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The Connection
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-496-2440
Region3@weac.org
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Hello friends,
This Sunday, May 1st, is International Workers' Day. It's a day to commemorate the sacrifice made in Chicago in 1886 that established the 8-hour work day. Something that now seems so standard was once outlandish, a pipe dream. In the tradition of the author Octavia Butler, we can imagine new worlds even if they feel like a science fiction story right now. International Workers' Day is a reminder of how we can change the world.
Although it can at times feel like we are living in a new Gilded Age with billionaires taking day trips to space while the rest of us would just like, Oh I don't know, reasonable healthcare, the future does feel promising. I have been doing this work for nearly 15 years and the positive public support for unions is growing! Elections for people starting new unions in their workplaces are happening all over the country. Hannah Fogarty, the daughter of union leaders Mike and Jen Fogarty (educators in Freedom) just won her union election at the Oak Creek Starbucks she works at! That momentum has also spread to a Starbucks in Appleton that students work at who are in the process of filing for their own election.
Our own union is getting stronger every day. Over the past month, the Just One campaign has brought in five new members!
Here's to imagining new worlds together. Happy International Workers' Day everyone!
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
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Upcoming Events:
TOMORROW, April 30, Saturday, WEAC RA, Marriott Madison Hotel
May 5, Thursday, NBCT, 5PM
May 14, Saturday, Region 3 RA, 10AM
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The Region 3 Roundtable is the spot to learn what's happening in districts around the Region. It's a spot for brainstorming, a little bragging and more importantly, getting to know your fellow union leaders from around the Region. In May we'll be talking about the goals local unions want to start planning for! Click the pic above to register now! |
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Join Early at No Extra Cost
WEAC EARLY ENROLLMENT
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
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Discounts and savings through NEA Member Benefits (www.neamb.com).
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Savings through WEA Member Benefits (www.weabenefits.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
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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.
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!
Early Enrollment lets potential members join the union now and pay no dues until September. This of course excludes people seeking representation, but it does give people a great opportunity to attend union events, workshops and learn more about your unique union culture!
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Paid Organizer Positions
WEAC and Region 3 are looking for passionate union members to work on summer organizing projects. The goal of summer organizing is to welcome new hires to your district, get to know them, and talk to them about why joining the union is important. Region 3 staff work closely with these individuals to teach them all about organizing membership drives.
The program will consist of a two-day training, July 20-21, and then continues for 6 weeks. The commitment is 20 hours a week with the Region 3 Directors working with the summer organizers to create a weekly schedule.
If you understand the importance and power of a strong union, and you love meeting new people, this is for you! You can learn more about the Region 3 summer organizing program and apply HERE.
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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.
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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:
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April 30 - preliminary notice of nonrenewal
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May 15 - final notice of nonrenewal
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May 15 - issuing individual contracts
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June 15 - accept or reject individual contract
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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 .
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Next Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Session - May 5
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).
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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. 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.
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The WEAC Representative Assembly will be held tomorrow, April 30, with a virtual or in-person option. The in-person meeting will be in Madison with two options to participate.
The NEA Representative Assembly is July 2-6 in Chicago, with in-person and virtual options.
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Several elections will be held in conjunction with the WEAC Representative Assembly April 30 in Madison and online.
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WEAC Webinar Wednesday
On Wednesday, May 4, be sure to register for Sustaining Family Engagement. As the school year comes to a close, this session will focus on strategies that will assist families as they support their student’s learning in the final weeks of school and into the summer. A diagnostic tool will be shared to measure family engagement and how it has the ability to change for the better over time. Register HERE.
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MAY WEBINARS
Additional Contributions
Wed, May 4, 2022 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Tue, May 10, 2022 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Thu, May 26, 2022 11:00 am - 11:30 am
WRS Effective Rates and Annuity Adjustments
Tue, May 10, 2022, 11:00 am - 11:30 am
Thu, May 19, 2022 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Wed, May 25, 2022, 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
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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.
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This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members |
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WEAC Region 3
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303.
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