Schools are more important than highways

Our children's education is more important and leaves a longer lasting legacy than any other public works project. Education benefits our democracy, increases our Gross National Product and ensures a stable and vibrant economy.

Read More from The Salt Lake Tribune

From SL Tribune

How do schools spend your money?

In Utah - a state with a high proportion of children and the lowest base per-pupil spending in the nation - school funding is a perpetual concern. But it's often misunderstood. Utah's system for funding schools is a complex web of programs, formulas and terminology that can make it difficult for average Utahns to understand exactly how their tax dollars pay for education.

Read More

Reform Happens Despite Lack of Financial Support

We've just got to hand it to Utah's public education officials.

Utah schools are dead last among all the states in funding. They're last in teacher-to-student ratio (we have the largest class sizes in the country). And the Beehive State's classroom rolls just keep growing, straining all available resources to the limit.

Read More

Disturbing Comments from Lt. Governor Bell

Read the disturbing comments made by Greg Bell during a luncheon in Salt Lake City. Click Here

Election Results

President: Don Paver

Vice President: Yvonne Speckman

Comment from candidate Jennifer Roberts on our Facebook Page

"Congratulations to Don and Yvonne our new President and Vice-President. Thanks for being willing to serve at this challenging time. The high percentage of voters that cast a ballot for this election indicate that our members are engaging more and see the association as important at this critical time. I hope we all stay involved and do our part for the sake of the chidren and the profession."

Add your comments on Facebook or on this blog.

Richard Heath Published in Deseret News

Change Utah's Nomination Process by Richard Heath, DEA Executive Board

There are some things that are out of date: button shoes, steam automobiles, poodle skirts and Utah's political party caucus system. It is time for Utah to join the 20th century - I don't know about the 21st century yet (I don't want to push it) - and drop this antiquated political practice.

Read More

Legislative Session Ends

During the last 45 days the legislature passed over 500 bills. More than 240 were passed just this week. Probably even the legislators don't understand completely what they have done.

The UEA and DEA staffs will go to work analyzing how the bills impact schools, teachers and students as we begin preparations for negotiations. What we do know is that it could have been worse. Because our legislature has been frugal over the last two years and has not overspent in anticipation of an economic recovery (silver lining?), we are beginning to see improvements in funding rather than continued declines as in many other states. We still face some economic challenges caused by two years of unfunded growth, increasing retirement and social security costs, continuing increases in health insurance costs, and other pressures caused by the recession and other factors.

The UEA lobbying team will be posting legislative summaries over the next few days. Please continue to watch UEA Under the Dome for those updates. DEA will work closely with the District Administration to determine how the changes impact Davis School District. The final budget numbers will not be available to us until after spring break.