Glue-4-24-15 - Kenosha Education Association

THE GLUE
Official Publication of the Kenosha Education Association
Teachers Substitute Teachers Education Support Professionals Noon Hour Supervisors
“Restore the Joy of Teaching & Learning”
The 93rd Annual WEAC Representative Assembly
By Scott Farnsworth, GLUE Editor
That was the motto of this year’s WEAC
weac.org home page!) It’s having an impact,
attending their first RA! They joined nearly
making a difference, according to the report by
400 of their fellow union members in charting
WEAC President Betsy Kippers, and we need
the course of the state association over the next
Representative Assembly, one that echoes the
to keep up the effort. She also applauded local,
year.
growing frustration of educators across the
grassroots organizing that secured victories for
state who have felt, just as many of you have
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh
WEAC Board of Directors as the Minority
expressed, that the joy of learning has been lost
Bradley, over 70% of locally endorsed school
Guarantee Representative along with KEA
in a flood of useless testing, data-gathering,
board candidates and nearly as many fund-
President Anne Knapp, our local representative
testing, paperwork, testing, increased class
ing referenda across the state in the April 7th
on the Board. With a change in the Bylaws
sizes and lost resources – did I mention “test-
elections.
passed at this RA, Kim will now have “the
ing”?!
Thank you to delegates Mindy Duford,
The RA was organized around a schedule
KEA member Kim George serves on the
average weighted vote” of Regional Board rep-
Kim George, Jill Jensen, Valerie Ludlow,
resentatives at WEAC Board of Director meet-
of cyberlobbying opportunities for each region
Henry Perez (ESP), Colleen Robson, Juliana
ings moving forward. Kim also moved and
to oppose Governor Walker’s cuts to educa-
Rolland, David Speaks, Casimir Uchegbu
spoke in support of a successful New Business
tion funding in his budget and on the ESEA
and KEA President Anne Knapp for donat-
Item (NBI) that will have WEAC support the
bill working its way through Washington
ing their weekend to representing the interests
Black Lives Matter movement and the Teaching
(have you sent your legislators an email with
of KEA members at the Representative Assem-
Tolerance curriculum of the Southern Poverty
your concerns? The link is still up on our kea.
bly. It was exciting to have two new delegates
Law Center.
Continued on Page 2
You’re Invited!
What: KEA-R Retiree Reception
Where: UAW Local 72, 3615 Washington Rd.
When: May 12, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Please join us for pizza, cake, soft drinks and a cash bar as we welcome you to retirement.
RSVP to Scott Farnsworth:
[email protected] or 654-2127
Vol. 43, Issue 31
kea.weac.org
www.nea.org
www.weac.org
April 24, 2015
Continued from Page 1
that gave educators a real voice at the negotia-
rently, with their full recommendations to be
tions table and ushered in three decades of
brought to the 2016 RA. Their initial proposal,
and Credentials Committee and had a more
labor peace and stability in the schools – and
however – an NBI to waive the state dues for
relaxed RA this year, given that the three races
what it may take again.
the first year of membership – was felt to be
Casimir Uchegbu served on the Elections
for WEAC Secretary-Treasurer, NEA Director
There was a great deal of focus on member
too extreme and potentially counterproductive
and Alternate NEA Director were all uncon-
recruitment and retention, and on the dues
by the RA, and so failed to pass. A restricting
tested and concluded by a unanimous ballot
structure and expenses at the state level.
of the budget, and approval to draw on re-
from the floor of the RA. Still, he had to rise
WEAC Executive Director Bob Baxter noted in
sources from the Crisis Fund and reserves, did
before everyone else Saturday morning to
his report that the WEAC staff has gone from
see the state dues reduced by $60 for next year
handle registration duties (after those same du-
9 manager positions to just 1! – his – from 14
to pass. Total WEAC dues for next year will be
ties Friday night!) and assist in supervising the
attorneys to 4, and from 72 Uniserv staff to 31.
vote on over a dozen Constitution and Bylaw
There is recognition by some members that an
amendments, most of which passed. Contro-
effort needs to be made to restore staff, but a
versial changes to the weighted votes of the
Constitution amendment to reduce the number
NEA Directors on the WEAC Board, and one
of release-time officers from 3 to 2, by remov-
on the WEAC Secretary-Treasurer position (see
ing the Secretary-Treasurer’s position from
below), however, did not.
full-time release, failed to gain the two-thirds
On a personal note, I was pleased to see
approval needed to pass. It did, however, at
approved the resolution amendment which had
least garner a majority 53% of the vote this
been part of an NBI I put forward last year,
time around and is sure to be brought back
making permanent a part of WEAC’s agenda to
again at future RAs.
secure the legal right to strike for all munici-
Several NBIs focused on the need to make
$238 – down from this year’s $298.
