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Op-ed piece in the Standard Examiner by the House Leadership Team: Every single public school teacher in Utah will receive the promised wage.

The House and Senate are united on this one.

"The Legislature made it expressly clear in the bill's intent language, and in the media, that each teacher was to be awarded a $2,500 raise. Rather than allow districts to pass on a smaller raise to teachers, we intend to fulfill our commitment."

If necessary, we'll . . .

". . . pass a supplemental appropriation bill in the next general session to enhance the $104.6 million that has already been set aside. Every public school teacher will receive a $2,500 gross pay raise.

"We thank our teachers for their work educating our rising generation. We know they labor often times in obscurity and at great personal sacrifice."

2 Comments:

 Voice of Utah said...

Is there really a serious dispute on this, or is it just one of those "If this happens (not that anyone has said that it will), we'll lead the charge" PR things?

4/23/2007 9:14 PM  

 The Senate Site said...

V of U - here's an example from President Valentine's in-box (name and school district deleted):

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Senator Valentine,

We are now being told that the raise that was voted on and passed by the senate and House -- $2500.00 raise and a $1000.00 one time bonus is now going to be handled this way by [deleted] School District . . . . .
Each teacher will receive the raise and bonus this next year as passed. Then the raise will then be taken away and removed from the salary schedule for the next year.

Was it the intent of the House and Senate to give teachers a one time bonus of $3500.00? And, if that is the case, why wasn't it reported that way to the News Media? I am concerned that [deleted] School District is interpreting your Line Item raise for teachers in this way . . . . If it is possible, would you please clarify the intent of this legislation for me.

Thanks again for all that you guys are doing for us on the Hill.

[Name deleted]

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We received a tiny but sudden flood of communication from teachers when they were told some districts planned to distribute the raise money differently than they were promised. We invested in some Maalox, and then discussed the situation with Patti Harrington et. al. A few discussions later, she communicated with her people and it appears that the problem was solved. Almost. Since then, we've discovered the need to appropriate a little more to account for some math and definition errors made on both sides. Look for some kind of supplemental appropriation next year.

5/29/2007 9:54 PM  

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