July 17, 2020
Hello friends,

Back to School plans are starting to come together. As we proceed in creating these plans we have to make sure the health of educators is also a priority. That's why your input is so important now. I have a feeling this is going to look a lot like the spring where it was collective action that kept people safe. Georgia Tech put together an interactive map to predict what potential Covid-19 exposure would look like by county. It's a useful tool to see what is happening in your community and next door. You can view it here .

In order for schools to open safely and successfully, the number of cases in your county should be decreasing. From there, plans need to focus on the four D's: Distance, Deterrence, Disinfection, and Detection. More of these ideas are in the NEA webinar on Returning to School Safely, (Link included in this email.) Right now locals are talking to their members about concerns, discussing plans with admins, and even petitioning county health officials to try and make masks mandatory. What is your district doing? What would you like them to do? Now is the time to make sure your concerns are heard. Region 3 is currently collecting concerns with our most recent survey. Please take a moment to fill it out. We will be closing the survey next week Friday and using those themes to guide our work.


In Solidarity,
Kristin Lytie
WEAC Region 3 
Share with Us Something Good!
Send your stories to Region3@weac.org
Keshena, Wis., arts educator and WEAC Region 3 member Benjamin Grignon has drawn up the ultimate blueprint for instilling cultural pride in indigenous youth.

Through his work at Keshena’s Menominee Indian High School, Grignon uses the arts to reflect the community’s legacy. The town is the center of the Menominee people, and Grignon takes the responsibility to guide youth down the path of being guardians of their own history very seriously, and passionately. Read more . . .
NEA
Member Webinar: Returning Safely to In-Person Instruction

With the new school year less than two months away, educators are working in overdrive to figure out the best and safest ways to continue instruction for our country’s students. NEA recently took questions from its members to address the unprecedented challenges facing educators and students.

On July 9, nearly 30,000 educators registered for a  90-minute NEA webinar , “Safely Returning to In-Person Instruction: Rights and Considerations for Students and Educators.”

Covid 19 has changed the world and how we grow our unions! This 1.5 hour training will help you better understand how to utilize social media platforms to communicate with members, reach out to potential members, and strengthen your union.

Register for the training:
 


Be sure to choose August 5 th  date in drop down box.
Region 3 Special Education Networking Meeting

During our weekly Region 3 zoom meetings, it became apparent that what is happening in one district with Special Ed varies wildly from district to district. It was decided that these educators could benefit greatly by strategizing, sharing best practices and asking each other questions. So, let's do it!
 
When: August 10, 2020 @ 4:00 PM
 
Register in advance for this meeting HERE:
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL CONNECTION CALL FOR ALL ESP'S
WEAC Region 3 would now like to invite members and potential members to these meetings. This is your opportunity, Region 3 members, to bring a non-member friend. Let's show them the value of union membership!

Region 3 created an ESP Connection Call to check in with one another, keep each other in the loop and plan our next steps. It was discovered that now more than ever ESP staff need to be in contact with each other to discuss what their districts are doing, best practices and how to implement them in their own district. The global pandemic has revealed that schools are the social safety nets for many of our communities and that those safety nets work because you do.

 
Please join us on Tuesday, August 18 at 4 pm via zoom to participate in this important conversation.  
 
 
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
You are Invited!
WR3's ALL-MEMBER
Weekly Virtual Gathering
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
4:00 - 5:00 pm

Please note that you need to PRE-Register for the meeting by clicking on the link above. Then an email will be sent to you with the login link.
We are doing our best to Zoombomb-proof our meeting!

Agenda:
1) Latest updates on school closings.
2) Time for sharing! What's going on in your area?


We look forward to SEEING you!
It's a good idea to log in a few minutes early
to get the audio and video working on your device.
The 2020 Summer Summit is on! It will be a virtual and modified version of WPEN's annual event, complete with plenary and breakout sessions and plenty of opportunities for networking - all online! Logistics are being worked on, so stay tuned for details and register today by clicking on photo above !

Don't miss Wisconsin's public education event of the year!
Sign up now for annual WEAC Leadership Academy 
There are educator-leaders within each local union, moving our profession forward. WEAC Leadership Academy empowers locals to build skills and connect with other advocates. Watch the latest video from a local leader about the value of this opportunity, then commit to join us for this free, online opportunity July 27-28.  Read about the Academy and sign up now .
Join Early at No Extra Cost
When you become a member of your local association, WEAC and NEA,
by completing an early enrollment membership form, you pay nothing
until September 1 and immediately receive:

  • $1 million in coverage under the Educator Employment Liability (EEL) insurance to protect you if a student or parent sues you during the course of employment

  • Discounts and savings through NEA Member Benefits (www.neamb.com)


At the start of the school year, you will enjoy the full benefits of membership
including:

  • Representation through your local and region in employment disputes

  • Eligibility for assistance through the WEAC Legal Services Program in matters related to your employment

  • Access to the Attorney Referral Program that provides for two, free half-hour consultations with a participating attorney every year


BECOME A MEMBER TODAY
by contacting Region3@weac.org !

WEAC
NEA
Region 3 has added a COVID-19 INFO tab at the top of our webpage: https://region3.weac.org/

Clicking on that tab gives you access to a Google Drive with all kinds of updated information. We have posted a document with links and resources, recordings of virtual gatherings, an Excel version of our survey data, and more.
If you have a question about other meetings, check WEAC's webpage:
WEAC is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our members and the students they serve and will continue to provide resources and support as they become available.