The RA ended with the march and rally
in support of full funding for public education. Students and parents attended and spoke
in unison with the educators present on the
importance of the equal opportunity provided
by public schools. Coming full circle, Jennifer
Epps-Addison, an MPS graduate and parent – and the Executive Director of Wisconsin
Jobs Now – ended the rally where the day had
begun – encouraging everyone there to go
back home and reach out to 10 others to take a
stand in support of public education, write their
pal employees denied access to real collective
some effort to modify dues in order to attract
state legislators and turn back the continued
bargaining under Act 10. WEAC starts each
new members, especially given the financial
attacks on the public services that help the most
RA with NBI 1 that recognizes the Hortonville
pressures under which those new to our profes-
vulnerable citizens of our state – Wisconsin’s
strike of 1974 – an annual reminder of what
sion leave college and begin teaching. WEAC
children.
it took to secure the mediation-arbitration law
has a commission investigating this idea cur-
It was a good day.
KEA Scholarship Applications Due Friday, May 8th
Applications are now available for the annual KEA Scholarships. A scholarships in the amount
of $1,500 will be awarded to a student entering into a four-year college/university program;
a $500 scholarship will be awarded to a student entering a two-year associate degree or
technical school program. Scholarships will be awarded based on scholarship, service,
leadership and citizenship.
Any KUSD high school senior is eligible to apply, excluding students who are eligible for or
are receiving the Governor’s Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship. Also, students
receiving full tuition scholarships at any institution are ineligible.
Applications may be obtained from high school guidance offices as well as from the KEA
office. The deadline for application is Friday, May 8th, 2015.
The Glue
Page 2
April 24, 2015
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Calendar of Events
Nominate Now! KEA Election May 22
Regular School Board Meeting
Mon., April 27
(5:30 p.m., ESC Board Room)
It is time for the annual elections for KEA Officers and Board of Director seats. Nomination
papers for these positions are available now and are to be returned to the KEA Office
by Monday, May 11. The elections will be held Friday, May 22; the winners will take office on
Saturday, June 13.
Kenosha School Funding Forum
Tues., May 5
(6:30 p.m., UAW Local 72 Hall)
Officers:
President - 1-year term
Vice President - 1-year term
Treasurer - 1-year term
KUSD Standing Committee Meetings
Tues., May 12
(5:30 p.m., ESC Board Room)
Board of Directors:
2 High School Reps – one 2-year term; one 1-year term
2 Middle School Reps – one 2-year term; one 1-year term
3 Elementary Reps – two 2-year terms; one 1-year term
KEA Board Meeting
Thurs., May 14
(4:30 p.m., KEA Office)
In addition, all Association Rep (AR) seats will be up for election or reelection. There shall be
at least two (2) Association Representatives elected in each building/unit in the Kenosha Unified school system where members of the Association are assigned, or if there shall be more
than thirty (30) Association members in any building/unit, one (1) Association Representative
shall be elected for each additional fifteen (15) members or major fraction thereof.
KEA Election
Fri., May 22
(Nomination Papers Available, KEA
Office)
Association Representative Assembly
Meeting
Thurs., May 28
(4:30 p.m., KEA Office)
AR nomination papers are not necessary. The Election Committee requests a list of
candidate(s) for each school by Monday, May 11, 2015. Elections for ARs will also be held on
Friday, May 22, 2015.
If you have any questions concerning eligibility for a position or total numbers of ARs for your
school, contact the KEA office, 654-2127.
CLARIFICATION FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS AND NOON HR. SUPERVISORS: If any ESP
Active member in your building is interested in having his/her name on the KEA-ESP AR
ballot, please notify the KEA office, 262-654-2127, by Monday, May 11, 2015.
“The Union Can’t Do Anything Anymore.” - Really?
Update on Oak Creek Educator
By Scott Farnsworth, GLUE Editor
Sunday night, we shared an urgent request
otherwise provided support to Oak Creek High
disagreements with us, worked to resolve the
from Region 7 to attend the Monday night School
School teacher, Nathan Vance, last night. At-
matter and avoid further conflict.
Board meeting of the Oak Creek Franklin Joint
tendance at the nonrenewal hearing was nothing
School District to support a member who was
short of amazing and we heard many stories of
a nonrenewal into a minor disciplinary penalty,
going to face termination of his contract over
how Mr. Vance has positively impacted the lives of
that’s all. The alternative? The teacher probably
some dubious circumstances. The result: some
students and families in the district.
would have had to secure a personal attorney,
500 community members, students and educators
Following the hearing, we engaged in nego-
What can the union do post-Act 10? Turn
pay a retainer of $3000 to $10000 and, in all
showed up at the meeting! Region 7 Executive
tiations with the school board to settle the matter
likelihood, pay that sum for an individual far less
Director Ted Kraig was in attendance also and
and ultimately reached resolution. Mr. Vance
versed in the specifics of the District’s policies
acted as a representative for the member. He
agreed to accept a discipline and will have his
and procedures – and have no access to a liability
challenged the allegations and evidence presented
contract renewed and continue teaching in the
insurance policy to reimburse the expense.
by administration to justify nonrenewal and was
district. The school board voted 3-1 to accept the
able to forward the following message afterwards:
resolution. We are very appreciative of the three
comes with membership – and it can be needed
Thank you to everyone who turned out and
school board members who, despite having some
just that fast!
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That’s just one example of the security that
April 24, 2015
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April 24, 2015