FREE HELP for COVID-19 related stressIf you or someone you know is experiencing stress, anxiety or depression because of COVID-19, talk to a crisis counselor seven days a week, 7a-7p. All information is confidential and free of charge. Services include:
Call/Text: 385-386-2289 Email (first name and phone number only): UtahStrong@utah.gov For immediate response after hours: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Counseling in Spanish and other languages available. Operated by the Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health through a FEMA grant, facilitated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
0 Comments
 "Cyprus will fund up to $250 per teacher/educator. The grants can be combined for use toward a larger grant amount if specified. For example, four teachers can combine and apply for a $1,000 grant for a group project with each teacher submitting a separate application for their $250 allotment. Applications are limited to one $250 grant per teacher for the school year, either individually or with a team."
Find out more >>  Be Your Own Best Advocate
This is the time in an educator’s contract year when principals begin notifying them about observation scheduling. The question GEA is now receiving from members is “Why?! On top of everything else – why go through the observation/evaluation process?” Educators are doing the very best they can just to keep their heads above water. Some days, it’s all you can do to get out of bed and off to work. Stress, anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion rule the day. Principals are not exempt from these same feelings and concerns, and they, by law and school policy, are required to observe and evaluate educators each year. GEA has had ongoing conversations with the Granite School District Assistant Superintendents regarding observations and evaluations and expectations of teachers during the time of Covid-19. Teaching strategies and lesson plans have changed to social distance for safety. Administrators have been counseled to not expect to see what they would in a “normal” school year. We have been assured that this fact has been discussed with principals and leniency in instructional strategies such as proximity, small group instruction, changes in lesson design, hands on activities, etc. will be considered. If you are a provisional teacher or are in the ‘summative’ year of your evaluation cycle, your observation will become part of an evaluation score. The time for you to make an appeal on an observation and/or evaluation score is BEFORE you sign and finalize the document. You are your own best advocate when it comes to a fair observation, and timing is everything. Your principal should email you a draft of your observation and schedule a debrief meeting with you to review the scores, sign, and finalize. When you receive this draft, review carefully with objectivity. If you note scores on some standards that are lower than normal due to the impact Covid-19 realities have on your classroom, now is the time to gather evidence to the fact that you have had to limit your teaching strategies and why. Once you have gathered the evidence you need, schedule to meet with your principal, present the evidence and work together to modify the scores appropriately. If you need help with this process, call GEA and we will review the observation report with you and advocate on your behalf. Opinion posted in today’s Salt Lake Tribune written be GEA leader, Tayler Khater. Tayler teaches Social Studies to students enrolled at Skyline High School. He has been a GEA building representative for several years and volunteers time to teach and live a life that is politically active and socially conscientious. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the “Next Greatest Generation”.
 The Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake County Health Department, and the Granite School District have created an option for employees of the Granite School District to get free COVID-19 testing. Please follow the instructions on the letter attached below:  Granite District COVID Testing Letter
Download File The Granite Education Association |
|||||||||||
 |  |  |
Increased COVID-19 infection rates are not a surprise to many of us who work with, or in, public schools. This was the concern Utah educators had going into the 2020-21 school year and, sadly, we are seeing our worst fears begin to materialize.
While districts surrounding Granite are facing decisions on whether to close schools, despite the Utah health department’s caution of closing with 15 or more positive Covid-19 cases in a school, many are asking, “What if this were a Granite District school?” From the very beginning, the Granite school board and superintendent have repeatedly said that they are making decisions for the 2020-21 school year based on the state health department’s recommendations. The planning and implementation of health and safety guidelines by district administration and staff have created the safest environment possible for students and employees.
GEA has been re-assured today that this emphasis on health department recommendations is still the standard-bearer for decision making for Granite District’s school board and administration.
