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From: Debbie White <pres@gea-ut.org> Subject: (granite) [Fwd: [ut_activist] Public Education Budget] Date: 01 Mar 2000 15:06:23 -0700 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------5B06B02F7C2279946F2B4D85 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I thought you needed to hear the information..... Later... :D -- Debbie White President Granite Education Association ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. ~Aldous Huxley --------------5B06B02F7C2279946F2B4D85 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Disposition: inline Envelope-to: pres@gea-ut.org Received: from [207.226.187.104] (helo=list.nea.org) by mail.xmission.com with smtp (Exim 3.03 #3) id 12QGUN-0003xZ-00 for pres@gea-ut.org; Wed, 01 Mar 2000 14:16:59 -0700 List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:leave-ut_activist-65024O@list.nea.org> List-Software: Lyris Server version 3.0 List-Subscribe: <mailto:subscribe-ut_activist@list.nea.org> List-Owner: <mailto:owner-ut_activist@list.nea.org> X-URL: <http://www.utea.org> X-List-Host: National Education Association Reply-To: "UEA Activist ListServ" <ut_activist@list.nea.org> Sender: bounce-ut_activist-65024@list.nea.org Message-Id: <LYR65024-248895-2000.03.01-16.07.10--pres#gea-ut.org@list.nea.org> Precedence: bulk X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 UEA Activists: There have been several reports regarding the LegislatureÆs public education budget proposal, including one indicating a 6.9% increase. Here is the summary of the LegislatureÆs budget: $86.9 million increase on WPU (5.5% increase on the WPU) $26. 5 million increase (1.7% increase in WPU equivalent*) $113.4 million increase (7.2% total WPU equivalent increase*) Initially, the Legislature had reported a 7.4% increase in WPU equivalent. They subtracted one-half of the appropriation for the accountability bill ($3.5 million), leaving 7.2% in WPU equivalent increase. In summary, additional new funding available next year for public schools: LegislatureÆs Approved Budget $113.4 million This approved budget is higher than the GovernorÆs proposed budget of $112.6 million. *WPU equivalent is the amount of money needed to raise the WPU 1% ($15.8 million). Thanks to all of our activists in helping us achieve this public education budget--the largest increase on the WPU in a decade! *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* This list is moderated by the Utah Education Association. You can contact us or join the list by sending e-mail to <UEAinfo@utea.org> Archived "ut_activist" messages are available under "state associations" at <http://list.nea.org> You are currently subscribed to ut_activist as: pres@gea-ut.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to: leave-ut_activist-65024O@list.nea.org --------------5B06B02F7C2279946F2B4D85-- - To unsubscribe to granite, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe granite" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Debbie White <pres@gea-ut.org> Subject: (granite) [Fwd: Final Report - 2000 Legislature] Date: 06 Mar 2000 08:55:35 -0700 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------23689448EF1688687FB889C3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit FYI -- Debbie White President Granite Education Association ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. ~Aldous Huxley --------------23689448EF1688687FB889C3 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Disposition: inline Envelope-to: pres@gea-ut.org Received: from [207.226.187.104] (helo=list.nea.org) by mail.xmission.com with smtp (Exim 3.03 #3) id 12QgOZ-0006ri-00 for pres@gea-ut.org; Thu, 02 Mar 2000 17:56:43 -0700 List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:leave-ueaprostaff-73920S@list.nea.org> Reply-To: "Mark Mickelsen" <mmickelsen@nea.org> Message-Id: <LYR73920-249282-2000.03.02-19.46.56--pres#gea-ut.org@list.nea.org> Precedence: bulk X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 Utah Education Association (MESSAGE #13) The following information will be released tomorrow in the final 2000 Capitol Bulletin: A Message For Communications Liaisons March 2, 2000 [Important: The information contained in this e-mail has been edited and may be used in local education association or UniServ publications. The material may not be used for press releases. If you want to respond to this memorandum, please do so by contacting Mark Mickelsen at mmickelsen@nea.org. