Idaho and Utah Jointly File Water Rights Claims
The State of Utah via the Utah Division of Water Resources and State of Idaho decided to jointly make water rights claims in Bear Lake. The unclaimed rights equal approximately 400,000 acre feet, with an estimate of around 75,000 to 80,000 acre feet of potential storage benefit. This action is intended to result in the following benefits:
For the full report, please visit:
http://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-financially-literate-states/3337/
I.
April 3, 2018
US Attorney General probing alleged FBI FISA abuses
April 3, 2018 – JW President Tom Fitton appeared on “Fox and Friends” on the Fox News Channel to discuss calls by lawmakers for a second special counsel investigation into alleged FISA abuses by the FBI.
A weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else — from the nation’s leading voice on education innovation and opportunity.
CAUTION: This newswire contains serious and thought-provoking commentary on teacher pay and teacher strikes.
IN LIGHT OF THE TEACHER STRIKES, we are compelled to bring you some facts, research and data about teacher pay that we hope will enlighten and inform readers and help you avoid simply falling into the trap of saying to yourself, “Oh wow, this is awful that we pay teachers so poorly…” Indeed, we do pay teachers poorly, and the pay scales and structures of how teachers are hired, rewarded, retained and paid later in retirement are completely broken. This is not an exhaustive analysis, just a smattering of thoughts that should propel you to do your research before jumping to conclusions.
MOST ARE OUTRAGED BY TEACHER PAY LEVELS. How bad are they, really? The answer is, It depends. Confirms the California education blog ED100: “It is difficult to accurately compare teacher pay with private sector pay, because they work differently. In a simple comparison, teacher salaries can seem worse than they are. Private-sector workers’ retirement dollars flow through paycheck deductions and build up in a way that is easy to count. They show up on a monthly statement. They accumulate in an account… Teacher pensions, by contrast, don't accumulate. Like a life insurance contract, teacher pensions are a promise of future payments. The ‘payout’ on this contract varies mostly on how long the beneficiary lives.” Incidentally, that payout results in teachers being able to retire and earn nearly their full salary for every year of their lives afterward.
Then there are union dues, which can be another $600-$1,000 a year, with no obvious benefit other than to be told why your profession is underpaid and encouraged to strike… This why tens of thousands of teachers oppose these compulsory paycheck fees, teachers like California’s Rebecca Friedrichs who took her case to the Supreme Court and Illinois’ Mark Janus who is awaiting the High Court’s decision on his challenge (which will likely be handed down this June). (For background reading, see this op-ed by CER’s CEO, Jeanne Allen, and listen to this podcast with Mark Mix, president of the organization that represents Mark Janus.)
STRIKING FOR THE WRONG THING? The teacher unions won’t tell them, but the teachers who are striking across the country aren’t going to solve anything even if the legislatures give them an annual raise. Why such a strident statement? Consider the following number: $1,000 PER PUPIL. That’s the annual cost of employee pensions. Imagine a school of 600 students — that’s $600,000! Let’s just say half those funds could go to teachers instead of the state pension coffers upfront. There are approximately 26 classroom teachers in a school that size, if we are talking a traditionally organized school. If you took just half of those funds and put them in teachers’ salaries in that school, they’d be earning another $11,000 a year each! Please note that these funds are above and beyond employee contributions, Social Security and taxes.
LET’S TALK MORE ABOUT PENSIONS. As teachers retire they will need to access the pensions they were promised and which the state has paid into. Those funds are paid by the current crop of teachers, to the tune of ten percent of their earnings. Let’s take the average pay for an Oklahoma teacher — $50,000 (which is equivalent to about $76,000 in Stamford, Connecticut. For all you New York Times readers, the cost of living in the Northeast is between 40-60% higher). According to a study from the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, “On average across state plans, over ten percent of current teachers’ earnings are being set aside to pay for previously accrued pension liabilities. This amounts to a large reduction in real operating spending per student. . . . A significant fraction of the resources allocated toward teacher compensation in current public education budgets is not being invested in resources to educate today’s students at all.”
WHAT TO DO? Researchers who have been studying this issue for years argue that there are several policy changes that could favor teachers while they work and reduce the pension burden that accumulates on states that are constantly threatened by shifting economic conditions: “(1) transition teachers to defined-contribution retirement plans, (2) transition teachers to cash-balance retirement plans, and (3) tighten the link between funding and benefit formulas within the current defined benefit structure.”
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET SMART on teacher pensions, you need to spend some time here. The solutions guiding what teachers make and what the state spends, on top of pension costs. There have been dramatic increases in the past ten years in public pension and benefit spending.