Today, the Utah Education Association (UEA) sent a letter to Governor Gary Herbert calling for him to increase the state’s “oversight and compliance” of the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Utah State Department of Health. Public opinion should not change protocols already in place and depended upon by the general public, specifically quarantining schools for a minimum of 14 days when there are 15 or more positive COVID-19 cases in any one location. The state’s commission on public health and the Utah State Board of Education created the COVID-19 School Manual in order to establish guidelines to be followed in the event of mass exposure and in turn should be enforced for the health and safety of all public education employees and the students we serve.
GEA and GSD continue to discuss and collaborate on COVID-19 and other issues each day. We encourage GEA members to reach out to us with concerns so that we may problem-solve effectively.
While districts surrounding Granite are facing decisions on whether to close schools, despite the Utah health department’s caution of closing with 15 or more positive Covid-19 cases in a school, many are asking, “What if this were a Granite District school?” From the very beginning, the Granite school board and superintendent have repeatedly said that they are making decisions for the 2020-21 school year based on the state health department’s recommendations. The planning and implementation of health and safety guidelines by district administration and staff have created the safest environment possible for students and employees.
GEA has been re-assured today that this emphasis on health department recommendations is still the standard-bearer for decision making for Granite District’s school board and administration.
Today, the Utah Education Association (UEA) sent a letter to Governor Gary Herbert calling for him to increase the state’s “oversight and compliance” of the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Utah State Department of Health. Public opinion should not change protocols already in place and depended upon by the general public, specifically quarantining schools for a minimum of 14 days when there are 15 or more positive COVID-19 cases in any one location. The state’s commission on public health and the Utah State Board of Education created the COVID-19 School Manual in order to establish guidelines to be followed in the event of mass exposure and in turn should be enforced for the health and safety of all public education employees and the students we serve.
GEA and GSD continue to discuss and collaborate on COVID-19 and other issues each day. We encourage GEA members to reach out to us with concerns so that we may problem-solve effectively.
** Submit your application by October 2nd!
Want to Host Your Own Mini Reading Marathon?
PBS Utah is excited to offer support outside of Salt Lake County
We want to continue to promote the love of reading, even though this school year looks different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we are offering Mini-Grants to support distance learning and creative virtual events to celebrate reading achievements.
Libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for support to host their own Mini Reading Marathon.
Support ranges from $100 - $500.
Click here to apply for a Reading Marathon Mini Grant
Applications accepted now through October 2nd.
Awardees will be notified by October 15th.
Want to Host Your Own Mini Reading Marathon?
PBS Utah is excited to offer support outside of Salt Lake County
We want to continue to promote the love of reading, even though this school year looks different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we are offering Mini-Grants to support distance learning and creative virtual events to celebrate reading achievements.
Libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for support to host their own Mini Reading Marathon.
Support ranges from $100 - $500.
Click here to apply for a Reading Marathon Mini Grant
Applications accepted now through October 2nd.
Awardees will be notified by October 15th.
GEA leaders met with the Granite District superintendency to share concerns teachers are experiencing now that the school year has begun. These regular meetings are collaborative and seek to problem-solve working condition issues GEA hears from members.
In our meeting this week, we discussed the issue around short weeks, similar to what we will experience during SEP and Parent/Teacher Conferences the week of September 21st, and later in the year. GEA shared that with Friday compensation days, and Thursday’s as short days, the planning time available for teachers is cut short. GEA requested that the District calendar follow the same pattern as the majority of weeks in the calendar, i.e. Monday – Thursday, dual modalities, and Friday all students are distance learning. We asked to have the last day of any short week be similar in that students are not in the buildings but are learning online from home and teachers have the day to plan for the next week.
The District superintendent agreed that this planning time is important, and the following message went out to principals 9/10/2020:
Prior to the school year starting, the board approved a distance learning day each week. We placed that day at the end of each week, or on Fridays. On weeks that we do not have school on Friday there will still be a distance learning day, but it will be held on the last day of the week. This means that during the first quarter Thursday September 24th and Tuesday October 20th will be distance learning days. The district calendar is being updated to reflect these changes and the Communications Department will be sending this information out to parents. We would ask that you communicate this information out to your faculties, patrons, and students as well.
