District III Chairs Visit RFArea Meeting

At our local chapter meeting on April 16, 2014 meeting, WREA District III Chairs Carol Subera and Carol Ballerstein headed the agenda.  Their visit allowed local members to become better acquainted with district leadership and with the function and importance of WREA.

Carol Subera, RFArea President Marylin Plansky, and Carol Ballerstein

 
Subera and Ballerstein also presented RFArea member Evelyn Johnson of Maiden Rock with the Volunteer of the Year award.

Evelyn Johnson wins Volunteer of the Year award for the RFArea local chapter

Evvy Johnson is very involved with the 4H Club in Maiden Rock and particularly enjoys sharing her sewing abilities with the young people in her community.  She spent much time this past year crocheting hats that a local pastor takes to the children of Mexico.

Doug Johnson also reported with sadness the passing of longtime RFArea member Ray Anderson, who recently passed away at age 91.

All members in attendance once again enjoyed the hospitality of the West Wind and the opportunity to chat with each other.

Ethel Johnson, Evelyn Johnson, Warren Leonard

Larry Harred, Ruth Wood, Ramona Rachsler, Tony Pedriana, Curt Larson

 

RFArea Newsletter April 2014

 

RFArea 

Wisconsin Retired Educators' Association

Newsletter               

Volume 11     Number 2     April 2014

From Marylin

By President Marylin Plansky

     May 1st is just around the corner, and we're all looking forward to the end of the five-year core fund cycle and increases for everyone's retirement payments.  The wait for this is possibly the only thing seemingly longer than the end of our miserable winter.  Better days are ahead.  The last message I read stated that the core fund increase will be +4.7%, and the variable will be +25%.  You can expect to hear from WRS in April.
     WREA will hold district meetings around the state the first full week in May.  The District III session is on May 6th at a restaurant near Stratford.  Ethel Johnson and I have attended these for years, and we generally elect to go to the District I meeting, which is usually held in Rice Lake.  I plan to go again this year and would welcome company.
     At our January board meeting, a motion passed to take up a collection specifically for the WREA Foundation.  We'll do this at our April meeting.  The Foundation uses donations to provide student scholarships, teacher grants, money for innovative school programs, and support for community outreach.  Checks can be made out to RFArea or WREA Foundation.
     Our April 16th meeting is at 10:30 in the West Wind Room.  Carol Ballerstein and Carol Subera, our District III Directors, will present the program.  I am hopeful that better weather and decent roads will mean we will have good attendance.
     Our annual scholarship bake sale is at the First National bank in River Falls on April 17th.  Postcards have been sent to Royal Neighbors and RFArea members.  We are grateful to Gene and Liz Kreibich for soliciting matching funds from Royal Neighbors each year.  This is the fourth year this has been done, and the proceeds have made a huge difference in our scholarship fund.
     On June 18th our meeting will be a potluck picnic at Hoffman Park in River Falls.  We are planning to repeat something we did a few years ago when people brought an heirloo to "Show and Tell."  Members enjoyed this and requested a repeat, so we listened.  Think about what you can bring to this fund and interesting meeting.

Minutes for February 2014

By Ethel Johnson, Secretary

     The last general meeting was held 2/19/14 at the West Wind Restaurant.  President Marylin Plansky called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m.
     The secretary's minutes were accepted as printed in the newsletter.
     The treasurer's report was examined and filled for audit.  Bernie Brohaugh, treasurer, passed out volunteer buttons.
     Larry Harred gave the Legislative report.  He told about Senate Bill 286 that would create problems if passed.
     Brian Copp gave the Program report.
     The next meeting will feature two district representatives who will fill us in on what is happening at the state level and answer questions.  A potluck at Hoffman Park will be held in June.
     Evelyn Klein, Education Issues chair, gave a very comprehensive report on present day problems in schools.  Her report centered on student performance, readiness for college, charter schools, discipline problems, smaller class sizes, use of technology in education, etc.
     Marylin Plansky gave the Scholarship report as Naomi Brandt was absent.  The Board has asked that information be added to certificates to recipiets of scholarships.  A portion of the money in the scholarship fund was donated in memory of deceased members of our organization.
     It was announced that the Nominating Committee will meet after the next Board Meeting, March 31.
     Old Business:  The telephone tree has been retired; however, anyone who would like a reminder call should let Jane Harred know.
     Laura Zlogar offeredto set up a website on Google.  This will be a nice addition to our group.
     Evelyn Klein suggested one of our programs could be a panel dealing with educational issues.
     Marylin Plansky reported she had begun work on the Bake Sale.
     Announcements of upcoming events in the next couple of weeks were made.
     Following adjournment and lunch, a program focusing on country school experiences was presented by Brian Copp, Ethel Johnson, Eileen Gulbranson, and Bernie Brohaugh.

Highlights of New Education Bills

From an article by Erin Richards in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 22 March 2014

     Several bills pertaining to education have recently been passed by the state legislature and will likely be signed into law.
     (1) The one bill considered the most significant, the "accountability" bill, seems, however, to be somewhat nullified by another bill relating to the rating of schools and teachers.  The first bill requires all publicly funded schools to use the same report-card rating system.  Even charter schools that get taxpayer support must use the same 0-100 scale that all public schools are required to use.
    (2)  But the other bill allows some charter schools to apply for permission from the state's Department of Public Instruction to substitute another system.  Precisely what these schools are and where they are is not revealed in the Journal/Sentinel report on the legislation.
     (3)  A bill of questionable rectitude requires the DPI to accept the credentials of all principals licensed out of state and carrying three years of experience who apply to work at charter schools in the state in spite of their being otherwise unqualified in Wisconsin.
     (4)  New private schools in Racine and Milwaukee will have to operate one year while undergoing rigorous financial reviews before they can get public funds.  This bill follows in the wake of a scam that bilked the state out of $200,000.
     (5)  Finally, the 180-day requirement has been replaced by a minimal hour requirement.  Schools will be able to make up for lost days by adding on hours to daily schedules.  The minimum varies from one level of classes to another, K through 12.
     One bill that did not pass was the attempt to derail implementation of Common Core State Standards, an initiative of Tea Partiers.