Racine Unified School Board Will Decide Tonight on Suing the State

Racine Unified School Board members will decide tonight, June 20, whether or not to sue the State of Wisconsin over the deep funding cuts for the district included in the budget.

RUSD was slated to experience reductions in state education aid, much like other districts across the state. Figures from the central office put the budget deficit for the next two years at about $25 million. Agreements reached with teacher and staff unions helped save the district an estimated $18 million and restoring charter school funding also helped close the gap.

Additional monies will be taken from the district, however, with the expansion of school choice into Racine Unified. Estimated to cost $2 million for the first two years, the money will come from state aid that would have come to the public schools.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Shaw called a press conference on Mon., June 13, in Madison to state clearly the district's opposition to school choice. 

"We needed to send a very clear message about where we stand with vouchers," he said by telephone as he drove back to Racine from Madison after the press conference. "What residents need to understand is that vouchers mean greater defunding for public schools."

Further, the program could cost local property taxpayers an additional $10 million to fund the third year of school choice when there is no longer a limit to the number of scholarships available.

"We have an obligation and a responsibility to serve kids through public education," Shaw continued. "The financial impact of vouchers will be significant for both the district and the taxpayers."

The Racine Unified School Board meets at 6:30 pm at the Administration Service Center, 2220 Northwestern Avenue.

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Will you support the district if the board decides to sue the state?