Our collective voice matters. Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to your professional association.
In our meeting this week, we discussed the issue around short weeks, similar to what we will experience during SEP and Parent/Teacher Conferences the week of September 21st, and later in the year. GEA shared that with Friday compensation days, and Thursday’s as short days, the planning time available for teachers is cut short. GEA requested that the District calendar follow the same pattern as the majority of weeks in the calendar, i.e. Monday – Thursday, dual modalities, and Friday all students are distance learning. We asked to have the last day of any short week be similar in that students are not in the buildings but are learning online from home and teachers have the day to plan for the next week.
The District superintendent agreed that this planning time is important, and the following message went out to principals 9/10/2020:
Prior to the school year starting, the board approved a distance learning day each week. We placed that day at the end of each week, or on Fridays. On weeks that we do not have school on Friday there will still be a distance learning day, but it will be held on the last day of the week. This means that during the first quarter Thursday September 24th and Tuesday October 20th will be distance learning days. The district calendar is being updated to reflect these changes and the Communications Department will be sending this information out to parents. We would ask that you communicate this information out to your faculties, patrons, and students as well.
Our collective voice matters. Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to your professional association.
Dear Superintendent Bates, Board President Winder, and members of the Granite school board,
I am writing you to plead once again that you prioritize the safety of your staff as well as the students.
GEA just completed a survey of its membership. There were over 1400 responses. A very large majority, over 69%, feel unsafe with the district’s current plan. Over 55%, 792 educators, say “No amount of PPE and cleaning will be enough without the ability to create adequate distance between people in the building,” and only eight percent say they have no concerns with Granite’s current plan for the 2020-21 school year.
This result is not surprising to any of us who have been reading the emails from educators these last few weeks. Educators are afraid. They are pleading. They are waiting for some sign that the district means what it says when it tells educators “we value you.” Based on these survey results, GEA is once again renewing its request that Granite School District change its plan to allow for distancing within our school buildings.
We are asking that teacher concerns about lack of social distancing be taken seriously. We have several recent examples of teacher-training events where the presenters asked participants to engage in close group work, writing on a common poster for example, passing a ball back and forth, or manipulating the same physical items as a team. In normal times such strategies would be admirable efforts to engage participants. In the current climate they are not simply an unnecessary risk; they send the message that the health and safety of the participants are not a priority, and that their concerns are not taken seriously.
Whatever plan the district uses must include adequate social distancing (six feet from another person who is not part of your immediate family). We believe that social distancing is possible in any meeting of adults in the school building. We ask that principals:
And I hope it goes without saying at this point that we expect principals to model and enforce mask-wearing in any room or space which educators and students will congregate. We also expect them to enforce the negotiated agreement, i.e. today, secondary teachers are being told they will need to donate 10 minutes of their duty-free lunch to facilitate student lunch transitions. Please communicate this expectation with all building administrators.
Unfortunately, the efforts made to allow elementary educators the option to teach face-to-face or online has become confusing and difficult, if not near impossible, for many school buildings. Following are significant challenges we are hearing:
Please note that this requested shift in plan is not meant to replace the medical accommodations necessary for some educators to not be face-to-face with students but allow for the ADAAA interactive process to meet the needs of these high-risk individuals.
Educators are afraid for their health and the health of their loved ones. We are said to be essential employees and are the only group of such workers asked to be sequestered in a room with 25+ people for several hours a day, every day. GEA is asking that educators’ fears and concerns be acknowledged and more so, addressed. Telling educators not to worry is not helpful. Providing sanitation materials is not enough. Show us that you take our concerns seriously. Make the difficult decisions necessary to protect all your employees, and students.
