April 1, 2022
MEMBERSHIP EDITION, Vol. 6, #8
Hello friends,

We're in the home stretch of this election season. There are so many pro-public education candidates running! I am truly proud of how many educators around the Region have stepped up and started working on campaigns to elect quality school board candidates. The complete list of candidates is below!

If you haven't already early voted, please, please, please make a plan to vote on Tuesday, April 5th, and bring five friends!

In negotiations, we have more good news from around the area. Pulaski, Green Bay and New Holstein have all been offered 4.7%. It's truly a commitment to our educators and public education as a whole.

Our Just One Campaign kicks off next week! If you are interested in learning how to make your union stronger, please join us! We are having a one-hour training and conversation on Thursday, April 7th at 4:30. You can register HERE.

Speaking of strengthening the union, Region 3 is expanding the summer organizing program to include the zones! We are looking for individuals to help us reach out to new hires, plan welcome events and grow the local unions in their zone. For example, this means an organizer hired in Zone B would reach out to educators at multiple districts and work with a team of likeminded union members on completing their goals.

If you're someone that understands the union is a living organization that needs to be visible in your district to make positive change, and you like chatting with newcomers, you should apply! Applications close on April 20th and we will be interviewing in May so don't delay! Apply HERE.

Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
Upcoming Events:

 
April 1 - April 21, Recertification Election for WTCS Locals (see voting info below)

April 5, Tuesday, Spring Election 2022

April 7, Thursday, Just One Campaign Kickoff, 4:30PM
 
April 12 ,Tuesday, Zone B Meeting, 6PM
 
April 13, Wednesday, Region 3 Executive Committee Meeting, Follows 5PM WEAC Pre-RA
 
April 13, Wednesday, WEAC Pre-RA, 5PM

April 21, Thursday, NBCT, 5PM

April 25, Monday, Organizing Committee Meeting, 5PM
 
April 30, Saturday, WEAC RA, Marriott Madison Hotel

May 12, Thursday, Region 3 Roundtable, 4:30PM
 
May 14, Saturday, Region 3 RA, 10AM
Here are the recommended school board candidates as reported by local unions in Region 3:
Appleton
  • James Bowman
  • James Bacon
  • Jason Kolpack
  • Pheng Thao
 
Ashwaubenon
  • Michelle Garrigan
  • Cassondra Pink
 
De Pere
  • Adam Clayton
  • Bob Mathews
  • Mark Meneau
 
Green Bay
  • James Lyerly
  •  Bryan Milz
  • Laura Laitinen-Warren
 
Howard Suamico
  • Teresa Ford
  • Jason Potts
  •  Michael Moran
 
Kaukauna
  • Chad Berken
  • Kathy Breitzman
Manitowoc
  • Lisa Johnston
  • Meredith Sauer
  • Dave Nickels
 
Neenah
  • Lauri Asbury
  • Rocky Schafer
  • Lydia Rhoads
 
New London
  • Peter Bosquez
  • Tina Ruckdashel
 
Pulaski
  • Jacqueline Huisman
 
Seymour
  • Tom Heins
  • Paul Bucheger
  • Lindsay Kraft
 
West De Pere
  • Jamie Kinjerski
  • Barbara VanDeurzen
  • Scott Borley
The Ten Minute Meeting
You have an opportunity to keep members in the loop AND respect their time by holding 10-minute meetings! It's also a great time to get feedback from people in the building.

Get out there and BE VISIBLE!

How can we have 10-minute meetings? Facebook live, Google hangouts, Zoom, after-school ...
The April 10-Minute Meeting topic:
Non-Renewals

It's that time of year when people can be put on plans of improvement or worse yet, be told they will be let go. It's so important that people reach out to their union as soon as they hear any of these things could be a possibility. At your 10-minute meeting, be sure to tell members that preliminary notice of non-renewal must happen before April 30th. State statute defines that timeline. It also states that new contracts should be issued to you by May 15th. Reach out to your director if you have more questions!
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS IN MARCH

9!

