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WEAC again is sponsoring the participation of members at a three-day staff development workshop with the Wisconsin Assessment Institute. This year, 100 scholarships in the amount of $225 each will be awarded. This year's institute, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, will be August 12-14 at the Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. The purpose of the institute is to provide the knowledge and experiences necessary to implement assessment strategies to improve curriculum, instruction, and student achievement. The institute will offer sectionals on a variety of assessment topics, including portfolios, assessment of the dimensions of learning, educational standards, state assessment, basic assessment literacy, the politics of assessment, and performance assessments. The keynote speaker is Robert Marzano of the Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory. He is best known for his work on the dimensions of learning. Marzano also will act as a facilitator to assist participants in their individual and group efforts. WEAC will award 100 scholarships in the amount of $225 each which will cover the costs of registration. The registration fee pays for all conference sessions, materials, and luncheons on three days. Refreshment breaks and two continental breakfasts also are included. Participants will be responsible for the costs of transportation to and from Appleton and for two nights of lodging at the Paper Valley Hotel or another hotel in the area (if they choose not to commute). The institute will offer DPI Equivalency Clock Hours or one graduate credit for those who fulfill requirements for the credit. Following registration, the institute will send more detailed information to each participant. Each participant must attend the entire institute; no partial registrations will be accepted. To be eligible for a WEAC scholarship, you must complete a form and answer the two questions. Your application form must be received at WEAC on or before April 15. Winners will be notified by April 25 and will need to complete an institute registration form. Winners will be sent a check for $225 shortly after they submit DPI verification that they have completed the institute. Those who attend the institute must agree to meet with representatives of WEAC's Division for Instruction and Professional Development on Thursday, August 14, for a short period of time after the conclusion of the institute. Vouchers will be distributed for the scholarship awards. In addition, there will be a discussion of the institute's program. Scholarship forms can be found in the April issue of News & Views, or you can obtain them by contacting Russ Allen, Ken Kickbusch, or Katie Schultz Stout at 1-800-362-8034.
The 1997 NEA Annual Meeting is July 1-6 in Atlanta. Informational mailings will be made to each elected delegate at the end of April. The first on-site caucus for the Wisconsin delegation will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 1. The Run for NEA-PAC is set for 7 a.m. July 1. The Representative Assembly is scheduled to adjourn at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 6, but often runs later. A pre-Convention meeting for all delegates will be June 7 at the Madison Sheraton.
The winners of the 4th Grade Poster Contest sponsored by the WEAC Human Relations Committee are:
Private school voucher programs are driven by dollars and cents, and the ultimate cost will be the jobs of public school employees. That was the message delivered to about 110 people attending the annual Winter Leadership Conference sponsored by the WEAC Minority Affairs Committee February 7-8 in Racine. Walter Farrell, of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said businesses behind the voucher program want to eliminate public school unions and jobs. If you stand idly by, Farrell said, you very well could lose your job. The conference also featured a legislative discussion with WEAC staff and leaders and a variety of sectionals.
Anyone wishing to run for election to either of two new WEA Insurance Group boards is invited to speak to the WEAC Board at 10 a.m. February 22 at the Sheraton Inn in Madison. The board will conduct elections at that weekend meeting. Last October, the WEAC Board voted to create two WEA Insurance boards — an 11-member WEA Insurance Trust/WEA TSA Trust Board (focusing on the WEA health insurance and TSA programs) and a WEAC Member Benefits Trust Board (focusing on homeowners, auto, and personal umbrella liability insurance.)
The following dates have been secured for future events. WEAC Convention: October 30-31, 1997, Milwaukee; October 29-30, 1998, Madison; October 28-29, 1999, Milwaukee; and October 26-27, 2000, Madison. NEA Convention: July 1-6, 1997, Atlanta; July 1-6, 1998, Anaheim; July 1-6, 1999, Orlando; and July 1-6, 2000, Chicago. WEAC Representative Assembly: April 18-20, 1997, Middleton; April 24-26, 1998, Green Bay; April 23-25, 1999, Milwaukee; and May 5-7, 2000, Middleton. The first Wisconsin caucus at this year's NEA Convention will be at 2 p.m. July 1. The NEA RA is scheduled to be over by 6 p.m. July 6.
Members of the Manitowoc Educational Paraprofessionals (MEP) are working throughout the year to support the Domestic Violence Center in Manitowoc County. "Our MEP picked the Domestic Violence Center because of budget cuts," said MEP President Carol Levendusky. MEP raised more than $200 in gifts and cash donations at a holiday mixer in December and is continuing to support the center in other ways.