P L A N A H E A D :

WEAC Representative

Assembly is April 24-26

insideandonline

April 2009

Oh, the placeswe’ll goWEAC leaders travel the statefor Read Across America.

Page 12www.weac.org

Teacher shinesusing light, colorThis Waterford teacher bringsart to life for her students.

Page 2www.weac.org/spotlight

Dollars & Sense: Getmore for your moneyGet the latest information and tipsto ride out the rocky economic tide.

Page 11www.weac.org/dollars

Staying strong onWEAC prioritiesYou can be sure your union is workinghard to protect public education.

Page 8www.weac.org

Pages 3-5VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 6

Vote by absentee ballotSome school spring break periods

come during the week of the April 7election, during which the statesuperintendent of public instructionrace will be decided as well asnumerous local school referenda forbuilding projects and budget aid.

Don’t let your voice go unheardbecause you’re away. Absenteeballots can be requested by mail upuntil the Thursday (April 2) beforethe election from your localmunicipal clerk.

Absentee ballots can be filled outand submitted in person up until theday before the election at your localmunicipal clerk’s office.

Many of the items on the April 7ballot directly impact your professionand your school.

Go to http://elections.state.wi.usand click on “FAQ” to find out moreabout absentee balloting. ■

The spring elections

What if you had the power toinfluence major decisions about schoolspending, achievement gaps, studentassessment and a host of othersignificant educational priorities?

On April 7, you do. That’s ElectionDay, and it’s your chance as aneducator to raise your voice for publiceducation.

From local referendum questions toimportant statewide races, theoutcome of this spring’s election willdirectly impact your day-to-day workand the lives of your students.

And don’t forget – you cansignificantly influence the results ofthis election. Turnout is typically lowfor spring elections, and getting out tovote can really make the difference.

Take some time to become familiarwith the candidates that WEAC

continued on page 6

Going onspring break? You

April 2009 | WEACinPrint2

MemberSpotlight

Mary Bell, PresidentGuy Costello, Vice PresidentBetsy Kippers, Secretary-TreasurerDan Burkhalter, Executive DirectorKim Haas, Public Relations DirectorBill Hurley, EditorLaura DeVries, Graphic Design Specialist

Contributing writers: Matthew Call, ChristinaBrey, Anne Egan-Waukau, Bob Moeller.

WEAC in Print (ISSN#1531-6831)

is published by the Wisconsin Education

Association Council, an affiliate of the

National Education Association, as a service to

members of its affiliates. WEAC in Print is pub-

lished twice in September and once in October,

December, January, February, March, April and

June. Copyrighted 2009 by WEAC, 33 Nob Hill

Rd., PO Box 8003, Madison, WI, 53708-8003,

608-276-7711 or 1-800-362-8034.

All materials in this periodical may be

reproduced by members for distribution to

students or by WEAC affiliate associations

for their own publications. WEAC dues

include $6.27 for a subscription to WEAC

In Print. Periodical postage paid at Madison WI

and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address corrections

to WEAC In Print, P.O. Box 8003,

Madison, WI, 53708e-mail:

inprint@weac.org

For more information abouthealth care reform issues, visit

www.weac.org/healthcare

At Waterford Union HighSchool, stained glass panels adorn 19of the school’s windows, the productof six years of work students have putin under individualized art study inSonja Kipper’s art classes.

“And there are plenty of windowsleft,” says Kipper, who started theendeavor in 2003.

Kipper has been an art teacher for32 years – all but one of them atWaterford – and helps studentsthrough six to eight weeks of stainedglass work each fall. Studentscollaborate on the panels, which canbe more than four feet long andfeature as many as 300 pieces ofindividual stained glass.

“I wanted to challenge them,” saysKipper, who also teaches pottery,sculpture, arts metals and crafts. “I seethis as commissioned artwork. Whenyou do a commissioned piece, youwork with the client to determinewhat they want.”

Students work with the staff ofthe department in which the panelswill be permanently installed. Theresult is artwork that reflects its

surroundings. For a piece in thespecial education office, four panelsdepict different facets of specialeducation, from early childhood toelementary, middle and high schooland on to post-secondary learning.

Trisha Savignac, now a student atCarroll University in Waukesha,worked on the special educationoffice panels before she graduated.She become so proficient in stainedglass work that her parents helped hercreate a stained glass studio for her athome to continue her art.

“It was a lot of hard work,”Savignac says. “It was fun, but a lot ofhard work.”