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS MEMORANDUM. This message is being sent to UEA Communications Liaisons, UniServ directors, local presidents, UEA leaders and members of the UEA Board of Directors.] [For Communications Liaisons: This is the thirteenth in an ongoing series of articles about the Utah Education Association's campaign to increase funding for public education. As your local association or UniServ's designated Communications Liaison, we encourage you to publish the information in an existing newsletter, or create a simple format "quick read" newsletter that can be easily reproduced for your members. Thank You.] PUBLISH ONLY MATERIAL BELOW THIS LINE CAPITOL BULLETIN - MARCH 2, 2000 A final report from the Utah Legislature . . . Lawmakers approve largest school funding increase in a decade Utah Students Deserve More. The message not only caught the attention of the Utah Legislature, but lawmakers responded by approving the largest increase in the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) in more than a decade. That's a victory for members of the Utah Education Association who have worked since last October to share their message about public schools with the citizens of the state. In the final days of the 2000 legislative session, lawmakers appropriated $113.4 million in new funding for public schools, established a task force to look at a long-term school funding plan, and agreed to allow locally-elected school boards to continue making decisions regarding teacher salaries and other education-related programs. Lawmakers Approve 5.5% Increase In WPU, School Boards Maintain Local Autonomy The Legislature approved a 5.5 percent increase in the WPU ù the primary funding mechanism for teacher salaries and student programs ù and okayed legislative "intent language" that allows school districts to maintain their local autonomy and decisionmaking power. According to the new language, school boards, in their negotiations with teachers, may use WPU money for class size reduction, textbooks and school supplies, as long as teachers with five or less years in the classroom receive additional, significant compensation. By removing any actual dollar amount related to salaries, school districts may determine where best to spend their resources and still address concerns related to beginning teacher salaries. The UEA lobbied against the previous intent language, which would have provided a $1,500 to $2,000 increase for teachers, but only 4.0 percent for media specialists, counselors and psychologists. "The original language would have created a morale problem," said UEA lobbyist Jim Eldredge. "It didn't cover all educators." The 5.5 percent WPU increase is equal to $86.9 million. An additional $26.5 million for education programs brings the new money total for education to $113.4 million for 2000-2001. The Legislature's approved budget for public education is higher than Governor Mike Leavitt's proposal of $112.6 million. Eldredge called this year's budget negotiations "unusual," noting that in the past, many battles were fought to maintain funding in specific program areas. "This year, we worked to gain as much on the WPU as we could," he said. "It's the best we've done in years." UEA members, who set the legislative priorities, directed the lobby team to concentrate their efforts on increasing the WPU and beginning a decade-long commitment to bring Utah to the national average in per pupil expenditures. In a related matter, teachers working for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind received additional money from the Legislature to help bring their salaries into parity with their colleagues across the state. Teachers at the Area Technical Centers also received funding and intent language that guarantees them salary equity. Task Force Established To Look At Long-Term Plan Responding to concerns from educators and citizens, the Legislature took the first step toward a long-term funding plan for public education when they approved House Bill 426. The bill establishes a special legislative task force and says members of the task force "shall review and make recommendations on the following issues": "equity and adequacy in funding public education"; "alternative revenue sources for funding public education"; "providing for a long-term plan to increase public education funding . . ." H.B. 426 was amended to include language stating the task force "shall notify and seek input from the . . . Utah Education Association . . . and other members of the state's public education community." A final report from the task force, including any proposed legislation, will be made to the Education Interim Committee before November 30, 2000. Legislature Increases Teacher-Directed Supply Money Allocation All educators will see an increase in the amount of teacher-directed supply money they receive during the 2000-2001 school year thanks to a $4.4 million appropriation by the Legislature. Up from $3.7 million, the amount proposed in the opening days of the session, the money will be used to provide $225 for elementary teachers and $175 for secondary teachers. Money Appropriated To Help Rural Schools Many rural Utah schools don't have the money to provide educational opportunities for students which are equal to the benefits enjoyed by schoolchildren along the Wasatch Front. Legislators who want to alleviate some of these inequities appropriated $3.1 million to provide assistance through the Necessarily Existent Small Schools formula. An Additional $6 Million