April 9, 2021
Hello friends,

There's a lot to celebrate this week! Region 3 saw wins for the majority of their recommended candidates! We have to build relationships with these new board members and the state superintendent because political power is always in a state of flux, but for now we celebrate! All of the members who worked on campaigns should be so proud of their hard work.

Special shout out to the Pulaski EA and their president Jackie Baumann: They texted, called, made postcards, ran ads, did candidate screenings and distributed signs!
The PEA recruited a new board member and because of all the organizing they did BOTH their union recommended candidates won!
More about how the elections played out below.

This week the Region 3 directors led a two-hour workshop on negotiating. It was attended by teams from six local unions. Together we discussed the legal definitions and realties of bargaining for CPI and using Meet and Confer as a tool. Most importantly, union leaders shared tools and tactics that they have found helpful in past negotiations. For example, did you know you can use the DPI wage database to determine the percentage increase your administrators have received?

Space where leaders can learn from one another is one of the most valuable things a union can offer and we are going to make this workshop a yearly tradition. Shout out to Chilton EA president Aaron Juhl for approaching the Region 3 Team and specifically asking for a workshop on this topic!

If there's a topic your local union has questions about, please reach out to your director. Chances are other union members in the Region have questions too and we can bring people together with a workshop!

In Solidarity,
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
UPCOMING EVENTS
All Meetings Virtual

April 14, Wednesday
WR3 Gathering, 4:30PM

April 17, Saturday April 17
Tell Your Education Story- A workshop on budget activism, 9-11:00AM

April 20, Tuesday

April 22, Thursday

April 23-24, Friday-Saturday
WEAC RA

April 27, Tuesday

May 6, Thursday

May 8, Saturday
Region 3 RA

May 12, Wednesday
WR3 Gathering, 4:30PM

May 12, Wednesday, Executive Committee Meeting, 6PM
(Tentative)

June 9, Wednesday, Executive Committee Meeting, 6PM
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Spring Elections Wrap-Up

State Superintendent: Thanks in large part to the efforts of WEAC members, WI public schools have a strong advocate in State Superintendent-elect Dr. Jill Underly. Dr. Underly received 58% of the vote, showing that her platform was a winning message.

Local School Boards: A number of Region 3 locals actively participated in their school board elections, with extremely positive results. 18 of the 21 (86%) candidates recommended by locals were elected. Some of those races were decided by less than 100 votes, which shows the impact a local can have by simply asking family, friends, and neighbors to vote for recommended candidates. Local involvement in the elections ranged from emails and/or texts to WEAC members living in the district, to postcards to WEAC members and potential members, to advertisements in local newspapers. Region 3 encourages and challenges more districts to be involved in next year's school board elections.

School District Referendums: Statewide 37 of 68 (54%) school referendum questions passed. However, Region 3 districts fared much better, with 14 of 18 (78%) referendum questions passing. That shows the importance voters in NEW place on maintaining quality public schools. As with school board elections, many of the votes were very close with one major referendum losing by 13 votes and a few questions passing by less than 100 votes. Again, the messages are (1) Every Vote Counts and (2) locals can make a difference.

Assembly District 89: Republican Elijah Behnke was elected state representative in Assembly District 89, from which Republican John Nygren resigned. This race within Region 3 provides ample evidence of the impact of gerrymandering and the need for fair redistricting maps.


Virtual Gathering NEXT WEDNESDAY
Next Wednesday, April 14th is the Region 3 Virtual Gathering! We'll be joined by special guest, Torre Edwards, to discuss the upcoming state budget. Torre will lead a conversation about how we can use our power to make this the best budget for our students, staff and public education overall.

As always, the Virtual Gathering is a space to network with colleagues from around the region and ask questions to gain perspective.

We hope you'll join us!
Register HERE.
MAKING EARLY ENROLLMENT WORK FOR YOUR UNION
Beginning April 1st potential members are now able to join their local association and pay nothing until September 2021 (receiving up to 5 months free)!

This excludes representation, but it's still a great opportunity for interested parties to learn more about who your local union is and what you're working on!

From April to May members who bring on Just One new member to their local will be entered for a chance to win one of up to 10 $50 gift cards! Below is information about the Just One Campaign! Contact your director for forms or questions about the join online feature!
Just One Campaign

A membership drive that utilizes early enrollment while rewarding current members for their organizing efforts! 

