 Westbrook Elementary Today is the last contract day for educators in Granite School District. Completion of the 2019-20 school year would have fizzled out quietly if not for educators and administrators organizing makeshift graduation celebrations, parades in neighborhoods, and celebration lines in front of elementary schools. GEA honors Westbrook and Sandburg Elementary teachers, administrators, and staff as they said goodbye to their respective buildings as well as students. Change is difficult, but they made it special just the same. GEA is also saying farewell with gratitude to the over 100 career educators and dedicated members who are retiring this year. Bittersweet to be sure. As reported in a recent blog post, Granite School District Board of Directors and Superintendency continue to honor the ratified agreement which included a 5% COLA and 3% One-time Bonus. A huge lift to be sure as the state legislature meets today in its Public Education Appropriation Committee to discuss how the education budget should be reduced. In February and March many of GEA’s association representatives held school walk-ins to speak out loud the need for adequate funding for our schools and students. Teachers wore Red and organized both parents and students to join the walk-ins in support for increased funding. Before closing the 2020 Utah Legislative Session, legislators enacted a 6% increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit which honored the desperate need of funding for our public schools. Now, even though Utah is last in the nation for per pupil funding, the legislature is looking at taking back its promised increase due to state economic loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand some budgetary adjustments must be made, but strongly plea that public education is held harmless.  Valley Crest Elementary In a recent letter to Utah legislators, UEA President, Heidi Matthews urges, “The UEA disputes the assumption that the discussion must begin with budget reduction scenarios of 2%, 5% and 10% from the base budget. No cuts should be considered until revenue projections are fully understood and every option for backfilling any budget shortfalls has been explored. Use of bonding, rainy day funds, federal CARES Act monies, non-lapsing balances, and any other potential revenue source or expense deferral must all be considered BEFORE making ANY cuts to public education.” So, even though the official contract year is coming to an end, the advocacy work of GEA and UEA continues 24/7. We believe our public educators and students deserve more than last place for funding. Educators at all levels are working harder than ever to provide a robust distance learning platform for students during this pandemic. In anticipation of a potential continued school dismissal in the fall, educators will be adjusting curriculum and lesson material to prepare and polish the work they have done on the fly since March of this year. GEA believes that public education should be the last place, not the first, where state leaders focus budget cuts in the troubled economic times we face. The multi-million dollar rainy day fund should be utilized to fill budget shortfalls. Utah’s rainy day fund ranks 19th in the nation, and the state is healthy financially because of this prudence in savings. However, being last in the nation for per pupil funding, and NOT utilize the rainy day fund but further cut public education funding is backward-thinking at best. Perhaps if the legislature is looking in every nook and cranny for funding cuts, it should consider the $6 million voucher bill it passed in a recent special session. Just saying.  Crestview Elementary We will continue to post on this blog during the summer months, so check in with us on www.gea-ut.org, on our Facebook page, and our fledgling Twitter, @GEA_Utah social media accounts for updates. We urge all of you to take time these next few months for self-care, adventure, and relaxation.
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What a year to end a brilliant and fulfilling career in teaching! GEA would like to recognize and honor the many teachers who have supported the Association throughout their career, as well as changed multiple lives through their gift of teaching! “Thanks” just doesn’t say enough – what we have gained as an organization is due to your hard work. We stand on your shoulders and teachers coming behind you will forever be rewarded by the gifts you’ve shared.  Robyn Allred, Upland Terrace Elementary
Mary Alsop, Cottonwood High Michelle Asay, Granger High Heather Ashton, Fremont Elementary Sandra Baker, Orchard Elementary David Barton, Olympus High Seydou Bengaly, Granger High Carol Bethers, Moss Elementary Lisa Bouwhuis, Driggs Elementary Robert Brough, Olympus Jr. High Marilyn Brown, Eisenhower Jr. High Michelle Butterfield, Educational Technology Bonnie Call, Bonneville Jr. High Phillip Cannon, Cottonwood High School Susan Cannon, Y.E.S.S. Program Leslie Chatelain, Morningside Elementary Miriam Childs, Hunter Elementary Jerry Corbett, Hunter High Patricia Creager, West Valley Elementary Judy Cutler, Crestview Elementary Kenneth Dilley, Granite Park Jr. High Lloyd Earl, Bonneville Jr. High Carolyn England, Silver Hills Elementary Renee Evans, Bennion Elementary Tammy Farnsworth, West Valley Elementary Gina Felt, Woodstock Elementary Kristin Fisher, Lake Ridge Elementary Julie Ford, Sandberg Elementary Scott Fowler, Granite Technical Institute Robert Fratto, Cyprus High School Sandra Funk, Bennion Elementary Suzanne Gaeta, Westbrook Elementary Shanna Garso, Roosevelt Elementary Tammy Giles, Penn Elementary Bradely Goffe, Olympus High School Elizabeth Goold, Oakwood Elementary Sue Gray, Morningside Elementary Robyn Gresh, Hillside Elementary Laurie Gunkel, Hunter Elementary