Negotiations Impasse Media Release

June 26, 2012

Contact: Jennifer Boehme

President, Jordan Education Association
Telephone: 801-262-2449 ext. 2

Email: jennifer.boehme@utea.org

Jordan Teachers Declare Impasse in Contract Negotiations

The Jordan Education Association (JEA) today announced it has declared impasse in contract negotiations with the Jordan School District for the 2012-13 school year and will enter mediation according to Utah State Law.

JEA is asking for mediation because of the school district’s failure to provide adequate resources to ensure the recruitment and retention of quality teachers in Jordan School District. JEA also opposes a district proposal to eliminate the voice of teachers in negotiating policies that impact the student learning environment and employee working conditions.

One issue leading to impasse is the district’s proposal to end the practice of collaborating with educators in negotiating policies that impact the student learning environment and teachers’ working conditions. “JEA believes it is vitally important for the voice of teachers and other employees to be heard and considered when addressing policies that are important to students’ learning conditions and teachers’ working environment,” said JEA President Jennifer Boehme.

Negotiating this year through a hired attorney rather than directly with educators, Jordan School District extended an offer that included increases on the salary schedule for the 2012-13 school year, but no increases for the 2013-14 school year unless the Legislature were to provide funding specifically for that purpose. The Legislature has never earmarked money specifically for step-and-lane salary increases.

“We are concerned that the district’s unwillingness to consider salary increases for the 2013-14 school year puts the district at risk of losing quality teachers to surrounding school districts that are providing increases,” said Boehme. Because of budget shortfalls, Jordan School District teachers agreed to forego step-and-lane salary increases during two of the past three years.

A counter-offer by JEA to accept step-and-lane increases for 2012-13 along with continuing the status of negotiated policies was rejected by the school district.

“We are disappointed the Jordan School Board elected to negotiate through a contracted attorney rather than directly with teachers,” said Boehme. “Schools work best when everyone collaborates.” The JEA negotiations team consists of three teachers who volunteer their time to represent the interests of educators.

See also Salt Lake Tribune article and KUTV 2 News story.

School Improvement Academy for Elementary Schools

All elementary principals and at least one teacher from their school attended the SIP Academy.  Dr. Johnson used a direct teaching model for the workshop.  She said that in looking at school improvement, you should start global but then zoom in on specifics, including data and classroom instruction.  To really look at the SIP, you must do a Root Cause Analysis (RCA).

The goal for all elementary schools is to reduce non-proficient students by 10% in Language Arts and Math.  Measurable Objective 1 should address Tier 1 instruction and Measurable Objective 2 should address Tier 2 and 3 instruction.  The part that has traditionally been missing in SIP is monitoring.  Dr. Johnson suggested revisiting the SIP weekly and monthly to monitor the school's progress.

Steps to use to create SIP:

Step 1 – look at data and assess needs

Step 2 – identify priority concerns

Step 3 – do root cause analysis

Step 4 – focused, research based solutions

All elementary schools should expect to hear from principals about this SIP.  Teachers will be using the Jordan Student Assessment System to see data including CRT, DWA, SRI, DIBELS, PALS, and GRL.  All will be uploaded from other sources except GRL, which teachers will enter.  This will help with triangulation of data so teachers can identify standards and objectives where improvement is needed.

Suggested websites for improving Tier 1 classroom instruction:
Marzano Research
Lead and Learn

School improvement is a continuous process.  The SIP is a living document and the FOCUS of our work! 

UEA Leadership Academy

I attended UEA Leadership Academy last week with several other JEA members including James Maughan at West Hills, Lanny Sorensen at Sunset Ridge, Heather Reich at Majestic, and Jannifer Young at Elk Ridge.  We spent the first morning learning about the 9 Domains of Complex Systems.  See the 9 Domains website for more information.  In the afternoon, we went to break out sessions on membership, political action, strengthening leadership skills, and advocacy.

Tuesday we learned more about applying the 9 Domains to association work.  We also looked at the varying abilities and needs of the different generations UEA represents.  In the afternoon, the Jordan UniServ (Jordan and Canyons) worked together to develop an organizing plan.  I appreciate the willingness of these members to spend two days of their summer vacation learning more about the work of the association!

JPAS Results 2012

I attended the Joint Educator Evaluation Committee yesterday where we were given the summary of all JPAS results for the 2011-2012 school year.  I am often asked about principals who score low.  JPAS has a monitoring process, and this year 30 evaluators (principals, vice principals, other administrators) were monitored to verify reliability in results.  There were 5 evaluators outside of the standard deviation on the high end of scores and no evaluators outside of the standard deviation on the low end.  This says that those 5 evaluators were too lenient, and no evaluators were overly negative.

Overall, 1% of those evaluated using the full JPAS observation process were Below Basic, 4% were Basic, 55% were Proficient, and 40% were Superior.

PAC Recommendation

The JEA PAC has decided to recommend Lynn Crane in the Jordan School Board Precinct 1 in Herriman.  Former Herriman Mayor Crane has a lifetime of experience from teaching to selling textbooks to filing a lawsuit when Herriman residents were not allowed to vote in the District split.  If you live in Herriman, please consider voting for Lynn Crane in the primary election on June 26.