The panels are a way for studentsto give back to their school.

“They’ve left a part of themselveshere,” Kipper says. “This is theircontribution to the school.” ■

Sonja KipperHigh school art teacherWaterford

Sharon’s storyImagine what it would feel like to

choose between buying the medicine youneed to breathe and paying your electricbill. What about owing so much in pasthospital bills that a collection agencybegins to call? And what would you do ifyou experienced a heart attack at school,but knew you couldn’t afford to call anambulance? Would you ask your co-workersto call your spouse instead?

For Sharon Millard, an aide for childrenwith emotional behavioral disabilities inOak Creek for 11 years, these are lifeexperiences. She lives each day with theconstant worry about what might happennext. She works hard every day, and herhusband – a self-employed welder – worksevery day. But they can’t get healthinsurance. And every decision they makeabout seeking care is based on what theycan – or most often can’t – afford.

They are among the thousands ofWisconsin residents without healthinsurance. Watch Sharon’s story atwww.weac.org/healthcare, and find outhow you can help. ■ Read the full Spotlight

interview, and see someof the school’s panelsat weac.org/spotlight

3www.weac.org | April 2009

One contested race will be decided at the2009 WEAC Representative Assembly to beheld April 24-26 in La Crosse. Two people arerunning for a three-year NEA director-seat 1position. Additionally, candidates are runningunopposed for secretary-treasurer and NEAdirector-alternate.

Here are some details about the officercandidates, written in their own words:

Betsy KippersSecretary-treasurerI have served as secretary-treasurer for the

Wisconsin Education Association Council forthe past two years. Before being elected in Julyof 2007 I was a Physical Education Teacher inRacine and held a variety of leadership roles inthe Racine Education Association. I started myactivism with the union as a buildingrepresentative who wanted to make sure allvoices were heard and I have continued to bean advocate and activist since; I have continuedto learn and grow while serving as WEACSecretary-Treasurer.

I believe the role of secretary-treasurer goesbeyond the typical skills of note taking,budgeting, and dues collection. To be a goodsteward of the members dues I need to connectwith members at all levels. We need to partnerwith one another to address the many issueswithin our union and from outside groups. Iwant to continue to work with members at alllevels of our organization in identifying theneeds and priorities that we must focus on tomake public education stronger and to makeour union stronger. I believe it is only throughactive involvement and working together thatwe will find solutions to our challenges.

Britt HallNEA director, seat 1The future of our union depends on having

an experienced group of leaders who are willingto work vigorously to advance the goals ofWEAC. I believe I am uniquely qualified to beour next NEA Director.

I will work on your issues. For the past twoyears as alternate NEA Director, I’ve been goingto Washington to meet with our members ofCongress. Which issues? Student achievement,funding, healthcare, and post-secondaryeducation make the top of my list.

I have the needed experience. I’ve activelycontributed 23 years at the tech college levelwith increasing amounts of union responsibilityincluding terms as local and UniServ President.

I can play in the big leagues. As aleadership consultant, I’ve worked with thestate governors of Ohio, North Carolina,Missouri and Wisconsin. I’ve already developed

lobbying relations with the offices of each of ourCongressional representatives.

I’m team-oriented. Two years on theWEAC Leadership Team have taught me thevalue of collective action.

WEAC is a proud, strong union. The morewe stand together, the more power we have tochange things for the better. Please vote forBritt Hall for NEA Director so I can continueworking hard for you.

Jeffery W. JohnsonNEA director, seat 1My name is Jeff Johnson - 'JJ'. I was born

and raised in Sheboygan, later living in ElkhartLake, Crystal Lake and St. Nazianz. I live withmy wife, Andrea and son, Seth in Milwaukeeand teach High School Art and AP Art inMPS.

Association Experiences:- Delegate - NEA RA.

- NEA RA, WEAC SteeringCommittee.

- NEA Focus Group participant.- First Alternate NEA Resolutions

Committee.- NEA Action Research Fellow.- WEAC - Board of Directors.- WEAC - Budget and Finance.- WEAC - Dues Structure Committee.- WEAC - Legislative Committee.- MTEA - Treasurer.- MTEA - Committee Chair:

- Budget- Legislative- Nominations- Art

- MTEA committees:- Constitution.

- Staff Bargaining.- PAC.- Speak Out.

Having lived in different areas, and havingtaught K-12 students in both Regular andSpecial Education, gives me a very uniqueperspective. This perspective enables me to beYOUR best voice at the state and nationallevels. I feel that teaching experience ANDAssociation experience should determine thebest candidate. I hope that you will vote for meas your NEA DIRECTOR.

