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Urgent message for UMEA membership
by Sharee Jorgensen 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Dear UMEA Membership: The Utah State Legislature is currently discussing House Bill 203, the Teacher Salary Supplement Program Amendments. This bill provides supplemental pay of up to $10,000 for secondary science, engineering, math, and technology (STEM) and special education teachers. The bill passed the House on February 23, 2015. On March 5, 2015, the Senate Education committee approved the bill for consideration on the Senate floor. Click on this link to read the bill and follow its progress: http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/HB0203.html For concerned educators to affect this bill, immediate action is needed. Please contact your senator voicing your concerns about HB 203 as soon as possible. The UMEA Executive Committee is inviting members to contact their state senator to share your opposition to HB 203. To contact your senator go to http://senate.utah.gov/contact/index.html, select your senator and leave your message. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Sam Tsugawa President, Utah Music Educators’ Association The following statement is UMEA’s position on HB 203: HB 203 only compensates secondary teachers who teach science, engineering, math, and technology (STEM) courses, as well as special education teachers. These designated salary increases would create stark pay discrepancies between secondary STEM teachers and all other teachers, including all elementary, and secondary language arts, world languages, social science, physical education, and fine arts teachers. Additionally, the bill is unclear regarding how STEM teachers may become eligible for their supplemental pay. According HB 203, eligibility requirements for salary increases are primarily based upon a STEM teacher’s degrees earned and teaching assignment. The bill does not mandate State and district school boards to require STEM teachers to submit Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) and account for student learning and improvement as a condition to receive supplemental pay (a procedure required by law for all teachers to receive merit pay). Given the exclusionary nature of the bill, as well as the lack of accountability, we are concerned about the unintended consequences that may result if the current bill is enacted into law, including a marginalization of subject areas not included in the bill. Such distinctions fostered in HB 203 may affect teacher recruiting and retention, student enrollment and participation, force districts to reallocate time and money away from non-STEM courses, and create an unhealthy competitive environment between teachers. It is our hope that any action taken by the Legislature to improve education is done with the utmost care and awareness of the effects that proposed laws have on all students and teachers. We believe that HB 203 is exclusionary and will eventually disenfranchise and devalue the teaching efforts of teachers not included in the bill. We propose that any effort to improve education, even STEM education, include all subject areas, even the fine arts. Research affirms music’s efficacy in overall learning, creative and critical thinking, and collaborative skills; in other words, the traits or “soft skills” students need for professional success. As music educators, we are eager to share with decision makers the demonstrable positive impact music has on learning, and its lifelong benefits music students take from our classes into the workplace. An equitable and inclusionary professional environment would value the efforts of all teachers and keep open continued dialogue between decision makers and the entire education community. -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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Music on the Hill Day, March 4, 2015
by Sharee Jorgensen 24 Feb '15

24 Feb '15

There was a glitch in the email and you may have gotten an email that gave the wrong date for Music on the Hill Day! This is to make sure you know that Music on the Hill Day is in fact at noon March 4, 2015! Flyer is attached. Hope to see you and/or your supporter there. -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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Music on the Hill Day
by Sharee Jorgensen 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

The Utah Music Educators Association is sponsoring the second annual "Music on the Hill Day, March 4, 2015. Please share the attached flyer with an invitation to attend our event to all students and parents in their schools and communities. Also share it on your facebook pages and in any other way possible. We would like to make sure music education has a presence at the State Capitol! -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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Music on the Hill Day
by Sharee Jorgensen 16 Feb '15