TIME TO RETHINK TEACHER PAY. We’re rethinking everything else — higher ed, K-12, workforce, school safety — so how about teaching? First, compensation is wildly uneven, being delivered to teachers through schools based on state rules governing experience and pay schedules that often see teachers meeting the peak of their salary years after most other professions, in their 50s! As respected researcher Marguerite Roza writes for the left-leaning Brookings Institution, “…a disproportionate amount of available salary funds is concentrated on teachers at the end of their career.”
“District leaders are steering a disproportionate share of the highly constrained public education funds toward a small segment of the teaching force — the group of teachers least likely to leave teaching. The National Center for Education Statistics Teacher Follow up Survey reports that while fewer than four percent of teachers with more than 20 years’ experience leave before retirement, 13.5 percent of teachers with under five years’ experience do. The lower turnover among senior teachers might be a result of the higher salaries, or of proximity to pension earnings — we don’t know for sure… But current distribution patterns leave few dollars for pay raises in a teacher’s earlier years where turnover is most acute.
“These practices not only result in lower salaries for most teachers, they also channel funds in ways that jeopardize equity across schools and create havoc for district financial stability.”
DID YOU KNOW?
“Most public-school teachers’ salaries are determined by years in the classroom and degrees held. But a new study from the Manhattan Institute shows that the premium we pay for teacher experience is far greater than is typically acknowledged.”
In Memory. Oh, Pat, you would have a field day with this newswire! A relentless data gatherer, truth seeker, amazing communicator and reporter, our dear friend and colleague Pat Korten (who we were able to lure out of retirement to help us with writing, editing and policy guidance, after having spent more than 30 years in the communications field), left us unexpectedly and far too soon last week. He would have edited this piece with depth and perfection, attributes he offered to us and to so many others in all his deeds. We will miss him, but know his abundant qualities are now being deployed by God.
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United Way of Salt Lake Announces 2018 Changemakers
SALT LAKE CITY — Today, United Way of Salt Lake announced its United for Change Changemaker award honorees for 2018. United Way will honor Gail Miller, owner and chair of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies; the Promise Partnership Regional Council’s Co-Chair Kirk Aubry, and Founding Co-Chairs Martin Bates, and Mark Bouchard; Debbie Koji, principal of South Kearns Elementary School; and Zions Bancorporation and Zions Bank.
“United Way of Salt Lake is privileged to honor the 2017 Changemakers. These individuals and organizations exemplify the passion, long-term commitment, generosity, hands-on involvement and collaboration necessary to shift ideas to action,” said Bill Crim, President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake. “By collaborating with United Way and many others to address our community’s toughest issues, these Changemakers have multiplied the effects of positive change and have made Utah a better place to live. We are grateful for their efforts that inspire the Changemaker in everyone.”
The 2018 Changemaker awards are given to businesses, civic leaders, and organizations that work with others to create measurable change in the community. Through dedication and teamwork, they create lasting impact, inspire action, and are a transformational force for good.
Gail Miller, Owner and Chair, Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
Gail Miller’s commitment to giving back to the community stems back to when her late husband, Larry, opened their first business in 1979. That dedication grew with their businesses, which now include more than 60 car dealership throughout the West, sports franchises such as the Utah Jazz and other companies. Not only does Gail preside over the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, she also is at the helm of the Larry H. Miller Education Foundation and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation which support a wide range of charitable, education and humanitarian causes. Much of her philanthropic efforts over the years have aligned with the work of United Way of Salt Lake, particularly through providing education opportunities for all Utah children. Gail continues to foster a strong legacy of giving back to the communities in which she does business and has instilled that same dedication in the thousands of employees who work with her.
Promise Partnership Regional Council
Kirk Aubry, Co-Chair
Martin Bates, Founding Co-Chair
Mark Bouchard, Founding Co-Chair
The Promise Partnership Regional Council (PPRC) was created to align systems, resources and community efforts to create lasting social change on some of our region’s toughest challenges: poverty, poor health and inequitable educational achievement. Co-chair Kirk Aubry and Founding Co-Chairs Martin Bates and Mark Bouchard have been and continue to be instrumental in leading the PPRC in its efforts toward systematic change in these areas through a collective impact approach. They are all not only committed to seeing all Utah kids succeed in and out of the classroom, but also believe that no one organization or sector could have such widespread impact alone.
Kirk Aubry is President & CEO of Savage Companies, a privately-held transportation, materials management and logistics company. Martin Bates has been the superintendent of Granite School District since 2010 and Mark Bouchard is the co-head of the Southwest Market Area for CBRE, which includes Arizona, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico.