In Solidarity,Jeffery W. Johnson - 'JJ'

Brad A. LutesNEA director, alternateOver the past 12 years, I have been a P.E.

and Health teacher in two districts. As amember of the Sun Prairie EducationAssociation the last 7, I have been fortunateenough to watch and learn from numerousLocal, Uni-Serv, State and National leaders ofour union. Their leadership and inspiration hasdirected me toward leadership roles within ourorganization. As I have accepted new roles, myinterest in helping lead our organization hasgrown immensely.

Here are some Leadership activities I haveparticipated in:

Local:Local President 3+ yearsBargaining Team 3 termsLocal Solidarity TeamState:WEAC Board AlternateLast 5 WEAC RA’sWisconsin WayP.A.C., Constitution and Bylaws, and AuditCommitteesLobby DayNational:NEA RAState Steering CommitteeMidwest Leadership ConferencePresidential Release Time TrainingThese activities, as well as many others,

have given me the opportunity to interact andlearn from many quality individuals and groups.It has become very apparent that the successfulleaders within our organization listen tomembers, continue to learn, grow, and buildcoalitions to achieve common goals. I willcontinue working to represent you, themembers of WEAC, as YOUR Alternate NEADirector. ■

2009 RepresentativeAssembly

DATES:April 24-26

LOCATION:La Crosse Center, La Crosse

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Visit www.weac.org and click on the2009 Representative Assembly link

RA to decide WEAC officers

4 April 2009 | WEACinPrint

At the 2009 WEAC RepresentativeAssembly to be held April 24-26 in LaCrosse, four Constitution/Bylawamendments are being proposed:

Amendment 1Bylaw 5-3 – Duties of Officersa-9 To conduct a search for a new

Executive Director, when necessary, andsubmit the name(s) of candidate(s) to theBoard of Directors.

Renumber subsequent paragraphs in 5-3.

Submitted by: Paul Shogren, WEACBoard of Directors Member; ChairpersonWEAC Policies & ProceduresSubcommittee

Purpose/What It Does: Adds theresponsibility for conducting an ExecutiveDirector search to the list of duties of theWEAC President.

Rationale: Although this is the practicethat has been followed, who initiates theED search was not listed as a responsibilityof the President, nor the practice ofsubmitting candidates to the Board ofDirectors.

Board’s Recommendation: SupportVote Required: Majority

Amendment 2Article II, Section 4 – Membership

Standardsg. An individual who is a member of a

negotiating team representing a schoolboard or representing a board of trustees ofa higher education institution shall bedenied membership if such denial isrequested by a governing body of anAssociation affiliate in the school districtor higher education institution in question.

Submitted by: Mary Bell, WEACpresident

Purpose/What It Does: Bring’s WEACconstitution in compliance with NEABylaw 2-3d.

Board’s Recommendation: SupportVote Required: Two-thirds

Amendment 3Article VI Board of Directors, Section

2 – Compositiona. The Board of Directors of the WEA

Council shall consist of the officers, theNEA Directors (excluding the alternateNEA Director), UniServ representatives,representatives for higher education,vocational-technical and adult education,education support professional andorganizations of students, and retiredpersons. The alternate NEA Director andall members elected to NEA at-largepositions shall have the privilege of anyother members of the Board of Directorsexclusive of the privilege of voting. Theduties of the Board of Directors shall be asset forth in the Bylaws.

Submitted by: Mary Bell, WEACPresident

Purpose/What It Does: Grantsalternate NEA Director and all memberselected to NEA at-large positions privilegesof WEAC Board members exclusive ofvoting.

Rationale: For a number of years (Ibelieve since 1987), WEAC members fromour ESP ranks have held positions on theNEA Board of Directors as a result of theirelection at the NEA RA. For the last sixyears, we have also had a Wisconsinmember on the NEA ExecutiveCommittee. Clarifying their status in ourgoverning documents seems appropriate.As regards the NEA Alternate, they havealso been granted such rights previously.This just records the practice in ourgoverning documents.

Board’s Recommendation: SupportVote Required: Two-thirds

Amendment 4Bylaw 10 – Method of electing

delegates to the National EducationAssociation Annual Convention

The timeline changes proposed are asfollows:

� Moving the date so that allnominations shall be postmarked no laterthan December 1. (This date currently isJanuary 5).