Susan Gunn, Sandberg Elementary Nancy Hansen, Cottonwood Elementary Michele Hart, Driggs Elementary Karen Haslam, Westbrook Elementary Julia Henkes, Wright Elementary Jessica Hook, Skyline High School Ann Itchon, Pioneer Elementary Anthony Ivins, Taylorsville High School Rosemary Jacklin, Bonneville Jr. High Tamara Jackman, Hillside Elementary Teri Jenkins, Taylorsville Elementary Heidi Jones, Crestview Elementary Janet Juengel, Wright Elementary Christine Katsilas, Taylorsville High Monica Kelley, Plymouth Elementary Marilyn Kline, Hunter High Shelley Larson, Oakwood Elementary Tiffany Lundberg, Special Services Andrew Marks, Cottonwood High Kent Mayne, Prevention & Student Placement Patti Jo Mazanis, Jefferson Jr. High Paul McClatchy, CCR-Psychologists Ruth Merrill, Granger High Pamela Moea’l, Educational Technology Virginia Moon, Cyprus High Teina Moore, Rolling Meadows Elementary Deborah Morris, Farnsworth Elementary Cynthia Moyle, Educational Technology Audrey Nelson, Cottonwood High Paula Nelson, Y.E.S.S. Program Christy Oaks, Morningside Elementary Carol Overson, Cyprus High Janeen Partridge, Arcadia Elementary Kim Peterson, Redwood Elementary Cheryl Pietz, Educational Equity Celia Powell, Educational Technology Anne Puzey, Bennion Jr. High Marianne Rankin, Vista Elementary Katharine Roach, Cyprus High Julie Rosenlof, Kearns High Charles Sampson, Western Hills Elementary Thomas Sharpe, Cottonwood High Denice Smith, Olympus High Kathleen Smith, Bennion Jr. High Corinne Soelberg, Twin Peaks Elementary Ann Sorenson, Cyprus High Dirk Sprunt, Elk Run Elementary Joni Sueoka, Vista Elementary Joe Szugye, Whittier Elementary Patricia Taylor, Taylorsville High Deborah Thomas, Olympus Jr. High Jo Thompson, Hunter High Joan Thompson-Harris, Copper Hills Elementary Valerie Tomer, Special Services Wendy Wagstaff, Cottonwood Elementary William Walker, Hunter Jr. High Sue Weierman, Eisenhower Jr. High Debra Wessman, Mill Creek Elementary Ingrid White, Kearns High Patricia White, Research and Evaluation Johanna Widdison, Lake Ridge Elementary Linda Williams, Jackling Elementary Carolyn Wood, Magna Elementary Karen Yates, Hunter Elementary  It’s hard enough navigating the end of a school year amid a global pandemic and school dismissal without receiving discouraging news reports that Utah continues to be the last in the nation for per student funding (Reported by Courtney Tanner, SL Tribune, May 12: https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2020/05/12/utah-dead-last-again-per/) This ranking has been a dubious placement for many years. Although the Utah State Legislature, in its recent 2020 general session, moved to address this inequity in funding by enacting a 6% increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) for the 2020-21 school budget year, it’s now considering taking that increase away to fund the state’s economic losses due to the COVID-10 pandemic. A special session will be called sometime this summer to consider how to cut budgets across the board. GEA is hearing anything from 2% for all budget areas up to 9% in others. Public education is reported to not be immune to these cuts and the Legislature went a step further to enact a resolution cautioning school districts to not negotiate increased salary and benefits for public school employees at this time. In a previous blog, (April 30, 2020, “What’s Up GEA?”) we acknowledged the courage the Granite School Board and District Administration had in meeting GEA for negotiations and reaching an agreement on a 5% cost of living increase, 3% one-time bonus, shift in salary schedule to make the starting salary more appealing for new educators, and several other financial increases. Even amidst the pressure by the state to limit negotiations, Granite continues to stand by their agreement. It’s important for you to know that GEA continues to meet regularly with the Granite district superintendent team and as current as this week, the team reiterates the District’s support for the negotiated agreement and offers assurance to GEA that the District’s budget will support this increase regardless of what state leaders decide to do with public education funding. Kudos to the District for being fiscally responsible as well as conscientious of the incredible effort and professionalism of all educators and special services employees. In other good news – every year GEA celebrates the hard work GEA building representatives (Association Representatives (AR)) have achieved throughout the year. Beginning with the August New Teacher Orientation, ARs focus on being the voice of GEA teachers in each building. Meeting each month during the year, 100+ ARs gather to hear updates from GEA on what is happening in the District or State that affects educators and public education as a whole. Oftentimes, ARs are given tasks to do in their buildings, i.e. hold GEA meetings, share information, hold and manage elections for GEA leadership, stay up to date on education news, advocate for GEA members in their buildings, represent GEA at the state and national associations, et al. This year GEA threw in a request to plan a building Walk-in to bring the attention to the state legislature on how great our schools are in Granite and the need for at least a 6% increase in funding—and we were able to convince the legislators to do just that! In May, GEA annually has an “Oscars” award night for ARs to celebrate and recognize ARs who have gone above and beyond to support members in their buildings, increase local capacity and their leadership capabilities. No surprise that choosing our top winners is very difficult and always a close race. One AR will win “AR of the Year” and this individual will receive a plaque and have their GEA/UEA/NEA dues paid by the Association for the next contract year. Following this superstar, there are three to four “runners-up” who receive recognition through a certificate and a $50.00 cash prize. We would like to recognize the 2019-20 GEA Superstars: The 2019-20 AR of the Year Jared Newbold, teacher of 4th graders at Twin Peaks Elementary.  