.
The DEA negotiation team will likely be called back to the table to discuss the impact on the budget of these tax increases and the federal jobs bill passed last week. Watch this space for updates on these and other important developments as school begins.
Monday, August 16, 2010
School Board Considers Tax Increase
Tuesday, August 17, the Davis School Board will hold a public hearing regarding tax increases to help offset funding lost during the last legislative session. The impact was discussed during building rep training last week. Members who wish to show support for the school board can attend the board meeting which begins at 5:30 PM. The taxation hearing will begin at 6:00 PM. DEA leadership will be in attendance, but member support is encouraged.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Training for Building Reps
DEA Association Reps will gather this Thursday in Farmington to discuss some important issues facing the association as the year begins. If you are a building rep, you should have been contacted by email and phone with information. If you have not, please send a request for information to Pat Riley at pat@dea.org. If you are a building rep and will not be able to attend, please contact Pat for information regarding how the information can best be obtained another time.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Joel Briscoe Utah's Newest Member of the House of Representatives
Our own Joel Briscoe was recently appointed to fill a vacancy in the Utah House of Representatives. Follow this link to read about the appointment in the Deseret News.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
More Comments from the NEA RA
Don Paver, DEA VP: There have been many opportunities to be a part of the NEA process by attending a variety of caucuses (including State, National Board Certified Teachers, Republican, Democrat, etc.). We are doing a great job speaking to issues and representing YOU, our Members!
Richard Heath: Davis and Utah are well represented. We have a voice in NEA! I wish we could bottle all the excitement here and bring it home for all of you to experience! PS. I'm never going to complain about our arid heat in Utah again. I stuck to my seat on the trolley!
Susan Firmage: Davis has more delegates than anyone else in Utah. We have 15. Davis is well represented! (Delegates include: Susan Firmage, Don Paver, Jesse DeHay, Brian Ferguson, Ellen Thompson, Shelli Arthur, Jessica Dunn, Richard Heath, Paulette Hopfenbeck, Bruce Illum, Valerie Lindeman, Jennifer Tanner, Holly Lindeman, Andrew Owens, Yvonne Speckman.
Yvonne: We are working hard on the floor debating new business items. New Orleans is such a fun town. Humid and hot but the wonderful food helps make up for it.
Valerie Lindeman: I love seeing and being with so many educators from all over the country! The democratic process of debating education issues has been very respectful and inspiring to observe. Everyone truly has a voice.
Bruce Illum: Attending the NEA Representative Assemblly has been an awesome experience. Seeing and hearing the voices of members from all over the nation coming together in one unified voice brings a feeling of strength and comfort that the NEA "has our back" in facing the many difficult issues in front of us at both the National and local levels.
Jenn Tanner: Not only did we walk within 15 feet of Mary J. Blige coming back from lunch (the Essence Music Festival is in the other end of the convention center), but the food has been fantastic! It is so energizing to be here and see this representative body at work. I wish all of our members could be here.
Paulette Hopfenbeck: Things are happening in the Representative Assembly. Issue are being thoroughly debated with the goal of making education even better for both students and teachers. This is a great process.
Holly Lee: What an exciting process to watch as new items are debated on the floor of the RA! To see a group of 10,000 teachers make decisions for NEA through the democratic process is wonderful. We are on track and heading in the right direction!
Jessica Dunn: This is my first RA. I have been blown away by the process, dedication, and organization of the NEA. The thousands of teachers at the conference are here to make a difference for the members. I wish everyone could participate!
Shellli Arthur: I thought it was nice to see the NEA taking action to reach out to the 30% Republican NEA membership. We voted in support of organizing grass roots and leadership roles and influencing party policy to support education friendly positions. We all agree that educating our students well is the IDEAL non partisan issue.
Richard Heath: Davis and Utah are well represented. We have a voice in NEA! I wish we could bottle all the excitement here and bring it home for all of you to experience! PS. I'm never going to complain about our arid heat in Utah again. I stuck to my seat on the trolley!
Susan Firmage: Davis has more delegates than anyone else in Utah. We have 15. Davis is well represented! (Delegates include: Susan Firmage, Don Paver, Jesse DeHay, Brian Ferguson, Ellen Thompson, Shelli Arthur, Jessica Dunn, Richard Heath, Paulette Hopfenbeck, Bruce Illum, Valerie Lindeman, Jennifer Tanner, Holly Lindeman, Andrew Owens, Yvonne Speckman.
Yvonne: We are working hard on the floor debating new business items. New Orleans is such a fun town. Humid and hot but the wonderful food helps make up for it.
Valerie Lindeman: I love seeing and being with so many educators from all over the country! The democratic process of debating education issues has been very respectful and inspiring to observe. Everyone truly has a voice.
Bruce Illum: Attending the NEA Representative Assemblly has been an awesome experience. Seeing and hearing the voices of members from all over the nation coming together in one unified voice brings a feeling of strength and comfort that the NEA "has our back" in facing the many difficult issues in front of us at both the National and local levels.