� Moving the date a list of nominees isdistributed to NEA members to the secondweek of January. (This currently is thesecond week of February).

� Moving the date each localassociation shall be provided ballots toFebruary 1. (This date currently is March1).

� Moving the dates all ballots shall beturned in to the WEAC ExecutiveDirector to no later than the first businessday after March 1. (This date currently isApril 1).

Submitted by: Brad Lutes, Sun PrairieEducation Association

Purpose/What It Does: Changes thetimelines for conducting NEA delegateelections.

Board’s Recommendation: SupportVote Required: Majority ■

At a glance

AMENDMENT 1:WEAC president will conductexecutive director search

AMENDMENT 2:Brings WEAC Constitution in line withthat of NEA

AMENDMENT 3:Grants NEA directors, at-largedirectors privileges of WEAC Boardmembers, except for voting

AMENDMENT 4:Changes timeline for NEA delegateelection

Constitution/Bylaw amendmentsup for vote at RA

5www.weac.org | April 2009

WEAC Boardroll call votes

January 2009

Director/Rep UniServ/Affiliate 1 2 3Bell President Y Y YCostello Vice President Y Y YKippers Sec-Treas. Y Y YSchmidt NEA Dir. Y Y YHall NEA Dir. Y Y YEischeid NEA Dir. Y Y YFitzsimmons NEA Dir. Y Y YMoore NEA Dir. Y Y YHansen Bayland #1 Y Y YMartin Bayland #2 Y Y YSchrader CAUS-N #1 Y Y YBindl CAUS-N #2 Y Y YWalker CAUS-S #1 Y Y YCall CAUS-S #2 Y Y YWilcox CLUE-1 Y Y YKutz Vogt CLUE-2 Y Y YShogren CWUC #1 Y Y YPharo Kozak CWUC #2 Y Y YTraxler CWUC #3 Y Y YHill CWUC #4 Y Y YBratina CWUC #5 Y Y YSullivan CRUE-1 N Y YMatchey CRUE-2 N Y YHead CRUE-3 N Y YKoeckenberg Co. #10 Y Y YWaschow Co. #10 Y Y YMartin ECAE Y Y YKadon GBEA Y Y YHeideman KEA A A ALund KMUC #1 Y Y YSixel KMUC #2 Y Y YKlotz LUC #1 Y Y YTheder LUC #2 Y Y YPike MTI-1 Y Y YFerrara-ParrishMTI-2 A A AOulahan MTEA-1 Y Y YLangyel MTEA-2 Y Y YA. Johnson MTEA-3 Y Y YJ. Johnson MTEA-4 Y Y YEggson MTEA-5 Y Y YSims MTEA-6 Y Y YAnderson NSUE Y Y YPerala NUE-1 Y Y YNelson NUE-2 Y Y YNiedfeldt NTU-1 N Y NImme NTU-2 Y Y YKnotek REA Y Y YHaag RVEP Y Y YGuenther SCEA Y Y YKahl SWEA-1 Y Y YWaldsmith SWEA-2 Y Y YGiedd TRUE Y Y YAtkinson TUC A A AP Johnson UNE-1 Y Y YWeidner UNE-2 Y Y YAltenburg UTCC Y Y YAppleton WCEA-1 Y Y YLarson WCEA-2 Y Y YZigan WSC Y Y YMalaney WESC Y Y YKrishka Winn-1 Y Y YChan Winn-2 Y Y YDavis SLUE Y Y YWilson SLUE Y Y YWanek WTCS Y Y YRisberg St.WEA Y Y YPumphrey MR A A ABraden ESP-1 Y Y YMartin ESP-2 A A ADecker Co. #1 Y Y YStuvetraa WEAC-Retired Y Y Y

Y=Yes; A=Absent; N=No; X=Not Voting; O=Abstain

1. Contribution to Louisiana Assoc. of Educators Hurricane Recovery Fund. Ms. Kippersmoved, on behalf of Budget & Finance, approval of $3,000 to the Louisiana Association of Educa-tors Hurricane Recovery Fund. Money to come from Project 105-5090. Carried by roll call vote2. IWF Request for Funding. Ms. Kippers moved, on behalf of Budget & Finance, approval of$10,000 to the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future. Money to come from Project 105-5090. Carriedby roll call vote3. Contribution to the Association of Retired Americans. Ms. Kippers moved, on behalf ofBudget & Finance, approval of $2,500 to the Association of Retired Americans. Money to comefrom Project 105-5090. Carried by roll call vote

Delegates to the WEAC Representative Assembly will vote on the WEACresolutions document, including two changes being proposed by the WEACResolutions Committee. The committee is proposing to amend one resolution andadd a new one.

