Budget Repair Bill Brings a Cloud of Uncertainty to RUSD

The ongoing battle over Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget repair proposal has brought uncertainty to Racine Unified School District staff and administration.

Responding to an audience question at Wednesday evening’s school referendum informational meeting at the Siena Center, RUSD Superintendent Jim Shaw said: “It’s been a very difficult week…We don’t want the community to be divided against each other, but that’s what’s happening.”

The governor’s proposed legislation to fix a $137 million deficit in the current state budget calls for most public sector employees to contribute at least 5.8 percent of salaries to the pension fund and to pay a minimum of 12.6 percent of their health insurance premiums. The proposal also eliminates nearly all collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The bill is tied up in the state Legislature as public employee unions have held nearly nonstop protests at the State Capitol for the past 10 days. Classes were canceled at RUSD last Thursday when about 400 teachers called in sick or to take personal time.

David Hazen, RUSD chief financial officer, commented that relations between district administration and labor unions are “totally different” from when he served on the School Board a decade ago. The district’s unionized employees include teachers, educational assistants, custodians, clerks and secretaries.

“We’re very concerned about how that affects us,” he said. “We’re going to have (state school) aid reductions. We’re going to either have less staff or staff making less money.”

On Monday, Hazen told the School Board that based on the latest projections, RUSD could face a deficit ranging from nearly $5 million to $8.4 million in its 2011-12 budget. The Wisconsin Association of School Boards has cautioned its members that to help balance the state budget, the governor plans to reduce general education aid by about $500 per student—or $10.7 million for RUSD.

Shaw agreed with Hazen that a combination of staff reductions and reduced compensation is likely and that district employees are worried about the ongoing uncertainty.

“We hope it’s not worse, but it’s going to change the way we do business,” he said.

Shaw added that through the uncertainty he takes comfort in the district’s North Star Vision—a shared belief by district leaders and employees that all students can succeed.

The Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Assembly passed the Budget Repair Bill early this morning.

According to the Racine Education Association Facebook page, a prayer vigil has been scheduled for Wisconsin. In Racine a prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Monument Square, Sixth and Main streets.