Jump Start Coalition

The Utah Jump$tart Coalition is hosting the annual $tart $mart Teachers Summit on November 5, 2010 at the University Marriott in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is a free training event for K-12 teachers that offers substitute reimbursement up to $75, mileage reimbursement for Title I teachers,and 0.5 USOE Re-certification/Lane Change credit. The purpose of the Summit is to help teachers integrate financial literacy education into core curriculum and understand the Utah requirements for finance education for grades K-12.

You can resgister online at Jump $tart or you can call  Anne Tibbitts at 801-414-9981.

Contract Settlement General Membership Meetings

The JEA Negotiations Team and the Jordan District Administration, through the work of hearing officer Dr. Ralph Haws, have reached a tentative agreement. Superintendent Newbold will be presenting the settlement to the School Board for their approval at their closed study session on Tuesday, September 14.


JEA will hold two General Membership Meetings to present the settlement to members on Wednesday, September 15 in the Elk Ridge Middle School Auditorium. One meeting will begin at 3:30 and one will begin at 4:30. The same information will be presented at each meeting.

If you want to know what the Negotiations Team has spent 130+ hours and nearly five months on, be in attendance.

Legislative Council (AR) Meeting

Last night we had a good Legislative Council Meeting.  Most schools were represented.  We discussed local building concerns, PAC (political action), and negotiations.

13 ARs signed up to walk for JEA recommended candidates on Saturday, September 18.  You can sign up too!  Just ask your AR, RSVP on Facebook, or e-mail me.  You can choose the candidate you would like to help.  Watch the blog for meeting locations.

I want to thank he awesome ARs at the following schools for completing both of their homework assignments.  If your school isn't listed, go ask your AR about their roster and PTA/SCC contact forms.

• Bingham, Riverton High, Iteneris, JATC, Valley, Elk Ridge, Oquirrh Hills, South Hills, West Jordan Middle, Rose Creek, South Jordan Elementary, West Jordan Elementary, Daybreak, Eastlake, Elk Meadows, Jordan Ridge, Terra Linda

JEA Walk for Candidates

Do you want to see a change in the face of the School Board or the State Legislature? Join other JEA members to walk for our endorsed candidates. Have breakfast and have fun walking to support those who will support us!

We will walk for JEA endorsed candidates on Saturday, September 18 beginning around 9 for two to three hours.

RSVP on the Facebook event at JEA on Facebook. 

Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings

Today is a much calmer day.  I am catching up, because I didn't have time to answer e-mails yesterday, let alone post to the blog.  Here is how Thursday looked.

7:00 a.m. - Attended Jordan Education Foundation Meeting.  The Foundation raises money to give grants to individual teachers and scholarships to students.  They are considering whole school projects as well.  A JEF representative should be contacting principals to ask about wants.  Here is a link to the  JEF Mini Grant Application.
Superintendent Newbold said the new elementary in West Jordan will open next August.  He stated that local principals should work with their PTA and SCC to decide on if/when to broadcast President Obama's speech to school children, scheduled for September 14.  An opt-out form must be provided.

Arrived at the JEA office and started to answer e-mail when Cindy Carroll and I went to meet with UEA leaders about the hearing process.  We met with UEA President, Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, UEA Executive Director, Mark Mickelsen, UEA Director of Policy & Research, Jay Blain, and UEA Attorney, Mike McCoy.  UEA has been involved in knowing what has happened with our negotiations process and is helping us through the hearing, because no other school district has done this before.  In addition, Sharon contacted NEA for us to see about financial assistance to pay the hearing officer fees.  NEA has agreed to match state and local funds.    All levels of the Association have been involved.

11:15 a.m. - The Hearing Officer, Ralph Haws, called and wanted to meet immediately.  Cindy and I headed to Riverton High School where our Negotiations Chairperson, Melissa Brown teaches.  Luckily, we met on her prep hour to discuss a modified proposed settlement.  Worked to contact all Negotiations Team members throughout the afternoon.

1:45 - Back to the office for a monthly meeting with both UniServ Directors and CEA President, Tony Romanello.

3:30 - Out to South Jordan Elementary for a school visit.  The teachers there asked good questions, and it was great to meet them.