For Textbooks As part of the "Utah Students Deserve More" campaign, the UEA argued that students need to have up-to-date textbooks. Lawmakers apparently agreed, budgeting $6 million to help take care of the problem. Sadly, the Legislature failed to approve Representative Patrice Arent's House Bill 117, which could have provided $45 million in one-time money to be used for public school textbooks and supplies. Rep. Arent's bill would have required self-employed citizens to pay state income tax on a quarterly basis during the year. "Rep. Arent did an outstanding job in preparing and presenting this bill," said UEA Executive Director Susan Kuziak. "She should be credited by educators for her efforts. Only politics kept the bill from passing." Retirement Bill Helps Long-Time Members The passage of Senate Bill 106 authorizes a new formula for calculating retirement credit for some public employees who have already retired. The decision should be good news for retirees who received less than 2.0 percent credit for each year of service. The revised formula says no one should receive credit less than 1.25 percent per year of service. Eldredge said many of the people who fought for this change helped "pioneer" the benefits enjoyed by many in the Utah State Retirement System, adding, "we (UEA) are happy to be helping our retired friends." Health Bill Loosens Requirement On Specialists Under a new health bill passed by the Legislature, insurers must establish and implement procedures whereby patients can obtain a "standing referral" to a health care specialist. The referral will be provided if the primary care provider determines, in consultation with the specialist, that the patient requires continuing care from the specialist. The intent of the bill is to avoid forcing patients to see two doctors each time they need medical help. UEA tracks hundreds of bills during 2000 legislative session During the 2000 legislative session, the Utah Education Association tracked or monitored more than 225 bills dealing with public education, K-12 education funding, revenue and taxation, employee issues (e.g., risk management, worker's compensation, etc.), health insurance, retirement, and good government (specifically election laws and lobby disclosure). Many of the bills were not of great importance, but could have impacted educators or students. Others could be classified as quite important, but not crucial. Some were a top priority for the UEA. The following is a summary of some of the bills the Association felt were of particular importance or interest: Education Funding: ò Senate Bill 3 (H. Stephenson) The Minimum School Finance Act PASSED This bill establishes the funding for Utah public schools. There was much concern over proposed intent language regarding salaries, i.e. (1) The Legislature establishing the amount of the increase ($2,000); and (2) The suggested increase not including counselors, media specialists, psychologists, administrators, and classified employees who were to get a smaller increase. The language finally agreed upon allows local districts and teachers greater flexibility and specifies only teachers paid on the first five steps are to receive "additional significant compensation." What that means will be defined individually in each district. ò House Bill 426 (K. Garn) Education Funding Task Force PASSED Establishes a legislative task force specifically directed to "provide a long-term plan to increase public education funding and to report to the Education Interim Committee by November 30, 2000." This will be the basis for enhanced funding proposals in the 2001 session. The UEA will be participating and reporting progress to members. ò HB 166 (B. Johnson) Necessarily Existent Small Schools PASSED This bill changes slightly the criteria for defining such small schools and adds $3.18 million in funding to assist these small, rural schools in providing quality education. ò HB 189 Classroom Supplies (R. Bigelow) PASSED This bill reimburses teachers for the purchase of classroom supplies. K-6 teachers will receive up to $225. 7-12 teachers will receive up to $175. This is an increase over last year's $150. ò HB 117 (P. Arent) Individual Income Tax Payments FAILED The bill proposed a change in tax filing for the self-employed and would have generated $45 million in one-time funds for K-12 textbooks. Sadly, it failed to get a Senate hearing after passing in the House, in our view for political reasons. Public Education Bills: ò HB 177 (T. Rowan) Assessing, Reporting, Evaluating Student Performance PASSED (Standards & Accountability) This bill passed with funding of $3.5 million. Implementation dates were delayed until 2002 and 2003. ò HB 156 (Eli Anderson) Ethics Act PASSED This bill removes educators from the Ethics Act. It has been this act that prohibited educators from providing services to their students where they receive any compensation, e.g., tutoring, educational travel, etc. The State Board and local boards will not develop guidelines to cover