Teacher Non-renewal Article Correction

The following article (click on link to view):
Teacher Non-Renewal – Know Your Rights and Be Prepared appeared in the May 4, 2012, issue of the GLUE, and on the website .  The following date corrections should be noted:

In order to non-renew a teacher, a board of education must take three steps in the following order:

Step 1: The board must send a written preliminary notice of consideration of non-renewal to the teacher by April 30, 2012.

Step 2: The preliminary notice must inform the teacher that he or she has a right to a private conference with the board if requested in writing within five calendar days, and the board must grant the conference if it is requested.

Step 3: If, after the private conference, the board decides to non-renew the teacher, the board must give the teacher written final notice no later than May 15, 2012.

Advice from Attorney Lester Pines 

I keep hearing from people who want to defeat Scott Walker that they are “worried.”  But they can’t seem to explain exactly what they are worried about.  So, for those of you who are worried, I have some advice: 

Stop being a “worrier” and start being a “warrior.”  Stop being a political analyst and start being a volunteer.

If we can get our supporters to the polls, we will win.  All of us need to pitch in.

Scott Walker started this fight.  We fought back in a way that he never imagined was possible.

Remember, if you try to depose the king, you have to do it or real trouble follows.  Let’s get to work and finish the job

Lester Pines, Attorney

(Lester Pines won lawsuit that overturned voter ID requirement.)

Mother’s Day – 2012

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all of you women out there, those who are mothers and those who have been like a mother to someone!  I would like to think that Mother’s Day is a reminder of the strength as well as the nurturing nature of women. After all, this IS 2012; and women can do anything that they set their minds to. A number of them have decided that they want to replace Scott Walker’s cronies in Madison. Among these strong, political women is Lori Compas, a 41-year-old photographer and writer from Fort Atkinson. 

Lori is running against longtime Republican state senator Scott Fitzgerald from Juneau, Wisconsin. Fitzgerald has been one of the politicians most active in helping Scott Walker get his union-busting, anti-women, anti-Wisconsin agenda through the legislature. As a result, he is also facing a recall election on June 5; Fitzgerald didn’t think that he would ever be in this position. His base seemed pretty solid; and, indeed, the Democratic Party hadn’t planned on challenging him, choosing to put their resources in areas that seemed more vulnerable. Lori Compas had other ideas.

Lori Compas was so disgusted with the senator from her district that she filed the recall paperwork and started collecting signatures on her own. Once the ball was rolling, others from her district and around the state joined in. This was truly a grassroots effort. When it came time to choose a democratic candidate, Lori once more did what was needed and put her hat in the ring. Now, instead of fighting to show that he is worthy to represent his district, Fitzgerald is attacking Compas’s character and insulting her motive for running. He thinks that her husband, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is one of the main forces behind her campaign as well as the unions and protest groups. “I don’t for one minute believe that she is the organizing force behind this whole thing,” he told the Wisconsin State Journal.

With those words, Fitzgerald dismissed his opponent, a capable, intelligent woman, as nothing more than a union puppet, needing a strong man to guide her. This is as absurd as it is insulting. It is an insult to all women and sends a strong message about the nature of Scott Fitzgerald, who recently voted to repeal legislation that made it illegal to pay women less for doing the same work as a man. Compas was stunned when she was told what her opponent had said and commented, “That is pretty insulting, but it does seem in keeping with his general views on women. He doesn’t seem to have a lot of respect for them. That’s OK; he can keep underestimating me.”

Compas also added that if Fitzgerald really thinks that she is such a joke, why is he so scared to face her in a debate? She has challenged him to five debates, but he has not agreed to a single one. Her comment, “If he thinks I can’t handle myself, he should come out and face me.” 

Happy Mother’s Day, Lori! Thanks for standing up for women!

Important General Membership Meeting

ATTENTION:

IMPORTANT TEACHER, EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL, AND NOON HR. SUPERVISOR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Sunday, May 20, 2012, at 1:00 p.m.

UAW-Local 72, 3615 Washington Rd., Kenosha

We will report on the most recent KUSD communications to Scott Walker and other important information.

Vote Today!

VOTE TODAY, MAY 18 - ELECT KEA LEADERS

All Active members will receive a ballot delivered by your AR.  After marking your ballot place it in the ballot box immediately. 

ARs are asked to return the ballot box to the KEA office by 5 p.m. today, May 18, so tabulation may be completed.  ARs are asked to carefully follow all procedures for balloting and assist in tabulation at the KEA office.

WRS Informational Meeting

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, the KEA is holding an informational meeting.
This is to share information on what Governor Walker wants to do with 
the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

This meeting will be offered twice: 12:00 and 4:00 at the UAW Local 72.
The UAW is located across the road from Bradford High School on Washington Road.
You can attend either meeting. 

Please attend and learn what his plans are and how it could affect your pension.