August 20, 2021
Hello friends,

The Region has been bustling with back-to-school events! Everyone has adjusted how we do our events due to Covid-19 from going virtual to outdoors, and in some cases it’s really worked out to the union’s advantage. Local unions used to do events indoors at restaurants which can be costly. Seymour adjusted how they do their new hire orientation luncheon and now they rent a nearby park pavilion and have pizza with the new hires. It’s a relaxed environment where everyone gets to know each other while learning about the Seymour Education Association. Chilton has also found success in the park! They held a welcome back pot luck picnic for existing members that had 77% of its membership attend. 

Luxemburg-Casco EA was included in the district’s new hire orientation program for the very first time and was able to recruit new members into their Local onsite. LCEA’s Local President discussed the achievements of the LCEA in the last school year, including a 78.3% recertification rate and their current progress in salary negotiations with the district.
 
Manitowoc EA hosted a new hire orientation event and also filmed an informational video with the help of WEAC’s Communications Director, Christina Brey. The 2-minute video (coming soon) is geared towards potential members and features officers and summer organizers from MEA. MEA plans to promote the video via social media to help educate potential members on the benefits of belonging to their Association.

One of the first steps in introducing your new coworkers to the union is the New Educator Card. They can fill it out online or you can have paper copies on hand. This allows them to get to know more about the NEA and what unionized educators are doing at the national level.

Whether or not the district gives you time during the orientation to talk to your coworkers, Back-to-School is the most important time of year to let everyone know who your union is and the important work you're doing. Let's make the most of it!

In Solidarity,

Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
Upcoming Events:

August 23, Monday, Zone B Meeting, 6PM



October 6, Wednesday, The Balanced Life Webinar, 6PM

Recertification Elections:
Tell WR3 if your Local is participating
NO LATER THAN Friday, September 3! 

For the Region 3 Locals who participate in recertification elections, it’s important to have deadlines on your horizon. To participate in the election in November you must have your paperwork completed by mid-September. Your Directors will be in touch to help you with the process! 

Even if your Local is NOT recertifying soon, talking about Recertification is a good idea. You can explain why your Local is not participating, that even without recertifying your UNION STILL EXISTS, and you can discuss the potential for holding a CERTIFICATION election in the future.
 
  • Here is a flyer that describes the process of Certification and Recertification.
 
If your Local IS recertifying this year, please contact the WR3 office by September 3. The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission announced the annual certification election balloting regarding school district and state employee unions will be held from noon on Tuesday, November 2 through noon on Monday, November 22, 2021.

The state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Department of Health Services (DHS) have released guidance for the 2021-22 school year when it comes to the prevention, investigation and control of COVID in K-12 schools. These are not requirements, but statewide guidance.
The DPI recommends to school districts that all students older than 2 years and all school staff wear face masks at school regardless of vaccination status (unless medical or developmental conditions prohibit use). This is in alignment with the AAP, CDC, and DHS guidance for schools.
 

The DHS states returning to in-person instruction for school-aged children and adolescents is a priority for the school year and notes the recommendations align with the CDC’s K-12 School Operational Strategy.

In an email to school district administrators announcing the guidelines, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said, “My advice is that if we want to keep our schools open to in person learning, we follow it. I know that there is a lot of pressure to waive and/or not enforce mask requirements, and perhaps for some local activities held outdoors that makes sense. But please remind people how quickly this variant spreads and it is highly contagious. The long-term consequences outweigh the minor inconvenience of masking. Our kids are counting on us to keep them safe, and our communities are counting on us to keep our buildings open.”
The preventative and mitigation guidance includes:

Vaccinations. Voluntary vaccinations among staff and eligible students are encouraged.

Masks. In addition to the recommendation all students older than 2 years and all school staff wear face masks in school buildings and activities, including indoor athletics. Face masks are required on school buses, per a CDC order. Outdoor masking is not recommended, and DPI suggests outdoor mask breaks are part of every school day for all grades.

Screening. A plan should be in place, with fully vaccinated people exempt from testing unless experiencing symptoms. Districts are encouraged to build support from students, parents, teachers and staff.

There are many other recommendations addressed in the documents including social distancing and cohorts, staff considerations, staying home/getting tested and much more. View WEAC's overview for the top lines.


DATE SET FOR NEXT REGION 3 ROUNDTABLE

The Region 3 Roundtable is an opportunity to brainstorm with your fellow union leaders throughout the Region. On October 6th we will be discussing Recertification and Meet & Confer. We’ll discuss how to create a strong turnout plan for your vote and why it’s important. For locals that do no recertify we’ll have a conversation about using Meet and Confer to your advantage. Register HERE.
ENHANCE YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGNS WITH PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

As we gear up for the 2021-22 school year please, take note of the wide selection of professional development opportunities available to members through WEAC and the WEA Academy. All offerings are grounded in best practice research and relevant to the day-to-day work of educators. In the spirit of craft unionism, all classes and workshops are practical and meant to compliment the professional learning designed at the local or regional level. Here is a list of some offerings:
 
Best Practices in Classroom Management. One of our newest offerings, this virtual course contains five core modules: 1) setting expectations, 2) strategies and tools for management, 3) culturally responsive practices, 4) connecting and building relationships, and 5) strategies and tools for specific circumstances (e.g., trauma response, de-escalation, or increasing active engagement). The course will meet on the last Wednesday of each month September thru February, and registration can be found at this link.
 
Democracy in Chains, A Virtual Book Study. Democracy in Chains is a thorough examination of 20th century efforts to undermine democratic systems. This book study will be led by the author herself, educator and historian Nancy MacLean. For more details and the registration link click here.
 
Modern Strategies for Family Engagement. Family engagement is proven to increase student learning and decrease discipline issues. In a true blended model, educators will connect virtually four times and in person two times with options in Green Bay, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee and LaCrosse. For more details click here. A light lunch and door prizes are included during the in-person sessions.
 
Wednesday Webinars. Back by popular demand. On the first Wednesday of each month a topic relevant to teaching and learning will be covered from 6-7 p.m. A few of the upcoming topics include Building and Maintaining a Humanized Classroom, Using Podcasts for Instructional Purposes, Multi-Sensory Learning Using Arts Integration, and Rethinking Grading. Click here for a full list of webinars and the registration link.
 
Professional Development Institute. The annual WEAC Professional Development Institute will be held at the Oshkosh Convention Center November 5-7. Our keynote speaker is author and educator Matthew Kay. Inspired by Frederick Douglass's abolitionist call to action Mr. Kay has written, Not Light, but Fire. Look for registration to open in mid-August.
 
Restorative Practices. Restorative Practices is centered on creating a sustainable community of engaged learners through the implementation of classroom circles. This 6-week course held Wednesdays,October 13 through November 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. is interactive and reflective as evidenced in powerful group chats, didactic discussion, and reflective personal writing. Here’s the registration link.
 
The Balanced Life. Educators take care of a lot of people. This course takes care of educators. It includes resources, lessons, and monthly challenges to help our members keep an emotional, social, and physical balance in their lives. The registration link can be found here.
 
Thank you for taking the time to review these offerings, but this is not all. Take a little time and peruse two spots on the WEAC website. First, the Teaching and Learning tab highlights other items such as supports for National Board candidates and Micro-Credentials. Second, the WEA Academy tab shows the entire course catalog. Other popular courses not noted above include FoRT Preparation, Spanish for Educators and Degrees Not Debt!
WEA
In the summer issue of your$ magazine, learn how to be a clever insurance consumer, understand the risks of backyard toys, uncover why multiple retirement accounts may be costing you and much more.
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members