We're stronger
every day!
Voting will take place between noon on Friday, April 1, and noon on Thursday, April 21, 2022. 
 
The following Region 3 WTCS locals are recertifying: FVTC ESPA, FVTC FA, Lakeshore EA, and NWTC ESS.
 
Voting online is quick and easy at www.aaaelections.org/WERC.
Here is a flowchart of the online voting process. (There is an option to vote by phone, but given past issues with that system, Region 3 recommends using the online voting process.) 
 
As a reminder, certification with the WERC requires 51% or more of ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS to vote “YES” in favor of being represented by the Local Association & WEAC Region 3.  
 
Recertification elections are unique in that all eligible employees who do not vote are counted as “NO” votes. Therefore, encourage ALL of your co-workers to VOTE "YES.".
 
Additional Recert Voting Information:
 
  • Your vote is secret. 
  • The WERC will release the number of votes cast (not who or how) in each election at the mid-point of the voting period.
  • Voting "Yes" does not obligate anyone to become a member.
  • All employees in a bargaining unit vote, not just union members.
  • If you have questions about the election process, click here for FAQs on recertification. 
  • If you have problems voting, call 1-800-529-5218 during the hours of 9 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday.
  • If you are still having problems please report the issue to Region 3 at 920-496-2440, 800-472-5582 or email Region3@weac.org. 
Campaign Kickoff
 
Through the Just One campaign last year, we were able to quadruple the number of new members we normally recruit with Early Enrollment! Given it's success, we are continuing this program starting today, April 1. We will have a training available to members who want to participate in the program and learn how to strengthen their union. Our training will be Thursday, April 7th at 4:30. Register HERE.
 
Members who successfully recruit new members through Early Enrollment will be entered to win up to ten $50 gift cards. Participants will receive weekly email updates containing wins and best practices from around the Region! 
Are you retiring this year? Do you know someone who is retiring this year?
 
The WEAC membership year is September 1st through August 31st, and even though you are "leaving" active employment in June, there is an obligation to continue paying dues through the end of August.
 
Not only does this commitment to membership support your active colleagues, it provides you with access to union resources and support to ensure you are treated fairly and that your employer upholds its commitments related to your retirement. 
 
Here are some resources to share with the newest class of retirees:  
 
Retiree Resources
 
  • Cancellation of your current WEAC membership requires a signed letter sent to the Membership Department. Here is a sample letter that can be mailed to the address on the letter or scanned and emailed to membership@weac.org. This letter MUST include the date and your signature!
  • Retirees should consider enrolling in WEAC-Retired. Membership can be a one-time payment. Here is a brochure detailing the benefits and an enrollment form.
  • Term life insurance offered through NEA can be increased at a very competitive rate and remains in place as long as you are an active or retired member. Here is a handout and an enrollment form that explains all the details of this important benefit.  
Wisconsin Lifetime License Background Check

Wis. Admin Code s. PI 34.041 requires educators who hold a valid Lifetime license to submit a request to the department to have a new background check conducted and to confirm employment status at least once every five years. The request shall be made between January 1 and June 30 of the fifth year since the individual's last background check.  If your most recent background check was in 2017, you are due to submit an application to DPI in order to maintain your Lifetime license.  You must submit this application to DPI by June 30, 2022, to maintain your Lifetime license.  
 
Follow the Application Directions for Background Check to Maintain Lifetime License to submit your background check HERE .
Wisconsin State Statute 118.22 governs the renewal and NON-renewal of full-time teacher contracts
 
This important deadline is approaching: 
 
For full-time teacher contracts that a District does NOT want to renew for the 2022-23 school year, the school board must notify with a preliminary notice of non-renewal on OR before April 30, 2022.  This timeline applies regardless of the reason for non-renewal, i.e., performance, economic reasons, declining enrollment, etc.

