Christine Abdalla
Susan Kudless
Frances Wieczerzynski
Jeanne Dixon
Madeline Mills
Walnut
Wendy Romano
West End
Karen Perry
Beth Stanek
High School
Maureen St. John
Donna Lacovara
Theresa Savage
ESP
Maria Rivera
Michele Hamilton
John Brattelli
Be In The Know!
From time to time the officers and members of the WEA come across article or flyers of conferences that they feel would be of interest to others. We will endeavor to keep these articles relevant and current. All articles posted here are in PDF format.
Welcome to the start of a new school year, may it be the best year ever.
On behalf of the association, I want to welcome ALL of you – veterans and newcomers alike. Whatever your status, you’re now officially members of the family here at the Woodbury School District and we all have ONE fundamental thing in common we are ALL members of the WEA and we are ALL proud to serve the children of Woodbury.
The work we do during the school day, after the school day ends, on nights, weekends, and even during the summer is VITAL to the future of our students, and to the future of society. That’s an ENORMOUS responsibility and one we proudly accept, despite the challenges we are facing.
Our world has changed considerably since this time last year. In September 2009, we had a governor who supported public education. He increased school funding during a recession. And he was the only governor in 16 years to PUT money into our pension system.
A year later we have a governor and legislature that is attacking our salaries, benefit, and collective bargaining rights. This governor’s budget cut $ 1.2 billion in school funding.
Our schools are cash-strapped. We are being asked to do more with less. Programs are being cut. Class sizes are increasing. Too many teachers and educational support professionals are on the unemployment line instead of HERE AT WORK where they belong.
The nationwide economic crisis, a hostile governor, and an unsupportive Legislature are not just threatening our rights as professionals; they are destroying the quality of the great public schools we worked so hard to achieve. Make no mistake our public schools are under attack. WE are under attack.
Some of these attacks come from current pending legislation such as:
[S-2043 (KYRILLOS)/A-2960 (DIMAIO/HANDLIN)] that would restore a board’s right to unilaterally impose the final terms and conditions of our employment during contract negotiations.
Another bill [S-2025(KYRILLOS)/A-2961(HANDLIN/CASAGRANDE)] would give Executive County Superintendents the ability to veto our bargaining agreements. That means we could spend months or years bargaining a contract with our board only to have it declared null and void by someone who was NEVER involved in the process.
The remaining bills would directly impact our compensation. One bill [S-2043 (KYRILLOS)/A-2960 (DIMAIO/HANDLIN)] would cap salary and benefit increases for our members at two percent –this is below the rate of inflation!
The other bill [S-2173(KYRILLOS)/A-2952 CASAGRANDE/MUNOZ, S-2220 (SARLO)] would cap sick leave pay and vacation accrual – topics currently subject to collective bargaining
These so-called reforms are nothing less than a direct ATTACK on our Associations. And they are a direct attack on our public schools. Our bargaining doesn’t MAKE the economy, it follows the economy. In times of prosperity, our salary increases have been higher. Times are tough right now and our settlement rates reflect that. That’s how bargaining works.
We cannot allow this Governor or this Legislature to destroy a system that works for our members, for our students, and for our communities. With this said, as the new school year begins, I am asking each of you to make some new year’s resolutions. Over the next few weeks your WEA executive committee will be reaching out to you. We need members to step up and help us help you. We need AR’s, a GCEA Representative, a LAT Representative, and SPDC representatives. WE need members to attend the Board of Education meetings and report back to the Association any events that may impact our ability to serve our students effectively. The activities you choose to support will be up to you, but I need each and every one of you to do something. There will be posting and request for members to attend the Fall Re-Focus Workshop on October 7th, or the GCEA presentation on “What Do My Dues Do” on October 14th, and lastly anyone interested in 2010 NEA Jim George Collective Bargaining Summit to be held on October 15-16.
Attached please find the WEA Association Representative/General Meeting Schedule, please plan to attend at least one meeting.
Please check our website along with the NJEA website for timely and informative information.
Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing each of you in the future.
