Kenosha Gets Off To Quick Start

Kenosha Education Association President Beth Adelsen is proud that the KEA is committed to Level Three of the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan, which entails participation in the highest level of activities.

“Our association representatives (ARs) made the call on this issue,” she said. “A large and diverse group of KEA representatives attended this year’s WEAC Summer Academy,” which focused primarily on implementation of the Action Plan.

It is no surprise to Adelsen that Kenosha teachers made such a significant commitment to the plan.

“Our position evolved over time. For the past three years, our members realized that they had to do something” to establish a revised system of school funding, bring an end to the Qualified Economic Offer law and bring back a fair collective bargaining law for educators, she said.

Adelsen, who was a 6th-grade math and English teacher before assuming her duties as president, reflects the activist nature of KEA membership. In 2002, when she was KEA vice president, Adelsen paid an unexpected visit to the home of a Kenosha citizen who had been critical of the KEA in a letter to the local newspaper, suggesting the KEA dump its leaders. Their debate was cordial, and, in the end, Adelsen and the author of the letter “agreed to disagree.”

This pro-active stance is typical of what Adelsen calls a new generation of teachers. “There are teachers like me who have spent our entire careers in education in Wisconsin without the ability to negotiate a fair salary. For those who wish to remain in the profession for another 20 or 30 years, now is the time to take action.”

In line with the Action Plan, the KEA is in the process of asking the Kenosha school board to pass a resolution asking the Legislature to repeal revenue controls and the QEO and support a change in state education funding. Adelsen is counting on the support of the KEA’s membership to do this.

“We have been trying to make our members realize that they are the ones who can make things happen,” she said.

Plans are also in place in Kenosha for the I See Red Day on October 15. Adelsen stated, “We’re pretty used to wearing red in Kenosha.” Adelsen is assured that “our building leaders are on board for this event and will educate people in their buildings.”

The KEA also is very active registering voters. The goal is to get all members to vote and to get large numbers of other citizens to the polls.

“Many of our ARs and KEA directors attended training clinics,” and, as a result, more than 35 KEA leaders became voter registrars for the City of Kenosha, the Village of Pleasant Prairie, and the Town of Somers.

Adelsen feels the voter turnout is particularly crucial in this election.

“Our representatives at the state level – Assemblymen John Steinbrink and Jim Kreuser and State Senator Bob Wirch – support ending the QEO and levy limits. It’s important to keep them in office.”

Wirch has become a target of Republicans, and he is being challenged by Reince Priebus, a Milwaukee attorney.

“We are very appreciative of Sen. Wirch’s support for public education and public services and his concern for the quality of life for all his constituents,” Adelsen said.

When asked about Priebus’ and other Republicans’ call for a “tax freeze,” Adelsen bristles.

“We need to reform how we fund public education, but slashing millions of dollars (in supposed tax cuts) and jeopardizing the quality of the education we have is not the answer.

“When educators are given a competitive salary, the public gets back two things. First, their educators get paid fairly for the work they do for today’s children. In turn, the educators invest that money back into the community. In both cases, the community benefits.”

Adelsen said the KEA will continually update its members about the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan and the upcoming elections through its GLUE newsletter, broadcast e-mails, and member-to-member contact.

Kenosha’s teachers recently forged a closer alliance with the rest of the community when, on Labor Day, KEA Executive Director Bob Baxter was honored as “Labor Person of the Year.”

“We have a great relationship with the labor community in Kenosha,” Adelsen said, adding she believes that relationship will help forge a strong voter alliance for pro-education and pro-labor candidates.

While Adelsen cannot comment on what future activities will be developed under the Action Plan, she is adamant about the KEA’s goals.

“We are going to do what is necessary to have a fair and equitable contract settlement. And we will support other locals in their efforts to do the same,” she said.

Resource page on the Great Schools Statewide Action Plan

Posted September 30, 2004