JEA Retirees

I have had a great time over the last two weeks going to take a small retirement gift to each JEA retiree.  What a wonderful group of people with a wealth of experience!

Please share your congratulations with the following people:

Marva Bennett, Bingham





Jana Brinton, Bingham

Margaret Pratt, Bingham

Janice Voorhies, Bingham

Karen Kochevar, Columbia

Kris Millerberg, Columbia

     Lee Dillon, Copper Hills

Claire Glade, Curriculum

Karen Keetch, Elk Meadows

Charlene Peppinger, Elk Ridge

Dean Mednick, Mountain Shadows

    Celestia Whitehead, Oquirrh Hills

Glennys Sabuco, Riverton Elementary

Jorja Lloyd, Riverton Elementary

Sharon Pitcher, Riverton High

    Colin MacLeod, Rosamond

Claudia Mumford, Rose Creek

    Karla Noble, Terra Linda

Bruce Brinkman, Welby

    Susan Kane, West Jordan Elementary

Lanny Westerman, West Jordan High

Susan Hart, Westland

Carolyn Tidwell, Westland

Kathryn Hanna, Westvale

America Achieves Fellowship

The following information is about an opportunity to raise the voice of educators as we work to transform our education system.  I encourage you to send this information out, apply yourself, or nominate an accomplished educator  that will be a strong addition to this group of Fellows.  It would be great to have many NEA members apply for, or be nominated for, this Fellowship so that our members’ voices continue to influence the education policy dialogue.

 From America Achieves:

 Apply today (apply.americaachieves.org) for the outstanding opportunity to join the second cohort of the America Achieves' Education Champions Fellowship. Fellows receive a stipend and will be provided with unique opportunities to advise top education leaders at semi-annual conferences; work with other excellent educators to help find solutions to some of the education system's greatest challenges; and develop their own content knowledge on pressing policy issues. The next conference will occur in New York City in September during NBC's Education Nation. The group is doubling its size in order to expand the fellowship to a total of 100 outstanding educators, which will include 80 teachers and 20 principals. Applications are due May 29, 2012.  All travel and lodging expenses are covered for the fellows.

America Achieves is a new non-profit that aims to help America become a global leader in educational excellence and equity and prepare all young people for success in careers, college, and citizenship. The Fellowship leverages the voice of a diverse group of the nation's most effective principals and teachers to improve national education policy and increase the practical tools available to educators nationwide. America Achieves fellowship was formed to identify transformative educators, learn from their successes and bring their voices into the public discourse on education. Current members of the group have advised such leaders as the U.S. Secretary of Education, mayors and superintendents of major cities and have played a crucial role in both of NBC's nationally televised Education Nation summits.

Fact Sheet for the America Achieves’ Education Champions Fellowship

Purpose of the Fellowship

·         To amplify voices of principals and teachers.

·         To advise policy makers and champion the importance of improving our education system so that we can achieve excellence and equity in all American classrooms.

·         To communicate lessons learned in schools and classrooms to key decision makers and the broader public.

What have the Fellows done so far?

·         Since joining the community in September 2010, Fellows participated in both of NBC’s Education Nation summits, where they spoke on panels, participated in teacher town halls, and conducted interviews with national and local media outlets.

·         Fellows have met for three conferences to exchange best practices and provide substantive and candid advice to policymakers and leaders in education on such topics as Common Core Standards and ESEA reauthorization.

·         The Fellows have a virtual network where they exchange thought-provoking reflection on their experiences as educators.  The network has become a valuable tool for all the participants to support each other in schools across the country.

·         Many of the Fellows have been involved in educating policy makers in their local communities and state capitols through testimony and media interviews.

Who are the Fellows?

·         The current class of fellows includes 41 teachers and 8 principals, all whom have helped their students achieve outstanding levels of achievement and improvement in their classrooms and schools.

·         They reside in 17 different states, with representation in all of the major regions of the US. 

·         The group is highly diverse with regards to ethnicity, age, and years of experience.  The teachers have experience in a variety of classroom contexts--from kindergarten to high school chemistry and art. They hold a variety of leadership posts—from math chair to union representative. 

What are we looking for in a Candidate?

·         We are seeking applications from educators who are highly effective in their schools and committed to three principles:

1.      All children can achieve at high-levels when adults take responsibility to make this happen

2.      Effective educators can improve the education system by engaging in the policy process

3.      Public conversations about education must be evidence-based, include diverse stakeholders, and be conducted with respect for differences of opinion. 

• Fellows will be expected to attend at least two conferences per year

Do Fellows receive compensation?

·         Fellows will receive stipends for active participation.

·         All travel and lodging costs are covered when fellows go to conferences

What is America Achieves?

·         America Achieves is a non-profit organization that will shine a spotlight on successful educators and programs, distill lessons learned and the evidence base, and support promising state and local efforts that drive large-scale improvements in education and outcomes for young people.  This work will help America become a global leader in educational excellence and equity and prepare all young people for success in careers, college, and citizenship.