16 Feb '15

The Utah Music Educators Association is sponsoring the second annual "Music on the Hill Day, March 10, 2015. Please share the attached flyer with an invitation to attend our event to all students and parents in their schools and communities. Also share it on your facebook pages and in any other way possible. We would like to make sure music education has a presence at the State Capitol! -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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UMEA conference!
by Sharee Jorgensen 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Just one more reminder about the upcoming UMEA conference! Great presenters including Richard Saucedo, Patrick Sheridan, Patrick Clark, Mike Klinger, Simply Three, Dennis Mackrel and many more! Additional concerts, lots of opportunities to network with your colleagues and sunny weather in beautiful St. George! Jan. 30 is the LAST DAY to preregister. Go on line at www.umea.us before midnight OR postmark your registration by Jan. 30 to get the early bird price! Hope to see you there. -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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UMEA Journal Conference Issue
by Robert D. Coleman 15 Jan '15

15 Jan '15

Hello, Just a note to let you know that the Utah Music Educators Journal Winter Issue is posted online at www.umea.us Because of a label error, some members did not receive a hard-copy of this issue in the mail. We regret this problem and hope you will take advantage of this online version. A limited number of hard copies may be available at the UMEA Mid-Winter Conference in St. George, Utah. Thank you for understanding. Robert Robert D. ColemanUMEA Communications DirectorFreelance writer5084 S 150 EOgden, UT 84405801 479-5736801 814-4854 (mobile)rcoleman50(a)comcast.net

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UMEA Conference Online Registration and Information
by Robert D. Coleman 09 Jan '15

09 Jan '15

To Utah Music Educators: On-line registration for the UMEA Mid-Winter Conference is now open. The conference is February 6 and 7, 2015 at the Dixie Center in St. George, Utah Visit www.umea.us for conference information and registration options. There is no extra fee for credit card payments. If you are a current NAfME/UMEA member, you will need your membership number and expiration date. If you don't have your number, contact NAfME at 800-336-3768 (memberservices(a)nafme2.org) or Sharee Jorgensen shareekj(a)gmail.com The NAfME Mobile Membership app is available for free on the Play Store or similar app sources. This is a convenient way to store your membership information. Hotel information is also available at www.umea.us Click on the "Conference" tab and choose from the drop-down menu. Robert D. ColemanUMEA Communications DirectorFreelance writer5084 S 150 EOgden, UT 84405801 479-5736801 814-4854 (mobile)rcoleman50(a)comcast.net

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Perform at the 2015 UMEA Conference!
by Sharee Jorgensen 15 Jun '14

15 Jun '14

Looking for a great performance opportunity for your group? Applications are being accepted to perform at the 2015 UMEA conference. The UMEA has taken your feedback and reworked the conference schedule to include MORE performance opportunities! Most performances are 30 minutes per group. Opportunities are available for all types of performing groups and at all levels; traditional Wind Symphonies, Choirs & Orchestras to Jazz bands, Guitar ensembles, Percussion ensembles and everything in between! Deadline to apply is Aug. 1. For your convenience, an application is attached to this email. A reminder that you can submit your recording from State Festival or Jr. High Band Festival or another recording you may have from this past school year. Consider having your group perform for your peers at UMEA 2015! -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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UMEA conference!
by Sharee Jorgensen 19 Jan '14

19 Jan '14

Dear Colleagues: I hope that the first half of the school year has gone well for all. Join us for a weekend of learning, rejuvenation, networking, and great concerts at the annual UMEA Mid-Winter Professional Development Conference, Friday and Saturday February 7 and 8 at the Dixie Conference Center in sunny St. George. Registration and lodging information can be found at umea.us. You can early register until January 31. Hope to see you all there. Sam Tsugawa UMEA President

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Nominations for New Board Members
by Sharee Jorgensen 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

We would like to issue a call for any nominations Utah Music Educators Association members might have for the up coming vacancies on the UMEA Board. The elections for these positions will be held at the St. George UMEA Convention in February, 2014. The vacancies include the Band Vice-President, Higher Education Vice-President, Jr. High Vice-President, and the Choral Vice-President. Please forward your nominations and a short supporting paragraph to the nominating chair Dr. Greg Wheeler via email: gregj.wheeler(a)usu.edu Deadline for nominations is September 30, 2013. We look forward to hearing from you. -- sharee jorgensen Canyons District Arts Specialist UMEA Executive Director

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