1st Runner-up JoAnne Brown, Science, Olympus High School 2nd Runner-up Felicia Walton, teacher of 4th graders at Arcadia Elementary 3rd Runner-up Lizzie Jolley, teacher of 5th graders at Crestview Elementary Honorable Mention Michele Jones, Mathematics, Cyprus High School And a big GEA “Thank you” to not only our AR Superstars, but to all the other ARs who volunteer their time to be leaders in their school buildings to support educators’ rights and public education!   As Governor Gary Herbert moved Utah from a COVID-19 Red status to “Orange” many are wondering what “Open for Business” means for public schools. The last order from state government, county health departments, and Granite School District, is that schools would not open physically for the remainder of this school year. With the last day of teaching new instructional material being the week of May 11, and student Chromebook returns scheduled for the following week, this year is pretty much one for the records. However, the state superintendent, Dr. Sydnee Dickson recently sent a letter to local district superintendents outlining what the “orange” status means for public schools. In her letter, she reports having coordinated with the state health department to authorize having “a few students” in school buildings with safety protocols. The reasons Dr. Dickson outlines for students entering school buildings is purported to be for such things as:
At the same time, on May 6th Governor Herbert released the state’s guidelines for the moderate risk (Orange) phase which advises that children do not go to school, but remain learning at home, should not schedule playdates with other children, and closures of all playgrounds are still in effect. Given all this, what does this mean for Granite teachers? The District superintendent and his cabinet of assistant superintendents are reviewing the advice from Dr. Dickson while maintaining caution such as what is outlined from the governor and state health department and will decide how this affects teachers and staff in Granite. GEA has coordinated with the Special Education department administration and they are recommending continued conservative protocols for health and safety reasons. With a backlog of SPED students needing to be evaluated and tested, administration is recommending voluntary participation of teachers, social workers, psychologists, etc. to take on some of the testing one-on-one under strict health protocols and in coordination and agreement with parents. Again, this testing would be done voluntarily and will not be directive at this time. Granite literally has 2.5 weeks of school left on the 2019-20 calendar and its unlikely that a focus will be made to increase physical presence in our school buildings. Focus in the District right now is on finalizing this year’s student grading, return of Chromebooks, and arranging for continued summer catch-up for students who are facing incompletes. We are also seeing proactive movement to clearing classrooms in schools slated for closure, repair, and reconfiguration. Questions have come up from teachers who are receiving proposed plans from principals on how the collection of Chromebooks and dissemination of students’ personal belongings should be staged. The District protocol recommends that beginning the week of May 18, principals should be scheduling a system for parents to drive-up to the school to drop-off Chromebooks. This curbside process should be in line with the same protocols already set up for lunch distribution. Teachers who are not in high-risk categories or feel safe coming into the school on a staggered schedule will receive bags from administration in which to place individual student’s personal items. Bags will be sealed and labeled with the student’s name. This should happen through the week of May 11-15 with support of school custodians, aides, and administration. Then, during the week of May 18-21st, as mentioned above, a system, similar to lunch distribution, will be arranged. Teachers may volunteer to help with the personal property distribution and collection of school Chromebooks but are not required to be there if health and safety is an issue. GEA believes teachers should not be expected to be at the school, meet separately or one-on-one with students and/or parents during this school closure/exchange. GEA is also hearing from teachers who fall within the high-risk category for reasons of age or compromised health; in fact, 1/3 of GEA members fall within this category. GEA AdvoCats and Leadership have been in continued conversation with District administration to ensure protection for all teachers, not just our most vulnerable. The District has echoed our concerns and is moving forward with caution as well as communication with us prior to action. This is the respect and relationship GEA has developed over a long history of negotiating and collaborating with the District and its leaders on the school board. Anyone with concerns about rumors they are hearing, directives they’ve been given, or news being reported, should email one of your GEA AdvoCats to discuss and resolve. We got you! Mike McDonough, GEA President: mike.mcdonough@myuea.org Star Orullian, GEA Executive Director: Starleen.orullian@myuea.org Cindy Formeller, GEA Assoc. Director: cindy.formeller@myuea.org  Check back for new webinars.
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It is not an official site of Granite School District, nor does it represent the opinion of GSD and/or its School Board or Administration.