The new resolution, which replaces one that was tabled at the RA last year, is:

B-14 Distance Education and Virtual Schools

The WEAC believes that virtual schools and distance education mustprovide the same quality education and meet the standards demanded andexpected of all public schools.

The Council believes virtual school and distance education employeesmust be bargaining unit members, and their working conditions shall besubject to local collective bargaining agreements. These educators shall belicensed in Wisconsin and certified in the content area in which theyinstruct.

Virtual school and distance learning courses should have a maximumstudent-teacher and support staff ratio that is comparable to face-to-facestudent-teacher and support staff ratios found in traditional brick-and-mortar schools.

The Council believes that personal interaction between students andeducators is a component of quality education. Virtual school anddistance learning courses must include direct, individualized synchronousfeedback to students on a regular basis.

The proposed amended resolution, which replaces one previously titledCollaborative Consultation is:

B-30 Collaboration

The WEAC believes that quality education requires team planning andcollaboration.

The Council believes collaboration is a valuable professionaldevelopment vehicle and is most effective when teams of educators haveshared vision, engage in collective inquiry, are action-oriented, commit tocontinuous improvement and focus on results.

This collaboration time must be in addition to the regularuninterrupted daily planning time guaranteed to all educators. 09 (B-29)

Both of these resolutions were developed in collaboration with the WEACInstruction and Professional Development Committee.

The Resolutions Committee will hold an open hearing the evening of April 24at the RA in La Crosse. ■

Resolutions on virtual schools,collaboration to be decided

April 2009 | WEACinPrint6

members have recommended – and besure to vote April 7 or, if you’ll be onspring break, by absentee ballot beforeElection Day.

Wisconsin Superintendent of PublicInstruction: WEAC members recommendTony Evers

Tony Evers has shown a lifetimecommitment to public education, from thetime he was a teacher to his current role asDeputy State Superintendent. He’s

garneredsupport fromeducationgroups fromacross the state,among themWEACmembers.

Everschampions theneed forworking with

educators to help more students achievegraduation. He seeks to make sure allstudents have the same opportunities forsuccess – whether they live in Ashland orMilwaukee, La Crosse or Green Bay. Heopposes current standardized testing, as itdoesn’t fully measure a student’sperformance, and has said he will seek toimplement new measures of growth.

Evers stresses his deep knowledge ofthe education system and dedication inhis decision to become StateSuperintendent. His wife, Kathy, is aneducation support professional in Veronaand together they see how schools arestruggling to stay viable.

Evers’s opponent and the groupssupporting her are arguing for merit pay,fewer resources for schools and don’tsupport an equitable funding system.

“As State Superintendent, I willcollaborate with the people who work inour schools to reduce class sizes, improvegraduation rates and provide safeenvironments for students and school staff.Working together, we can build on theprogress we have already made,” Evers said.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice:WEAC members recommend ShirleyAbrahamson

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief JusticeShirley Abrahamson has been a hard-working,dedicatedmember of thestate’s highestcourt since1976. She hasserved as chiefjustice for thepast 13 yearsand isrecognizednationally forher work.

In addition to routinely giving out herhome and cell phone numbers towhomever she meets, Abrahamson starteda justice-on-wheels program to heararguments in local county courthouses andpromotes a program to teach studentsabout Wisconsin’s court system.

Abrahamson has consistently decidedcases in a manner that protects employeerights and fosters increased educationalopportunity.

“My strong record on education, in theopinions I’ve written and in the programsI’ve developed, speaks for itself. There is nodoubt about the importance of publiceducation, nor should there be in a statethat made a commitment to it whenWisconsin adopted its Constitution,”Abrahamson said. ■

continued from page 1On the WebTony Everswww.tonyevers.com

Shirley Abrahamsonwww.abrahamson2009.com

Local referendaneed your support

It’s not just the statesuperintendent and Supreme Courtraces that will affect your school thisApril. Overcoming operating budgetdeficits, fixing overcrowded schoolsand protecting critical educationprograms will be up to a vote in morethan two dozen school districts acrossthe state April 7 through local schoolreferendum questions.

