NEA RA Day 4 Final Day

This is the day we stay until all business is done. We approved committee reports and resolutions. We finished all 89 new business items by passing (requires action by NEA), by defeating (no action), by referring (to committee for study), or by not considering (usually outside the education realm). Details have been posted on the JEA Facebook page. We also discussed and approved the strategic plan and budget, which has been cut significantly, for the next two years. President Obama could not be in attendance, so he called in to speak to us. His best quote was, "You can't help Americans without helping education." Melissa and Mallory both won In Your Seat drawings. The Jordan UniServ met the goal of raising $180 each for the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education.

NEA RA Day 3

We moved through many new business items. See the JEA Facebook page for details. We heard Judy Near, ESP of the Year from Colorado, speak. She talked about being told "Any monkey can do your job." She lead in her district to organize the ESP's into an association. She said, "Our solidarity is not for sale and never will be!" We need to stand together now more than ever. NEA Executive Director John Stocks spoke. He spoke about stopping racial profiling in schools. He said, "We cannot have a truly free America until we have a just America." The NEA choir sang three songs as part of the Independence Day celebration.

NEA RA Day 2

VP Joe Biden spoke to us first thing and he was introduced by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. He gave a great speech about the importance of public education and recognizing what we, as teachers, do. I posted some of his comments on the JEA Facebook page. The main idea was that there are just different approaches to helping public education. We covered a lot of new business items. In addition, there was a panel who talked about programs in their locals that are helping raise the bar for entry into the profession. Summaries of their comments are also posted on the JEA Facebook page.

NEA RA Day 1

The first day of the RA, we heard from NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. You can read his remarks at www.nea.org/home/52399.htm We heard VP Lily Eskelsen speak about the importance of the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. We voted on standing rules and heard debate on constitutional amendments. There wil be more business each day. VP Joe Biden is speaking on the second day.

NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards

I attended the NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Banquet this evening. It is an inspiring night honoring people and groups from around the country who have forwarded the ideals of human and civil rights and social justice. The stories are amazing! It was most inspiring to hear the wife of the late Reverend Abernathy, who helped Martin Luther King in Montgomery, speak about her memories of Rosa Parks, the bus boycott that lasted 381 days (one day then one week at a time), and how the white women who had black help wanted the boycott to end so they didn't have to go pick up their help anymore. One winner works with his students to foster international understanding. Another works to educate the public about the Underground Railroad, which his ancestors traveled to freedom. A teacher in California works with dual enrollment and working with parents of immigrant students. An attorney helps immigrants work toward becoming naturalized citizens. A couple of winners helped minorities and alternative high school students see the value of and their ability to attend college. A 14 year old student, who is gay, defended one of his teachers who asked a student to leave class for making an anti-gay remark. These are just a few of the amazing stories we learned about. If you know of a person or group that is making a difference in human and civil rights and social justice for disadvantaged groups, I would love to help you nominate them for one of these awards for next year.

NEA RA (Representative Assembly) Pre-meetings

Mallory Meyer, Debbie Brown, Melissa Brown,and I are in Washington DC for the annual NEA-RA. We have attended Utah caucus meetings the last two days. We registered and visited the exhibit hall. Today was a day of learning. I attended a session on raising the bar for entry into the profession and possibly adding a residency. NEA is going to work with some universities to start pilot residency programs. General business meetings run July 2-5. I will updateas the days progress.

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.