Representative Assembly Creates Advisory Council on QEO, Revenue Controls

• RA summary statement of priorities
• New Business Items approved by delegates
• Background on the QEO
• Background on revenue controls
• President Terry Craney and Vice President Stan Johnson re-elected
• RA approves new class size resolution
• 'Never give in,' WEAC President Terry Craney tells delegates
• Delegates adopt Legislative Agenda
• Don Krahn says QEO is unnecessary and unfair

A special WEAC advisory council will develop a new strategic action plan for winning repeal or modification of the Qualified Economic Offer law and school district revenue controls.

The committee was created by a vote of delegates to the annual WEAC Representative Assembly April 24-26.

The vote did not come without controversy. About three dozen RA delegates – mostly from Madison, Racine and Northern Tier UniServ Council – walked out after their efforts to approve a more specific and aggressive action plan were defeated.

They issued a statement saying: “It is time for a coordinated statewide action. No more study committees! No more rhetoric!”

The differences of opinion sparked spirited debate.

“Members within WEAC are at different points of protest against the QEO and revenue caps. There are some who want to take very aggressive actions and some who are nowhere near that point,” said WEAC President Terry Craney.

To those who support the more aggressive strategies, Craney said, “I just want to assure you that all types of actions will be addressed” by the special committee.

The committee will be made up of UniServ, Student WEA and WEAC-Retired presidents. It will advise the WEAC Board and present its report to the 1999 Representative Assembly.

Prior to adjourning, the RA delegates adopted a statement summarizing the priorities they developed at this year’s meeting. In addition to creation of the special committee, they are:

• Re-elect Sen. Russ Feingold.
• Elect a pro-education governor.
• Work for passage of the WEAC pro-active Legislative Agenda that includes:
  • Repeal of the QEO and revenue controls.
  • Support for smaller class sizes.
  • Support for a school safety and discipline law.
  • Opposition to any effort by the state to take over Milwaukee Public Schools.
  • Support for the proposed merger of the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers.

Also at the RA:

• The Richard J. Lewandowski Memorial Award for humanitarian activities was presented to:
  • Phil Ferguson, a Waukesha educator who has been active in a variety of peace and justice causes, including the Waukesha County Peace Council and the Waukesha Sister City Association. He was instrumental in developing the sister city relationship between Waukesha and Kokshetau, Kazakhstan in the former Soviet Union.
  • Jane Hammatt-Kavaloski, Tenia Jenkins, and Gilbert Richardson of Malcolm Shabazz alternative high school in Madison. These teachers have developed an Education for Justice course that incorporates extended field trips to communities very different from their own. These have included the Mississippi Delta, Native American reservations in northern Wisconsin, and coal-mining towns of Appalachia.
• The Cunningham, Dickinson, Watson Commemorative Staff Award was presented to Leigh Barker, who is coordinator of services for WEAC's Wisconsin Technical College System members. The eight WTCS members who nominated her described Barker as "intelligent, trustworthy, clear thinker, tough negotiator and reliable."
• Delegates approved a 1998-99 budget of $14.8 million that includes general membership dues of $208, plus $12 for political action.
• All seven proposed amendments to the WEAC Constitution and Bylaws were approved.

Posted April 27, 1998; Updated April 29 and 30, 1998