Latest news with #Diederich
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks teacher contract negotiators discuss special educator workload tool
Apr. 9—GRAND FORKS — Much of a special education workload committee presentation to school district and union negotiators Tuesday focused on a new tool that committee members said could better balance educators' caseloads. Administrators and special education teachers on the joint Grand Forks Public Schools-Grand Forks Education Association committee offered broadly positive assessments of the workload analysis tool, which is being rolled out in district schools as a result of the committee's research. Until recently, special ed teachers' workload was based on a "weighted" system that only factored in the number of students assigned to a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, deaf and hard of hearing teacher or other special educator, and the minutes of the day spent with that student. "A lot of things were missed because it only allowed us to look at a student and their minutes," Executive Director of Special Education Elisa Diederich said. Diederich said the new system took into account additional factors like time spent in meetings, filing paperwork, or completing duties specific to an individual teacher. The district and the teachers union agreed to establish a workload review committee after the 2023 negotiations season to investigate and propose solutions to a yearslong crisis of overwork and burnout among special educators. The committee's report was provided to negotiators for both parties at last week's opening negotiations session. Diederich said the tool's better accounting of how special ed teachers spend their time could help "protect" teachers' designated prep and lunch time, which special educators often lose out on due to job demands. Business Manager Brandon Baumbach told the Herald in October that special education teachers filed for some 1,288 hours of Teacher Coverage compensation last year, a figure that likely undercounts the additional hours that special educators put in throughout the school year. Two special education teachers on the committee, Marie DeMarce Garner and Katie Wood, gave the tool positive reviews in their comments to the board. "From my colleagues, I'm hearing, 'I like it, I'm feeling a lot more represented,'" Wood said. The committee presentation also addressed the need for better paraprofessional training, more training for general education teachers and administrators on special educators' responsibilities, as well as designating "team leaders" to manage paraprofessionals in school buildings. The committee's report did not call for hiring more special education staff, though Diederich and Assistant Director of Special Education Carrie Weippert obliquely acknowledged that may be necessary to address the burden on current special ed teachers. "Special education teachers serve kids all hours of the day, except for prep and lunch. So I think where we're getting to is you're not going to serve (kids) all hours of the day," Weippert said. "We have to allocate time to designate for paras, which might mean there's less time to serve kids, which may mean we need additional staff." The GFEA's opening proposal includes requests for pay bumps for special education teachers who take on additional responsibilities, like managing paraprofessionals. Lead district negotiator Amber Flynn raised concerns about how efforts at the federal level to dismantle the U.S. Education Department could impact local funding for special education. Funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act currently covers between 8.5% to 9% of district special education spending, Diederich said. "I think all of us would say 'we'd love to open up the doors and hire more staff and more paras,'" Flynn said. "But how do we even begin to compensate (for) special ed or even think about what to do when we have no idea what's going to happen?" Flynn later told the Herald her comments were not meant to preclude considering salary boosts for special educators, but said the district needed to balance serving students with changing federal circumstances. Head union negotiator Melissa Buchhop told the Herald negotiators need to find a middle ground between those concerns and special ed staff's needs. "There are a lot of unknowns and we can't really do the 'if, if, if, if, if,'" Buchhop said. "We have to look at 'how do you keep your staff?' Because if we don't do something, what are we going to do if all of our special education staff leave?" Activities Director Mike Biermeier opened Tuesday's negotiations with another report, this one focused on staff compensation for overseeing extracurricular activities. Biermeier's report, also requested by negotiators in 2023, focused on updating contract language, changing contract lengths to match current activities seasons, and adding several extracurricular positions that had not previously been included in the contract. It also compared the district's current pay scale for activities with other large districts. GFEA negotiators agreed to a district proposal allowing new hires to bring in 25 years of teaching experience onto the salary schedule, up from 15. The School Board has issued an increased number of experience waivers in recent years, reflecting the limited labor supply for certain teaching positions. The district agreed in spirit to a GFEA proposal calling for a pay boost for teachers who teach a sixth online course in addition to their five contracted courses, asking for a small change to the contract language. It rejected a union request that would have boosted pay for elementary teachers teaching multiple grades at once and secondary teachers teaching hybrid classes, with Flynn saying the two were not comparable.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity announces ‘Rock the Block' 2025 to take place in September
