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Badger52 · 10-27-2011, 12:42

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WEAC break may be a thing of the past
By MATTHEW DeFOUR Wisconsin State Journal lacrossetribune.com | Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 12:00 am | (29) Comments

.La Crosse schools are closed Thursday and Friday, but with the annual teachers union convention canceled, many districts are considering whether to do away with the mid-semester break in the future.

Many school districts had already set their calendars for this year by the time the Wisconsin Education Association Council announced in May it would cancel its fall convention.

But Sun Prairie and McFarland have decided to hold classes next year on the days previously set aside for the WEAC convention. Others, including Cambridge, Belleville and DeForest, are thinking about doing the same.

“Early indications are people would favor having regular classes on those days to reduce breaks in instruction for students,” DeForest Superintendent Jon Bales said. “It also allows for the addition of makeup snow days at the end of the year without going too far into the month of June.”

Most La Crosse teachers will have two unpaid days off this year. Music and art teachers will attend conferences.

Middleton-Cross Plains is continuing its past practice of requiring teachers to work for 7.5 hours — either on Thursday or at some point in the future — in exchange for the two days off.

Some districts, including Madison, will use the days for professional staff development.

Attendance at the WEAC convention has been noticeably low in past years and parents questioned how it improved the classroom experience for their children, said Kim Henderson, president of the Wisconsin Parent Teacher Association.

“Most people are never traveling so they’re trying to find someone to watch their kids,” Henderson said. “Most parents would rather have the time when the weather is nice.”

Union officials acknowledge that attendance has dropped off, with Madison Teachers Inc. executive director John Matthews estimating about 10 percent of WEAC’s membership going.

WEAC canceled its convention this year largely because it was unclear how many districts would allow teachers to attend under the new collective bargaining law, spokeswoman Christina Brey said.

In the past unions negotiated for the days off, but the new law allows School Districts to unilaterally set their calendars.

The Madison School District previously paid teachers for the two days off to attend the convention, but was one of the first and largest districts to change its contract to require teachers to attend school-based staff development instead this year.

Madison teachers will spend the two days learning about a new approach for identifying special education students, the implementation of consistent curriculum across the district, and new tests to assess student progress and whether the district is closing its achievement gap, Deputy Superintendent Sue Abplanalp said.

“Right now teachers are ... trying lots of different strategies and we’re not sure if they’re working,” Abplanalp said. “We really need to focus on systemic reform in our district to make sure the strategies are effective.”

Elementary teachers will also have planning time in the afternoon, though middle and high school teachers are unhappy that they won’t, Matthews said.

Tribune reporter Patrick B. Anderson contributed to this story
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Next thing you know they won't get automatic matching days for Fed holidays the state doesn't recognize. The sky is falling.

10-27-2011, 12:42	#6
Badger52 Area Commander Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Western WI Posts: 7,057	Oh, my, it's like the Energzer Bunny... LINK WEAC break may be a thing of the past By MATTHEW DeFOUR Wisconsin State Journal lacrossetribune.com \| Posted: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 12:00 am \| (29) Comments .La Crosse schools are closed Thursday and Friday, but with the annual teachers union convention canceled, many districts are considering whether to do away with the mid-semester break in the future. Many school districts had already set their calendars for this year by the time the Wisconsin Education Association Council announced in May it would cancel its fall convention. But Sun Prairie and McFarland have decided to hold classes next year on the days previously set aside for the WEAC convention. Others, including Cambridge, Belleville and DeForest, are thinking about doing the same. “Early indications are people would favor having regular classes on those days to reduce breaks in instruction for students,” DeForest Superintendent Jon Bales said. “It also allows for the addition of makeup snow days at the end of the year without going too far into the month of June.” Most La Crosse teachers will have two unpaid days off this year. Music and art teachers will attend conferences. Middleton-Cross Plains is continuing its past practice of requiring teachers to work for 7.5 hours — either on Thursday or at some point in the future — in exchange for the two days off. Some districts, including Madison, will use the days for professional staff development. Attendance at the WEAC convention has been noticeably low in past years and parents questioned how it improved the classroom experience for their children, said Kim Henderson, president of the Wisconsin Parent Teacher Association. “Most people are never traveling so they’re trying to find someone to watch their kids,” Henderson said. “Most parents would rather have the time when the weather is nice.” Union officials acknowledge that attendance has dropped off, with Madison Teachers Inc. executive director John Matthews estimating about 10 percent of WEAC’s membership going. WEAC canceled its convention this year largely because it was unclear how many districts would allow teachers to attend under the new collective bargaining law, spokeswoman Christina Brey said. In the past unions negotiated for the days off, but the new law allows School Districts to unilaterally set their calendars. The Madison School District previously paid teachers for the two days off to attend the convention, but was one of the first and largest districts to change its contract to require teachers to attend school-based staff development instead this year. Madison teachers will spend the two days learning about a new approach for identifying special education students, the implementation of consistent curriculum across the district, and new tests to assess student progress and whether the district is closing its achievement gap, Deputy Superintendent Sue Abplanalp said. “Right now teachers are ... trying lots of different strategies and we’re not sure if they’re working,” Abplanalp said. “We really need to focus on systemic reform in our district to make sure the strategies are effective.” Elementary teachers will also have planning time in the afternoon, though middle and high school teachers are unhappy that they won’t, Matthews said. Tribune reporter Patrick B. Anderson contributed to this story ---------------- Next thing you know they won't get automatic matching days for Fed holidays the state doesn't recognize. The sky is falling.
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