But districts are facing a toughtrack record. Out of six schoolreferendum questions held this pastFebruary in Appleton, Clinton,Highland, Salem, Siren and Waupun,all failed to pass. And while oureconomy is hurting, our schoolscontinue to feel the pain and havelittle choice but to seek a referendum.

Take Oshkosh, for example.Budget cuts have forced districts tomake difficult choices and thereferendum questions are aimed toalleviate some of that stress, saidOshkosh Area School Districtteacher Patti Yana.

“Do you keep class sizereasonable or fix the heat or theleaky roof or add a security camera?No district should be forced intomaking decisions that sacrifice aquality education for our children,”Yana said.

Yana said putting the problembefore voters honestly and explainingthe budget problems’ effects onstudents is the best way to handlelocal referendum questions.

“Don’t all Oshkosh childrendeserve an equivalent educationacross the district? Is it fair thatsome have access to resources, butnot all? Read the facts, visit theschools, ask questions – like whatwill happen if this fails – then voteyour heart,” she said. ■

For more information,log on to www.weac.org

and visit “Issues & Advocacy”

www.weac.org | April 2009 7

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Great achievements

The Green Bay Education Association Negotiations Teamreceived a 2009 Paul Bierbrauer Award for excellence inbargaining. Pictured at Winter Conference in February,from left, are WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee Co-Chair Kay Hansen; GBEA members President DavidHarswick, Greg Sawyer and Linda Jaeger; WEACPresident Mary Bell; and WEAC Bargaining GoalsCommittee Co-Chair Anna Wendt. Other members of the2007-09 GBEA Negotiations Team who are not picturedare Melissa Hanmann, Michelle Van Lieshout and ChiefNegotiator and Executive Director Keith Patt.

The Kenosha Education Association Education Support ProfessionalsNegotiations Team receives its Paul Bierbrauer Award at WinterConference. From left are WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee Co-Chair Kay Hansen, KEA Executive Director Joe Kiriaki, Kathy Lusiak,WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee Co-Chair Anna Wendt, HelenThomas, Rose Colwill, WEAC President Mary Bell, and BeckyMcCarthy. Not pictured are Negotiations Team members LouiseRedlin, Pagette Tilsner, Patricia Parker, Lisa Hummel, Julie Pelkowski,Blanca Brown and Ray Heideman.

Collective bargaining is part of our core mission and every year the WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee and the WEAC Board ofDirectors recognize those who have excelled in promoting and advancing the economic welfare and rights of their peers.

8 April 2009 | WEACinPrint

This spring, you’ll be hearing a lotabout issues that are directly related toyour profession and your school. That’sbecause the budget introduced byGovernor Jim Doyle in February will betaken up by the State Legislature, openingit up to plenty of public debate. AndPresident Barack Obama’s ideas aroundpublic education and other issues thataffect you – such as health care – are alsocenter stage. To be sure, there will bemuch said about all ofthese issues. Some ofthese ideas will signalpositive change.Some won’t.

The good news isthat Governor Doyle,President Obama andCongressman Obeyare committed to theimportance of publiceducation and theyare valuable partnersworking with NEAand WEAC to address our challenges andcreate policies to benefit our great schools.But this does not mean that we will

always agree oneverything.

During thistime, you can besure your union isworking hard toprotect thepromise of publiceducation byadvancing thepriorities you have

setforward:Changethe way

Wisconsin funds its publicschools. Provide health care forall. Strengthen the collectivebargaining process.

These topics are crucial toeverything you do on behalf ofour state’s students and theeducation profession.

WEAC leaders will be partof the discussions around these topics, andwill assess each new or different approach

with an open mind – determining howeach might help us accomplish our goals –or hinder our progress.

“When policymakers are willing totalk about how to adequately fundschools, improve professional practice,increase student achievement andappropriately compensate educationemployees, I’m willing to sit at the table,”says WEAC President Mary Bell. “But,depending on how they intend to goabout it, I may not stay for dinner.”

StayingStrong

It takescommitment, courage

to do what’s right.

“I’m willing to sit

at the table,” says

WEAC President

Mary Bell. “But

I may not stay

for dinner.”

9

Get involved:• Help change the way Wisconsin

funds its public schools. Sign up tobe part of the School FinanceNetwork at www.sfnwisconsin.org.

• Cyberlobby your legislator. Log inas a member at www.weac.org andvisit “Issues & Advocacy.”

• Stay tuned. Follow the latesthappenings as the Legislaturetakes up the state budget byvisiting www.weac.org. ■

www.weac.org | April 2009

School FundingYou know how the current school funding system shortchanges your students. This

top WEAC priority calls for changing the way Wisconsin funds its schools.