Sincerely,
Michele Sokolovic
President Woodbury Education Association
Statement of Purpose
The Woodbury Education Association (WEA) is
a professional organization uniting the Professional, Secretarial/Clerk and Maintenance/Custodial Support Personnel. Our goal is to provide for the students in the Woodbury Public Schools the most complete and relevant education possible in order for these students to be successful in all of their future endeavors.
We would like to offer a fond farewell to our Retiring Members. You have given so much to Woodbury and you will not be soon forgotten.
Dianne Clement – Teacher of Family and Consumer Science
Sharron Knauss – Library and Media Specialist for the District
James Krauss – Teacher of Technology, Video Production and Web Design
Mary Leonardo – Secretary to the Principal, Walnut Street Elementary School
Joyce Woodrow – Teacher of Physical Education and Health
Your students and colleagues will miss you.
Some of the accomplishments of the of Graduates
and Faculty of Woodbury Public Schools are:
Of all the students that graduated in 2007 most went on to further their education in four year colleges, two year colleges or trade schools. And fifteen went on to full time employment or the military.
31 members of the Class of 2011 were members of the National Honor Society.
TheClass of 2007 was offered more than $2,000,000.00 in scholarships and grants.
The WEA is active in the community supporting a Tee Ball Team (The Teachers’ Pets), offering a free senior citizen luncheon along with free tickets to the High School Musical, encourage community members to become active in our schools, along with many other activities.
Our students go on to lead successful professional lives. Many come back to Woodbury as members of the faculty.
Many of our Teachers have been recognized by various Colleges, Universities and other professional organizations. Examples:
New Jersey School Social Workers Association
Princeton University
NASA
Albert Einstein Fellowship
Radio Shack National Teacher
New Jersey Technologist of the year
Gloucester County Teacher of the Year
New Jersey School Social Worker of the Year
Many of our teachers and students volunteer their time to the school and community as coaches, advisors, mentors, tutors, or as someone that the children and parents talk to.
Gloucester County Education Association Activities
For more information about Gloucester County
Education Association you can click on the link to the left.
Calendar & Events Looking for an NJEA conference or meeting? Check the events calendar for dates, times, and places of all NJEA events.
Collective Bargaining- members only NJEA and its local associations have more than thirty (30) years of bargaining experience in some of the largest and smallest school districts in the state. This experience, coupled with extensive training opportunities, helps make NJEA local leaders skillful bargainers. In this section you'll find NJEA's goals for collective bargaining, the collective bargaining manual, and an NJEA sample agreement.
Grants Looking for information on grants? Check out the Grants link for details on NJEA's HIPP Foundation grants and our PRIDE in Public Education Grants. There are also links to grants available from NEA and the NJ Department of Ed.
Hipp Foundation Established in 1993, the Hipp Foundation was created to provide opportunities for school employees to expand their visions of excellence in our classrooms and schools. These links provide additional information about this exciting opportunity, how you can support the Hipp Foundation, and how to apply for a grant. It also lists the current and past Hipp Foundation grant recipients, with a description of each project, and contact information.
Links Looking for a particular education website or affiliated organization? Bookmark NJEA's Links page to end your search. Here you'll find links to the Department of Education, the Division of Pensions and Benefits, the NJ School Directory, and many more. There are also links to political organizations, web sites for parents, and county and local education association web sites.
Legal Services- Members Only NJEA-NEA legal services protect and provide for members with serious job problems and personal legal problems. This link, found in Members Only, contains information on 100% paid legal protection, personal legal services, participating law firms in the attorney referral program, and much more.
NJEA Member Benefits - Members Only NJEA Member Benefits administers programs of economic benefit to members both as individuals and in groups. These programs are designed to save money for members and to increase buying power. Visit the Members Only area of the web site for a list of NJEA Sponsored Vendors and Members Discount programs. You'll find valuable information from insurance plans to discounts on entertainment, travel, and major home purchases, as well as coupons to download, and professional business cards online.
Retirement Estimate InformationMembers Only NJEA provides Retirement Estimate Sheets as a service to members to give them an idea of what their pension will be after they retire.
The Toolbox This monthly column from the NJEA Review provides resources on various education-related topics, with related links. Topics are archived for future reference.