A preliminary notice of non-renewal must be voted on and issued by the school board (not an administrator).
 
Many teachers have already been given some kind of indication that the District is thinking about non-renewal. These teachers may be on a plan of improvement. For teachers under this scrutiny, the preliminary notice of non-renewal may come well before the deadline of April 30th.
Union members who may be in danger of non-renewal, as well as leaders and building reps working with those members, should contact the Region 3 office as soon as possible. 
 
Once preliminary notice of non-renewal is given to an educator, they only have five calendar days to request a hearing before the school board.
 
Please do not wait until the preliminary notice has already been issued!
 
Individual Contract Deadlines:
  • April 30 - preliminary notice of nonrenewal
  • May 15 - final notice of nonrenewal
  • May 15 - issuing individual contracts
  • June 15 - accept or reject individual contract
Next Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Session - April 21
 
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2021-2022 cycle. Sessions will be held in person at the WEAC Region 3 office but with a virtual option and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette) and Ellie Hinz-Radue (Green Bay).
 

The NEA has limited funding available to assist in supporting affiliates interested in affiliate-led professional learning programs. 
Each of NEA’s interactive blended learning online courses provides high quality professional learning to members in a combination of in person and online learning platforms allowing participants to learn at their own pace while improving classroom practice and support for all students. 
Each course participant becomes part of an NEA blended learning community that provides the opportunity for dialogue and collaboration with other participants across the country. All NEA online blended learning courses run six weeks and are facilitated by NEA trained blended learning course instructors. Participants receive a certificate for 15-hours of professional development upon completion.
The deadline for a local association to apply to bring the blended learning program to your members is Saturday, April 30, with finalists notified by May 10. 
WEAC Webinar Wednesday

On Wednesday, April 6, be sure to register for Multi-Sensory Learning Using Arts Integration. When students are exposed to the same content in different subjects and through multiple senses, they are able to make connections across the disciplines. Participants will see examples of cross-curricular lessons that incorporate science, writing, social studies, music, and visual arts.

Register HERE.
WEAC Region 3 Representative Assembly
May 14, 2022
 
The WEAC Region 3 RA will be held Saturday, May 14. The RA will be held at the WR3 office, with the option to attend virtually via Zoom.
 
Delegates to the RA will be electing the following positions to the WR3 Executive Committee: President, Vice President, ESP Member-at-Large, and Zone Leaders. To determine which Zone your local is in, please click HERE. To view the duties of each, please click HERE. In order to be elected to one of these positions, nominees must be a local delegate to the WR3 RA. Send nominations to region3@weac.org.
 
Local Presidents received an email from WEAC Region 3 on Thursday, March 10th regarding delegate registration. The deadline for registration of delegates is April 15. If your local did not receive this email, please email WEAC Region 3 at region3@weac.org.
 
Once Region 3 receives delegate certifications, a registration link will be emailed to all certified delegates. 
Deadline to Register WEAC RA delegates is April 20
 
The WEAC Representative Assembly will be held April 30, with a virtual or in-person option. The in-person meeting will be in Madison. With two options to participate, local associations are encouraged to send delegates to help shape the future of our union.

If you have not registered delegates, please do so here. The deadline for delegates to register is April 20. 

The NEA Representative Assembly is July 2-6 in Chicago, with in-person and virtual options. 
 
 
 
Several elections will be held in conjunction with the WEAC Representative Assembly April 30 in Madison and online.
 
 
The deadline to submit New Business Items for the WEAC Representative Assembly is April 27. Submit New Business Items Here. 
If you have recently moved, gotten a new phone number or email address, changed schools or banking information, please contact Region 3 staff assistant Debbie Armitage or Sue Clauss. They will be able to make any changes to your records. This information helps us ensure that we are able to stay connected with you.
 
They can both be reached by phone at 920-496-2440. 
 
Debbie can be reached through email at ArmitageD@WEAC.org. 
 
Sue can be reached at ClaussS@weac.org.
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members