That’s why WEAC is part of the School Finance Network, a group of educators andparents with a solid plan to uphold Wisconsin’s tradition of education excellence. Thisplan ensures that all students have the opportunity to succeed by creating a betterfunding system – one that targets money where it’s needed most.

Even in this time of economic uncertainty, we must work together to advancepublic education. There is no better economic investment than building the nextgeneration.

www.sfnwisconsin.org

Health CareHealth care is more than a state issue – it’s a national issue. This second WEAC

priority affects each and every member in day-to-day life and at the bargaining table.

WEAC members – through action of the Board of Directors – have identifiedprinciples for health care reform that will guide us in evaluating any federal or stateproposals that may be offered in the coming months. Our organization will use theseprinciples to evaluate whether we will support any future reform plan, in order to besure the plan meets our expectations for social justice as well as for fairness at thebargaining table.

www.weac.org/healthcare

Collective BargainingCollective bargaining is key to our united strength. The collective bargaining

process is what we use to advocate in favor of a high-quality education for students andadequate working conditions and fair pay for us as professionals. Over the years, wehave seen a gradual eroding of this give-and-take approach to contract negotiations.

We are committed to again establishing a fair footing on which to bargain ourprofessional contracts. To restore the balance of power at the bargaining table, we willwork to advance a series of measures such as repealing the QEO; implementing a fairarbitration process, including professional and instructional policies in bargains; andgiving our locals the right to join with other locals to form larger bargaining groups.

www.weac.org

Speaking upMilwaukee Teachers’ Education

Association member Julio Santiagonever misses a chance to lobby for hiscauses. “Every week I get informationabout what WEAC is doing, so I signin to the Web site and see what I cando,” Santiago said.

How do you stay active in voicingyour opinion to your electedrepresentatives? Log in towww.weac.org and go to “Issues &Advocacy” to cyberlobby yourlegislators. Also, you can share youradvocacy story by e-mailing it topr@weac.org. ■

O N T H E

R A D A R

For more information,log on to www.weac.org

and visit weac.org/priorities

1010

Is your retirement on the

RIGHT TRACK?Find out with a Retirement Income Analysis

This fee-based service is designed for members within 10 years of retirement.

Call 1-800-279-4030Ext. 6769 or 2513

Investment advisoryservices offered throughWEA Financial Advisors, Inc.

MemberDiscounts

O U R P A R T N E R S

April 2009 | WEACinPrint

One ofthe

financialchallengesfacing WEACmembers is dealingwith the cost of healthinsurance afterretirement. The WEA Trustrecently introduced a product,TrustSecure, that is designed tohelp members with this challenge.

In many districts, the union and theboard of education have negotiatedcontracts that call for the employer to paysome portion of the health insurance costfor retirees.

However, new government accountingstandards are causing many districts torevisit these post-retirement benefits.That's because the new standards requiredistricts to show what they expect to pay

for retirees in the future on theirfinancial statements.

That isprompting manyemployers tocreatearrangementsto set aside acertain amount

for theiremployees’

retirement benefitswhile the employees are still

working. That is, these plansare set up to prefund some of

the costs for retirees.

Many such plans offered bycommercial companies are more

favorable to the employers than to theemployees. The Trust plan, TrustSecure, ismore favorable for union members.

How it worksTrustSecure is designed for employers

to make tax-exempt contributions and forretirees to get tax-exempt reimbursementsfor qualified medical expenses. Moneycontributed to the plan is invested in a

WEA Trust investment portfolio. Thismoney accrues for employees to use forreimbursements.

One benefit that sets TrustSecureapart from other post-employmentfunding options is the tax-exemptreimbursements. All qualified earningsand reimbursements from TrustSecure aretax exempt, which means every dollarcontributed equals a dollar in paymentfor qualified health expenses.

TrustSecure is also portable, meaning ifan employee leaves a job at a district, theemployee keeps the rights to the accruedfunds. Also, spouses and qualifieddependents can use TrustSecure foreligible medical expenses.

TrustSecure is a group plan that isavailable to all districts with a WEAC-affiliated collective bargaining unit. Itmust be bargained between an employerand the union before an employee canparticipate.

If your bargaining team wants to learnmore about TrustSecure, call the WEATrust at 800-279-4000, or go online towww.weatrust.com. ■

– Submitted by WEA Trust.

