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The Connection
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-496-2440
800-472-5582
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March 26, 2021
The WEAC Region 3 Office
will be closed for the Spring
Holiday on Friday, April 2, 2021.
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Hello friends,
I am beaming after a fantastic organizing meeting this week. We had thirty people from one school come together (as close as we could be while socially distancing and masking) to address an issue they want to solve. It felt so good to share stories and relate to one another outside of work. They shared their experience with the issue through a group activity called SWOT. Everyone wrote down what they perceived as the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the culture at their school. Coming up as an organizer in Chicago, deeply entrenched in the Alinsky model, SWOT is a tool I learned and use a lot. As a tool it never fails to create lively conversation.
Each idea is written on an individual post-it and placed on a larger sheet of paper so all thoughts are collected together under one heading. SWOT is a great opportunity to view all sides of a problem. Often the Strengths and Weaknesses as well as the Opportunities and Threats can be different sides of the same coin. After we talked through all the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats we discussed a plan for moving forward. Specifically we discussed what individuals are going to do about the problem.
This is the union theory of change: We can change the culture of our workplaces with union visibility and solidarity.
It sounds so simple, almost too good to be true, but every person left that meeting with a smile on their face. Being there to listen to each other is the beginning of how we solve every problem. I know everyone has a lot on their plates but as it gets warmer and more of us get vaccinated please consider pulling people together for an end of year social event. This year was harder than ever and making the space to share a story, a joke, and listen will set the foundation for next school year.
In Solidarity,
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
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UPCOMING EVENTS
All Meetings Virtual
March 31, Wednesday
April 7, Wednesday
April 7, Wednesday
WR3 Executive Committee Meeting, 6PM
April 8, Thursday
April 14, Wednesday
April 20, Tuesday
April 22, Thursday
April 23-24, Friday-Saturday
WEAC RA
April 27, Tuesday
May 8, Saturday
Region 3 RA
May 12, Wednesday, Executive Committee Meeting, 6PM
(Tentative)
June 9, Wednesday, Executive Committee Meeting, 6PM
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Spring Elections Are
Right Around the Corner!
WEAC recommends Dr. Jill Underly for State Superintendent. Find out more about her at weac.org/elections.
To see WEAC's local recommendations, click HERE. |
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Mar 23 thru Apr 4 - In-person early voting*
Apr 2 - Register at municipal clerk's office
Apr 6 - Register at polling place
*Check with your municipal clerk for specific days and times.
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Be A Public School Advocate!
There are many ways to get involved in promoting legislation and candidates for strong Public Schools.
Text Out the Vote. Text other WEAC members about the importance of voting for Dr. Jill Underly – it’s fun and easy! Members who sign up will be contacted for a 15-minute virtual training and will then be able to help us text out the vote. WEAC Texting Corps Sign Up
Be a Communication Activist. WEAC is looking for educators who are interested in talking with reporters about the issues that matter to us. Be part of a network that shares information and receives media training to be ready to speak on behalf of Wisconsin educators. Sign Up by Email
Back Home Contact Teams. With the state budget debate and legislative session in full swing, WEAC needs a few volunteers to meet with elected officials about our issues. You and others from your legislative district will receive support to reach out and meet with your legislators. Sign Up by Email
Share Your Story. Who knows better how policies impact students than we educators? Volunteer to tell your story about why you support pro-public education candidates, or why certain provisions in the governor’s proposed budget make sense for your students. You’ll receive more information and be invited to talk about your real-life experience relating to the topics you choose. Get More Information by Email
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Be sure to indicate that you’re with WEAC on the form. See you on Tuesdays! |
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Every Tuesday until election day, April 6, you have the opportunity to volunteer for virtual phonebanks to educate voters about the candidates running for State Superintendent and encourage them to make a plan to vote.
A short training on phone banking will be held at 5:15 p.m. each Tuesday, followed by phone calls until 7:45. Sign up for one or all Tuesdays this month, and invite interested friends, families and co-workers to join you.
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MAKING EARLY ENROLLMENT WORK FOR YOUR UNION |
Beginning April 1st potential members can 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!
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Just One
Campaign Kickoff!
Join us Wednesday, March 31st to kickoff the 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.
Region 3 will be holding a training and informational session on the campaign on Wednesday, March 31st via zoom 6-7:30pm. Your local union can make this their own by having a building challenge within the association! During this session we will:
- Give an overview of the campaign specifics and Early Enrollment
- Help you identify potential members
- Practice conversation techniques
Register for the Kickoff Workshop on Wednesday, March 31st from 6pm to 7:30 HERE.
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WEAC Weekly
Webinar Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 31, be sure to register for Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Book Study Part II. 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 HERE.
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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 March 28.
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NEGOTIATIONS 101
Region 3 is excited to bring together leaders from all over our corner of the state to discuss how their local union does negotiations. In some ways working virtually is really an advantage. Now from the comfort of your couch you can ask experienced union leaders how you can make negotiations work for your local union!
What's the difference between "Meet and Confer" & Negotiating?
What should we look for in a salary schedule?
How can my union influence decision makers?
These are just some of the conversations we'll be having during this 1.5 hour training. Register HERE and bring your team!
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Attention all Region 3 Members!
The Green Bay Education Association's Organizing Committee is hosting Dr. Byron McClure on Saturday, April 10th from 9-11 am. Please consider joining us for this virtual opportunity to learn more about social-emotional learning!
In this online seminar presented by Nationally Certified School Psychologist Dr. Byron McClure, participants will learn how a school and district identified student needs using data and addressed these needs through effective implementation of an integrated social-emotional learning (SEL) program. Dr. McClure will share how to seamlessly blend SEL with other initiatives (such as Restorative Practices) and guide participants how to use his digital SEL lesson plan guides. Participants will leave with ready to use SEL lessons that can be implemented immediately in their classrooms, etc.
Thanks to a NEA Grant received by the Organizing Committee, each participant (up to 150) will receive their own copy of the digital SEL lesson plan guides to use in their work. The first 25 participants to register for and attend the online seminar will also receive a copy of Dr. McClure's e-book Circle Talk: Building Authentic Staff Relationships.
This online seminar is free to attend for current GBEA/Region 3 Members.
See this FLYER for more information! If interested, please sign up ASAP using this GOOGLE FORM link.
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Telling Your Education Story:
WEAC State Budget Workshop
Saturday, April 17, 9-11am
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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. 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.
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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.
Presidents received a reminder email from WEAC Region 3 on Tuesday, March 23rd regarding delegate registration. The deadline for registration of delegates is Monday, March 29. Please contact the WEAC Region 3 office if you have any questions at at 920-496-2440, 800-472-5582 or email Region3@weac.org.
Watch for more information and nomination forms in the coming weeks.
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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. Delegates must be submitted and certified by APRIL 5, 2021. Submit delegates HERE.
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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.
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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.
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CPI for Total Base Wage Negotiations
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has advised the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) that the CPI-U increase applicable to one-year collective bargaining agreements with a term beginning July 1, 2021, is 1.23%. That applies to all K-12 and WTCS contracts, and is a decrease from last year's 1.81%.
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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 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.
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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!
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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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Background Check Applications are Open
The DPI background check application is now open for teachers whose license would have expired in 2021. Members can check to see if they are due for a background check by logging into their Educator Licensing Online (ELO) account. Background check applications are due no later than June 30, 2021. It is advised that members submit their application sooner rather than later. Remember this is your responsibility!
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Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Sessions
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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). |
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This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s agent or committee.
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WEAC Region 3
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
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