South Kearns Elementary
Debbie Koji, Principal
Debbie Koji is an innovative leader, inspirational educator and tireless advocate for students and their families. She has worked in education for nearly 30 years, with 18 of those as an administrator in Granite School District. Most recently, Koji was selected to lead South Kearns Elementary School -- one of United Way of Salt Lake’s community schools -- through the turnaround process as principal. In just one year under her leadership, the school’s overall grade moved from an “F” to a “C,” which was the highest rate of growth within the district. Principal Koji believes that every child deserves a chance to succeed and is determined to make South Kearns Elementary a place where that belief will come to fruition.
Zions Bancorporation
Zions Bank
Community engagement is in the DNA of Zions Bank and Zions Bancorporation. It’s part of their guiding principles, which encourages it’s nearly 2,000 employees in Utah, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming to find ways to get involved and become part of the solution to community issues. That foundation has spurred a culture of community involvement from the top down at Zions. In 2017, Zions Banks’ employees donated an estimated 100,000 hours toward community projects and served on more than 160 different nonprofit boards and committees. Employees also donated more than $765,000 of their personal funds to United Way of Salt Lake and other nonprofits during the bank’s 2017 Giving Campaign.
United Way of Salt Lake will honor these outstanding organizations and individuals at the third annual United for Change breakfast on April 10, 2018. For event and RSVP information please visit unitedforchange.uw.org.
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United Way of Salt Lake is working to advance the education, income, and health of our neighborhoods and communities to ensure that every child succeeds, every step of the way, from cradle to career. We invite everyone to LIVE UNITED and be a part of the change. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer. Join the conversation by visiting our blog at uwslhub.org, or find out more at uw.org.
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Bob Woodward
Journalist/Author
Associate Editor, The Washington Post
In this keynote address, walk the bridge from Nixon to Trump with Washington's foremost journalist who will touch on his view of the American presidency and the impact on journalism today. Having written books on eight of the last presidents, from Nixon to Obama, and currently working on a book about Trump, he is uniquely situated to examine key questions including:
What exactly was Watergate?
What are the five main wars of Watergate?
Did Republicans and Democrats understand and miss different lessons?
How did Watergate define scandals such as Iran-contra and Whitewater?
Is Trump equipped or capable of avoiding scandals?
Is the power of the presidency, fully mobilized, able to thwart independent/special counsel investigations?
What is the likely outcome?
Bob Woodward is an associate editor of The Washington Post, where he has worked since 1971. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first in 1973 for the coverage of the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, and second in 2002 as the lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He is the author of 18 best-selling books, with 12 of them No. 1 bestsellers.
Gov. Herbert to celebrate sending Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon’s statue to Washington, D.C. by ceremonially signing SCR1
What:
Gov. Herbert will ceremonially sign SCR1 - Concurrent Resolution Recommending Replacement of Statue of Philo Farnsworth in United States Capitol. The resolution proposes that Utah send a statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, the first female state senator in the nation, to symbolically represent Utah in Washington, D.C.
Who:
Gov. Gary R. Herbert
Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox
Sen. Todd Weiler
Rep. Becky Edwards
When:
Wed., April. 4, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. MST
Where:
North Plaza, Utah State Capitol
Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon Statue
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UTAH ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER PARTNERS WITH NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST MOBILE PET ADOPTION EVENT, 2018 TOUR FOR LIFE™
Life-Saving Tour Rolls Into Salt Lake City With Adoptable Pets
WHAT: Utah Animal Adoption Center joins North Shore Animal League America’s 2018 Tour For Life™ – the world’s largest national cooperative life-saving mobile pet adoption event - sponsored by Purina®. Highlighted by adoptable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, the event will also offer Purina® giveaways for all attendees.
From the beginning of March to the end of April, Tour For Life™ will travel throughout the United States from North to South and East to West in four “shelters on wheels” Mobile Pet Adoption Units helping shelter and rescue groups in 50 cities and towns in 37 states, over 20,000 miles to generate more awareness of their organizations and find homes for the adorable, adoptable animals in their care. To find out more about a Tour For Life stop near you, you can visit animalleague.org.
WHEN: Friday, April 6th from 10 am – 6 pm
WHO: Adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens
WHERE: Utah Animal Adoption Center
1655 N Redrood Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
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With April being National Financial Literacy Month, the free credit score website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Most & Least Financially Literate States, which analyzes financial-education programs and consumer habits in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The study uses a data set of 15 key metrics, including the results of WalletHub’s WalletLiteracy Survey, which range from high-school financial literacy grade to share of adults with a rainy-day fund.
Financial Literacy in Utah (1=Most Financially Literate, 25=Avg.):