Preserve post-employmenthealth care benefits

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11www.weac.org | April 2009 11

By Bob Moeller – WEAC Member BenefitsTake control of your personal finances

Upcoming Free Financial SeminarsWith Bob Moeller, WEAC Member Benefits Specialist

All seminars are 6:30 –– 9:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is required.March 31 ..........Sheboygan ..........920-565-2913 or 800-834-7076

April 2 ..............Brookfield ............262-789-6000 or 800-354-7816

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Leave a comment at theDollars & Sense blog at

www.weac.org/dollars

This goes directly to the “I had noidea” category. There are actually peoplewho pay $25 for a package of razor blades!Not a skid-sized box from Costco, butrather a regular package of eight. Now Ivaguely knew that five-bladed razor bladesexisted (I do try to keep up withimportant events) and I read the articlepredicting these in The Onion a couple ofyears ago.

The subject came up seriously in aWall Street Journal article (10/06/08)with the title “Will frugal shoppers stillpay $25 for razor blades?” Thecommentary was that sales of these blades(called Fusion blades) would be a goodreflection on whether Americanconsumers would keep spending and thushelp save the economy as they have doneso many times in the past. This was a

lengthy, serious article in the “Marketing”section. I found it fascinating. Personally Ican’t imagine even spending 1/5 of thaton a package of razor blades.

Gillette (purchased by Procter &Gamble, making Warren Buffet a hugeprofit), would inform us that this type ofexpenditure was a sign of a good healthyeconomy. My initial reaction would be itis a sign of populace which has hadabsolutely NO money managementtraining. If consumers insist on spendingtheir money so foolishly while at the sametime overusing their credit cards andsaving almost no funds for the future,we’re going to have a long recession.

As yet another indication, the Journalrecently posted an article about howcoffee maker manufacturers wereadvertising in this economic downturn

that even $1,000 home coffee makers(again I had no idea) would save moneyfor you as opposed to going to Starbucks.Can any reader imagine spending $1,000for a home coffee maker?

Finally, a local paper had an ad forCadillac Escalades, regularly $75,000, nowonly $60,000. Fortunately, my wife and Icouldn’t agree on what color we wouldget. Admittedly, I never see Escalades orHummers at my seminars, whichdemonstrates how much more sensiblemembers are.

The point of all this is that indeed oureconomy depends a great deal on theAmerican public wasting their money.And the latest developments seem to bethat some of the spenders have decided tostop spending so much. Only one majorretailer had an increase in sales last year(Wal-Mart). Every single automaker,including Toyota, has experienced severereductions in sales. In fact, Toyota hasannounced that it expects to actually losemoney for its latest fiscal year, the firsttime in decades. Speaking of Toyota,Japan went through a long period ofpeople just deciding to save moneyinstead of spending it. It became a matterof pride for many there.

What does this mean for your money?Don’t count on the stock market comingback quickly. Pay off your credit cards.Become familiar with just how you arespending your money. Make sure the$1,000 home coffee maker is on salebefore you buy it. ■

Don’t waste money to spur stock market

Stretch your travel dollarwith the WEAC Savers'Club Travel Services.

Visit WEAC.org and clickon Savers’ Club for moreinformation.

Planning a spring break trip?

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our To share photos of activities in your localassociation or school district, please e-mail

photo files to InPrint@weac.org.

W W W . W E A C . O R G / S H A R E P H O T O S

Schools across Wisconsin celebrated Read Across America in early March, andyour leaders were there to help them. Among their travels, Vice President GuyCostello visited Green Bay (top right), Secretary/Treasurer Betsy Kippers visitedstudents in Stevens Point (top left), and WEAC President Mary Bell (above)celebrated in Janesville, along with State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster(seated at right).

NEA: Obama’sbudget invests ineducation

President Barack Obama's federalbudget proposal calls for importantinvestments in quality publiceducation, from preschool throughhigher education, to prepare students tocompete with 21st century skills. Thebudget continues the administration'sambitious plans of once again makingeducation a national priority andmoving toward the goal of great publicschools for every student.

“Money is tight in nearly everyAmerican household, and it's reassuringthat President Obama is focusing scarceresources on education,” NEAPresident Dennis Van Roekel said. ■

From there to here,from here to there,the Cat in the Hatwas everywhere!

Share your story with us!Tell us what you did to celebrate Read Across America 2009, and help other educators get ideas for next year. Send your story to pr@weac.org.

For the latest news and headlines,visit

www.weac.org