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity CEO Jessica Diederich, President of the Neighborhood Association for Fisk Addition Anna Kolb and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich gathered on Tuesday to announce the dates for Rock the Block 2025. The Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity's Rock the Block 2025 is set for September 25-27, as volunteers are invited to join forces for good, rebuilding and revitalizing neighborhoods. Last year was the inaugural year for Rock the Block, as over two dozen homeowners in De Pere to help revitalize homes. Diederich said that the impact was more than just physical. Green Bay Polar Plunge® raises money for Special Olympians, invites attendees to jump in freezing cold Fox River 'Last year, over 30 homeowners participated in revitalization efforts transforming their homes and strengthening their neighborhoods,' Diederich said. 'Beyond the physical repairs and improvements, the most profound impact was how the program brought people together.' From yard maintenance to exterior home repairs, Rock the Block is designed to 'elevate the community with well-maintained neighborhoods,' the official Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity website says. 'We've been really excited about bringing Habitat [for Humanity] and Rock the Block to the city of Green Bay,' Mayor Genrich said. 'The city of Green Bay and Habitat for Humanity have been partnering for decades, but with each year, it becomes a stronger and more meaningful partnerhsip.' There are numerous opportunities for volunteers to take part in when Rock the Block kicks off: Family Radio Network launches Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive to aid Wisconsin crisis agencies Exterior home repairs Painting Providing meals Landscaping Modify and construct ramps for those with disabilities Cleanup and setup logistics Visit the Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity's website for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BiOWiSH Technologies Names Bill Diederich Chief Executive Officer
CINCINNATI, February 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc., a global provider of biotechnology solutions, has named Bill Diederich as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Diederich, who has been with the company for 15 years, spearheaded the development and commercialization of BiOWiSH's agronomy program. Before this appointment, he served as the company's Chief Innovation Officer. With nearly 30 years of experience in the agricultural industry, Diederich has a strong background in U.S. agriculture and significant international expertise, including a pivotal role in propelling BiOWiSH's business in Vietnam. His career also includes leadership positions overseeing the world's largest agricultural laboratory and serving as Chief Operating Officer of an agricultural biotechnology company. "Bill's leadership, deep industry knowledge, and innovative approach have been critical to BiOWiSH's success," said Dr. Nabil Sakkab, BiOWiSH Board Chairman. "We are confident that under his direction as CEO, BiOWiSH will continue to grow and lead efforts to address the global food crisis through sustainable practices that improve both profitability and productivity for farmers." Diederich's expertise in agronomy, bacterial technology, and market strategy, as well as his work with key partners such as SABIC, ADM, Syngenta, and Enzyma, has helped solidify BiOWiSH's position as a leader in agricultural biotechnology. His focus on cost control and operational efficiency has also contributed to the company's growth and success in the sector. The BiOWiSH® Fertilizer Enhancement has been used on approximately 10 million acres of farmland globally. It is specifically designed to optimize yield potential by improved nutrient uptake and to improve soil conditions for increased plant vigor. Additionally, it has been proven to achieve consistent desired results across a broad range of crops, climates, management practices, and environments — all at a low cost to farmers. For more information about BiOWiSH Technologies, visit About BiOWiSH Technologies Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc. is a global provider of biotechnology solutions for the agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental management industries. As a leader in the application of microbial technologies in the agricultural market, we partner with the world's top fertilizer manufacturers to help farmers increase crop production sustainably, safely and cost effectively. Our revolutionary BiOWiSH® Crop Liquid can be coated onto dry fertilizer or mixed with liquid fertilizer to create an enhanced efficiency fertilizer that optimizes yield potential by improved nutrient uptake and improves soil conditions for increased plant vigor. This helps farmers achieve consistent results across a broad range of operating conditions, climates and environments. By unifying nature and science, BiOWiSH reinvents the way food is grown. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Christina AlvarezMulberry Marketing Communicationscalvarez@ Sign in to access your portfolio