Sincerely,
Michael McDonough
GEA President
I am writing you to plead once again that you prioritize the safety of your staff as well as the students.
GEA just completed a survey of its membership. There were over 1400 responses. A very large majority, over 69%, feel unsafe with the district’s current plan. Over 55%, 792 educators, say “No amount of PPE and cleaning will be enough without the ability to create adequate distance between people in the building,” and only eight percent say they have no concerns with Granite’s current plan for the 2020-21 school year.
This result is not surprising to any of us who have been reading the emails from educators these last few weeks. Educators are afraid. They are pleading. They are waiting for some sign that the district means what it says when it tells educators “we value you.” Based on these survey results, GEA is once again renewing its request that Granite School District change its plan to allow for distancing within our school buildings.
We are asking that teacher concerns about lack of social distancing be taken seriously. We have several recent examples of teacher-training events where the presenters asked participants to engage in close group work, writing on a common poster for example, passing a ball back and forth, or manipulating the same physical items as a team. In normal times such strategies would be admirable efforts to engage participants. In the current climate they are not simply an unnecessary risk; they send the message that the health and safety of the participants are not a priority, and that their concerns are not taken seriously.
Whatever plan the district uses must include adequate social distancing (six feet from another person who is not part of your immediate family). We believe that social distancing is possible in any meeting of adults in the school building. We ask that principals:
- Be directed to allow for social distancing in their plans for all staff meetings and all professional development.
- Any principal-directed activity during:
- the seven teacher contract days before the start of the school year could allow for distancing or even be done remotely through video conference,
- as could every faculty meeting this year,
- every leadership committee meeting,
- every meeting of adult professionals.
- There should not be any activities requiring a group of adults to crowd around a small table or sit in a size-constricted room.
And I hope it goes without saying at this point that we expect principals to model and enforce mask-wearing in any room or space which educators and students will congregate. We also expect them to enforce the negotiated agreement, i.e. today, secondary teachers are being told they will need to donate 10 minutes of their duty-free lunch to facilitate student lunch transitions. Please communicate this expectation with all building administrators.
Unfortunately, the efforts made to allow elementary educators the option to teach face-to-face or online has become confusing and difficult, if not near impossible, for many school buildings. Following are significant challenges we are hearing:
- Principals and educators are trying to navigate a lack of FTE,
- the high number of students enrolling for face-to-face instruction,
- and programs such as Dual Immersion, Gifted, and other Special classes.
- Educators working online are being asked to participate in school transition periods and supervision, which means they are in front of students during the most crowded times of the day.
- Educators should not be asked to sign a form acknowledging they will be provided two hours of planning time; we already know will not happen. We already know years before Covid-19 we haven’t had enough paras and substitutes. Why would we put in place a process we know will not work?
- Principals are, today, telling distance learning teachers that they will be called on to substitute when a face-to-face teacher is out.
- Principals do not have the budget to pay an additional two hours to those volunteering to teach dual modalities, and many educators are feeling pressured into taking on both modalities to avoid disruptions to the school and/or their fellow colleagues.
- We have teacher coaches and specialists throughout the district. Why not dispatch these individuals to teach the distance learning students throughout the district when FTE is short?
- We understand it is inconvenient, but what you are asking schools and their staffs to do is untenable.
Please note that this requested shift in plan is not meant to replace the medical accommodations necessary for some educators to not be face-to-face with students but allow for the ADAAA interactive process to meet the needs of these high-risk individuals.
Educators are afraid for their health and the health of their loved ones. We are said to be essential employees and are the only group of such workers asked to be sequestered in a room with 25+ people for several hours a day, every day. GEA is asking that educators’ fears and concerns be acknowledged and more so, addressed. Telling educators not to worry is not helpful. Providing sanitation materials is not enough. Show us that you take our concerns seriously. Make the difficult decisions necessary to protect all your employees, and students.
Sincerely,
Michael McDonough
GEA President