Jenn Tanner: Not only did we walk within 15 feet of Mary J. Blige coming back from lunch (the Essence Music Festival is in the other end of the convention center), but the food has been fantastic! It is so energizing to be here and see this representative body at work. I wish all of our members could be here.
Paulette Hopfenbeck: Things are happening in the Representative Assembly. Issue are being thoroughly debated with the goal of making education even better for both students and teachers. This is a great process.
Holly Lee: What an exciting process to watch as new items are debated on the floor of the RA! To see a group of 10,000 teachers make decisions for NEA through the democratic process is wonderful. We are on track and heading in the right direction!
Jessica Dunn: This is my first RA. I have been blown away by the process, dedication, and organization of the NEA. The thousands of teachers at the conference are here to make a difference for the members. I wish everyone could participate!
Shellli Arthur: I thought it was nice to see the NEA taking action to reach out to the 30% Republican NEA membership. We voted in support of organizing grass roots and leadership roles and influencing party policy to support education friendly positions. We all agree that educating our students well is the IDEAL non partisan issue.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Comments from the NEA RA
From Andrew Owens:
A day in the life at the RA: We get up early and get to our Utah representative caucus and discuss the legislative issues that will be on the discussion board for the day's debate. We discuss the pros, cons, and outcomes, and then we take a vote for the Utah group. We then have one hour to grab some breakfast and get over to the convention center.
The Resolutions committee worked for large portions of two days to address amendments or new statements to be added to the list of belief statements that form the foundation of the NEA's daily actions. Utah is lucky enough to to have 5 state representatives that work on or with the Resolutions committee. We make sure that Utah's voice is heard and that Resolutions are worded in such a way that the rights of ALL NEA members are reflected fairly.
The days before the actual meeting began, we had a HUGE convention hall full of booths and benefits for teachers with teaching tools and merchandise aimed directly at educators (similar to the UEA convention booths). The Representative Assembly itself includes great speeches from fantastic educators and others, including international guests, Teacher of the Year, Education-Friendly Governor of the year, Education Support Professional of the year, and of course our very eloquent and motivation President Dennis Van Roekel, and VP Lily Eskelsen.
A 30 minute lunch break is really too short in a building with more than 10 thousand people and a mall-sized food court, so many of us bring snacks in our bags. More business and speakers in the afternoon, including debate on whether we should spend up to 5 million dollars on various action items. The representatives are VERY cautious with the funding that comes from the dues we all pay, and we work hard to do the most effective business with the least amount of expenditure. It is really neat to see an expensive proposal re-edited to accomplish the goal with less money, sometimes cutting a million-plus proposal down to an amount in the thousands. It is a wonderful experience to stand behind one of 40 microphone stands in a room of 10 thousand peers, and voice an opinion, and then vote (and actually take action) on issues that will affect the state of education across our nation.
In the evening, we usually find close, inexpensive restaurant with a very tasty range on the menu, and enjoy some free time to see the many sights of this historic town (New Orleans, this year, Chicago next)! We are glad to be here working for all of you, and carrying out the action that will improve the state of education in our great nation!
A day in the life at the RA: We get up early and get to our Utah representative caucus and discuss the legislative issues that will be on the discussion board for the day's debate. We discuss the pros, cons, and outcomes, and then we take a vote for the Utah group. We then have one hour to grab some breakfast and get over to the convention center.
The Resolutions committee worked for large portions of two days to address amendments or new statements to be added to the list of belief statements that form the foundation of the NEA's daily actions. Utah is lucky enough to to have 5 state representatives that work on or with the Resolutions committee. We make sure that Utah's voice is heard and that Resolutions are worded in such a way that the rights of ALL NEA members are reflected fairly.
The days before the actual meeting began, we had a HUGE convention hall full of booths and benefits for teachers with teaching tools and merchandise aimed directly at educators (similar to the UEA convention booths). The Representative Assembly itself includes great speeches from fantastic educators and others, including international guests, Teacher of the Year, Education-Friendly Governor of the year, Education Support Professional of the year, and of course our very eloquent and motivation President Dennis Van Roekel, and VP Lily Eskelsen.
A 30 minute lunch break is really too short in a building with more than 10 thousand people and a mall-sized food court, so many of us bring snacks in our bags. More business and speakers in the afternoon, including debate on whether we should spend up to 5 million dollars on various action items. The representatives are VERY cautious with the funding that comes from the dues we all pay, and we work hard to do the most effective business with the least amount of expenditure. It is really neat to see an expensive proposal re-edited to accomplish the goal with less money, sometimes cutting a million-plus proposal down to an amount in the thousands. It is a wonderful experience to stand behind one of 40 microphone stands in a room of 10 thousand peers, and voice an opinion, and then vote (and actually take action) on issues that will affect the state of education across our nation.
In the evening, we usually find close, inexpensive restaurant with a very tasty range on the menu, and enjoy some free time to see the many sights of this historic town (New Orleans, this year, Chicago next)! We are glad to be here working for all of you, and carrying out the action that will improve the state of education in our great nation!
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