these activities. ò HB 411 (Bill Wright) Public Education Curriculum Amendments PASSED This is the "infamous" sex education bill which has taken out all instruction regarding contraception except abstinence, even with parental permission. This is a bill which is unfortunate for educators and students and is a prime example of legislative interference with education issues. ò HB 397 (R. Bigelow) Incentive for Elementary Reading PASSED This bill establishes a small scholarship/grant program ($500) to assist K-3 elementary educators working to get a reading endorsement. Health Insurance & Retirement: Health insurance was a "hot" issue. Twenty-five bills were introduced directly affecting how insurance carriers operate (only insurers regulated by the State Insurance Department). Twelve of these bills would have increased premiums. UEA opposes mandates, believing individual districts and employees can choose these benefits if they want them. Two bills passed, both after being significantly amended: Mental Health Parity and Diabetes Treatment & Management. ò SB 106 (H. Nielson) Retirement Benefit Enhancement PASSED This bill increases the retirement benefit of some already retired public employees (including educators) who currently receive very minimal benefits. It was among the UEA's top legislative priorities. Summaries of revenue and tax bills, "good government," and additional education bills will be provided in upcoming UEA publications and on the UEA Web site. ### --- The administrator of this list is Paul Chadwick whose email address is pchadwick@nea.og You are currently subscribed to ueaprostaff as: pres@gea-ut.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ueaprostaff-73920S@list.nea.org This list conforms to the Acceptable Use Policies for email lists sponsored by the National Education Association. To receive a copy of the policy, send an email to list-aup@list.nea.org --------------23689448EF1688687FB889C3-- - To unsubscribe to granite, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe granite" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Debbie White <pres@gea-ut.org> Subject: (granite) Goof.... Date: 06 Mar 2000 09:19:39 -0700 I goofed and sent the whole UEA message - (it is too early this morning....) please cut the UEA information off the top if you copy it..... Later... :D -- Debbie White President Granite Education Association ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. ~Aldous Huxley - To unsubscribe to granite, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe granite" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Debbie White <pres@gea-ut.org> Subject: (granite) Update March 28,2000 Date: 28 Mar 2000 10:04:57 -0700 <!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> Hello, I hope this update finds each of you well. I wanted to give everyone (including myself) a chance to breathe.... Haha.... So..... The 2000 Legislative Session is behind us and the dust is beginning to settle. We have passed the first mark in electing education friendly legislators. Many new faces are running for the legislature. It is exciting to see so many that want to be involved. If there you or anyone in your building was elected to be a delegate for either the Republican or Democratic Conventions - please let us know in the office. (Email: pres@gea-ut.org - - - phone: 266-4411) We need to get a list together to keep them informed about the candidates and issues they will address at the conventions. We are in the process of evaluating GEA's previous legislative endorsements. We also have many new candidates and will have that recommendation process completed before the conventions. We also have many good candidates that need help (your time and effort) as well as money. If you school needs more PAC forms (way to donate money) - let us know and we will get them to you. As far as helping with campaigns - information on those candidates will be coming out soon. However, in the mean time - just email me or call the office. Negotiations will be starting soon. I have not yet formed this year's negotiations team (nor has the district's team been formed). Negotiations Development Committee meets this Wednesday at 4:30 at the GEA office. This is the committee that gives direction to the team. Further information on negotiations will be coming soon. The Hotline will be used for periodic updates along with the list serve. We will be doing lunch visits in the schools. Both UniServ Directors (Pat and Nile) plus Sue Dickey (VP) and I will be in the schools this spring. We also will bring legislators along on some of those visits. Our goal is to get out to all the schools before the year is over. Please let us know when would be a good day and time. Later... :D -- Debbie White President Granite Education Association ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. ~Aldous Huxley </html> - To unsubscribe to granite, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe granite" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.