WEAC –

39% of high school students are texting while driving, new survey finds

June 14, 2018

Many high school students are engaging in dangerous health-risk behaviors, including texting while driving, according to the latest results of a national government survey. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey found that 39.2% of high school students who drove in the previous 30 days had texted or e-mailed while driving. Other results showed 29.8% reported current alcohol use, 19.8% reported current marijuana use, and 8.8% smoke cigarettes.

Spotlight on Locals: Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association

June 14, 2018

“Our members understand that the union is them,” and that is why Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association members are always ready to take action on behalf of students and schools. That is what MTEA President Kim Schroeder told WEAC Vice President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen as she interviewed MTEA leaders for her latest Spotlight on Locals column. “Wisconsin educators are writing labor history,” added MTEA Vice President Amy Mizialko. “Scott Walker doesn’t write the last chapter. We write the last chapter with our parents, our students, our members, and our community.”

Article focusing on Arena, Wisconsin, examines the deep challenges and heartbreak faced by rural schools and communities

June 13, 2018

A New York Times article focusing on the closing this week of Arena Community Elementary School in the River Valley School District examines the heartbreak felt by students, parents and the community as they lose not only their school but the centerpiece of their community. “Administrators say that unforgiving budgets, a dearth of students and an aging population have made it impossible to keep the school open. For the first time since the 1800s, the village of Arena has no school,” the article states.

Democrat Caleb Frostman wins Senate District 1 seat

June 13, 2018

WEAC-recommended candidate Caleb Frostman won election to Senate District 1 in a special election Tuesday. His victory attracted national attention because Frostman, a Democrat, won in a district that went for Donald Trump by more than 17 points two years ago and for Scott Walker by 23 points in 2014. The district has been held by Republicans for over 40 years.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ESS Local wins recertification election, second time around

June 11, 2018

A new recertification election has proven successful for the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Educational Support Specialists Local. The initial recertification election in April failed by 2 votes. However, the unit experienced voting difficulties in the first 24 hours of the voting period April 5-6. All of the Social Security numbers were incorrectly entered into the AAA database, but were corrected on the second day of voting. However, some people who reported having difficulty subsequently did not log in to vote. The union challenged the outcome and a new voting period was approved. The new election for the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Educational Support Specialists Local was held May 18 – June 7, and this time certification was easily approved, with 125 yes votes of 187 eligible voters.

Spotlight on Locals: Dodgeville Education Association

June 7, 2018

The Dodgeville Education Association has worked for years building relationships with the school board, the administration and the community, and it has paid off. In her latest Spotlight on Locals column, WEAC Vice President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen visits with leaders of the DEA, who credit their success as an association in part with working collaboratively with their pro-education and pro-educator school board. “There’s a small town part of this,” said Dodgeville EA Treasurer Joan Davis. “We know each other, we talk with one another outside of school, and school board members ask us for our input.”

ALL EDUCATION NEWS