New WEAC President Says Fight For Schools Will Be At Local Level

A middle school social studies teacher has been elected as the newest head of Wisconsin’s teachers union.

Ron Martin will become president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council on Aug. 1. He said since the passage of Act 10, which weakened public sector unions in Wisconsin, he wants WEAC to keep its focus at the local level.

“We have to really work hard at bringing the Wisconsin that I grew up in back, where the people, the taxpayers, the voters, community members have a voice and a say in what’s happening to their public schools,” said Martin.

He said he believes the recent school funding referendum results speak to that local commitment to schools. Voters turning out to the April primary election approved around 75 percent of school funding questions at districts across the state.

“And those communities said, ‘Yes,’ and boy, I think that’s a big indicator for these legislators. When the voters are saying yes, they better listen, because the voters care very much about their public schools and the kids and the educators in them,” said Martin.

Martin will succeed retiring president Betsy Kippers.