4:30 - Now to West Jordan High where we held the JEA PAC meeting to discuss candidate recommendations and PAC support.  The JEA PAC is recommending:

• Nathan Gedge in School Board Precinct 7 (Peggy Jo Kennett's seat) Nathan's website
• John Rendell (D) in Legislative House Seat 47 (West Jordan area that used to be Steve Mascaro's seat) John's website
• Chad Reyes (unaffiliated) in Legislative House Seat 52 (Herriman, Carl Wimmer's seat) Chad's website
• Gary Olsen (D) in Legislative House Seat 50 (South Jordan, Merlynn Newbold's seat) Gary's website
• Dave Hogue (D) in Legislative Senate Seat 11 (Riverton/Draper, Howard Stephenson's seat) Dave's website
• Jim Bird (R) in Legislative House Seat 42 (West Jordan, incumbent) Jim's website

Two walk for candidates are scheduled for Saturdays, September 18 and October 23 in the mornings.  More information on exact times and places will be forth coming.

8:00 p.m. - The Negotiations Team felt the Executive Board needed to know about the latest proposed settlement, but due to personal schedules, we could not meet in person.  We were able to have two Executive Board members present, with one on speaker phone.  Others were contacted by phone individually, but all Executive Board members were able to hear the proposal, ask questions, and express concerns.

I finally arrived home about 9:30 p.m.  It was a long day, a tiring day, but also an exciting day!  The work of the Association is important, and I am enjoying it immensely, even though at times, it can be difficult.

Busy Day

This was my first full day in the JEA office since school started last week.  I planned the Legislative Council (AR) Meeting and Executive Board Meeting for next week.  I answered several e-mails and a few phone calls about negotiations and some local school problems. 

The JEA Negotiations Team met again with the hearing officer, Ralph Haws, as part of the fact finding process. We continue to fight for lanes and steps. Additional information will be forth coming in the next few days.

Dual Endorsement in Governor's Race

As you may have seen in both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News, UEA has endorsed both candidates for Utah Governor.  The following is information provided by UEA President Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh on the dual endorsement.

Why A Dual Endorsement?

1.     Both Mayor Corroon and Governor Herbert have identified public education as a priority in their campaigns. This is a positive for the Utah Education Association.

·       Corroon has involved UEA members in a summit designed to create a long-term plan for public education. He also recognizes the necessity of renewing our commitment to adequately fund public schools following the Great Recession. Corroon’s education platform uses pieces of the Association’s TEF message. He has a dynamic Lt. Governor running mate – Sheryl Allen – who knows the issues facing education. He is willing to look at current tax structure issues. He is anti-voucher.

·       Herbert placed a UEA representative on his Education Excellence Commission. He successfully argued in favor of ongoing funding, and against further cuts in public education, during the 2010 legislative session. He has committed to seek $101 million in federal funding related to the Jobs Bill. He has offered to help us overcome some of the attacks leveled at the Association. He has told us his door is always open. He is the first governor to have requested a meeting with the UEA Board of Directors.

2.     Both Governor Herbert and Mayor Corroon appeared before U-PAC and shared their ideas about education.

·       Both candidates asked for and actively sought an endorsement.

3.     A majority of U-PAC members voted for a dual endorsement.

·       U-PAC members represent every geographic region of the state.

·       Prior to a decision, full discussions were held at both the July and August 2010 U-PAC meetings.

·       Following the July U-PAC meeting, members were asked to discuss the gubernatorial race in their locals and UniServs. This information was shared and discussed.

·       U-PAC voting confirms the democratic nature of the organization.

·       Input was solicited from a number of sources.

What About Vouchers?

1.     Herbert told the UEA Board and U-PAC he believes the public has spoken and vouchers are dead.

2.     While Herbert played a role in the certification of anti-voucher petitions, it was the Utah Legislature that passed the voucher bill.

3.     Corroon is against vouchers.

Shouldn’t We Support Only Corroon? He Is Using The Association’s TEF Message?

1.     Corroon is using pieces of the TEF message. We are appreciative that he is willing to look at the current tax structure and examine problems associated with the systematic ‘defunding’ of public schools.

2.     Both Corroon and Herbert recognize the importance of investing in public schools to grow the economy.

3.     The UEA is planning to meet with Governor Herbert to talk about TEF.

Isn’t A Dual Endorsement A “Chicken” Way Out?

1.     Quite the contrary. It’s a win-win for candidates and a win-win for members. Both candidates have identified public education as a priority in their campaigns. Both have shown support for Association principles and ideas.

2.     By making a dual endorsement, we are saying both candidates have good qualities. We are giving our members a chance to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate and decide for themselves who will best serve the needs of students and educators throughout the state.

3.     We will provide a side-by-side comparison of the candidates for our members, and include the Association’s positions on various critical education issues.

4.     We recognize that the relationship we have with the governor is critical to moving our public education agenda forward.

5.     Education requires bi-partisan cooperation.