As we’ve all come to learn, sometimes it’s Just One person that can light the spark and move people in a new way. Region 3 is inviting locals to have a friendly competition and get “Just One” new member between April 1 and May 31, 2021. New members who join in April and May via Early Enrollment will pay nothing until September 2021 (receiving up to 5 months free). The members who recruit people will have a chance to win a $50 gift card to businesses (School House, Target, Starbucks, etc.).

Want to participate in the Just One Campaign?—Fill out this FORM. 
Recertification Election for WTCS Locals
Voting will take place between noon on
Wednesday, April 7, and noon on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

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.
  • Please do not vote prior to noon April 7.
  • 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.
WEAC Weekly
Webinar Wednesday

On Wednesday, April 14, be sure to register for Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Book Study Part III. Author Daniel Pink examines the three elements of true motivation – autonomy, mastery, and purpose. For illustration, he introduces us to scientists, entrepreneurs, and educators that are pointing to ideas can be applied in the classroom to motivate students and improve our instructional approaches. If you need the book click here. If you own or will borrow the book simply complete your Webinar Wednesday registration below.

Registration HERE.

WI PUBLIC ED NETWORK
7th ANNUAL SUMMER SUMMIT



You are invited to submit a proposal for a session for one of our breakouts at the Annual Summer Summit! What makes our event unique is that it brings together supporters of students and public schools from all sectors, and invites them to learn, connect and strategize. Be part of the action by starting a conversation on the topic you're most passionate about!
 
Submit your proposal on any topic under the umbrella of our 2021 theme, Closing the Gaps -- opportunity gaps, funding gaps, equity gaps, joy gaps, organizing gaps....get creative and put a session together! We hope to have some in person aspect of the event in Sun Prairie, but a virtual option is guaranteed. Indicate in the Call for Proposal forum whether you'd prefer to present virtually in real time, in person, or pre-record a session. Submit your proposal HERE by April 12.  

Telling Your Education Story:
WEAC State Budget Workshop
Saturday, April 17, 9-11am
Join us for a hands-on workshop about provisions in the proposed state budget, including a measure to allow educators to negotiate with our employers in areas such as school safety and predictable, stable salary schedules.

This Zoom workshop will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 17.

The focus will be on a measure to allow educators to negotiate with employers in areas such as school safety and predictable, stable salary schedules. You’ll learn tips and tricks from experts about how to use your personal experience with students to convey the need for educator voice, increased funding for special education, rural schools and mental health, and more.

Leave with your story in hand to deliver to your legislators, along with skills you’ll use as you advocate for your students in the future.

Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Sessions
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2020-2021 cycle. Sessions will be held virtually until further notice and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette).
Find the schedule with registration links HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the meeting. Please save this email. 
WEAC Region 3 Representative Assembly
May 8, 2021

The WEAC Region 3 RA will be held virtually Saturday, May 8. Delegates to the RA will be electing the following positions to the WR3 Executive Committee: Treasurer, Secretary, ESP Member-at-Large, and Zone Leaders. 

Please contact the WEAC Region 3 office if you have any questions at 920-496-2440, 800-472-5582 or email Region3@weac.org. 
WEAC Representative Assembly
April 23-24, 2021

The 2021 WEAC RA will be held virtually Friday, April 23, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and reconvene on Saturday, April 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Delegates will find all the information needed for the RA on WEAC's Representative Assembly page, including the agenda, candidate biographies, Constitution and Bylaw proposed amendments and more. Click HERE for more information.  
2021 NEA Representative Assembly
June 30 - July 3, 2021

The 2021 NEA RA will again be held virtually the first week of July. The deadline for reporting delegates is April 10.

All Local Presidents should have received a memo from NEA and an election form personalized with the local name and allocation data.

Please visit the NEA RA page on the WEAC website for the latest information specific to Wisconsin Delegates - click HERE.
The NEA RA website has a page dedicated to delegate resources - click HERE.
If you did not receive your election form, please email Becky Bachman at WEAC bachmanb@weac.org.
Thank a Teacher
Teacher Appreciation Week is
May 3-7, 2021

Thank an educator for keeping learning on track during this extraordinary school year by posting a thank you note to a Wisconsin Public School teacher today. Your message will be shared across Wisconsin and your featured teacher may be selected for special recognition. Submit a thank you 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 2021-22 school year, the school board must notify with a preliminary notice of non-renewal on OR before Friday, April 30th, 2021.  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
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s agent or committee.