The Racine Taxpayers Association, through its representatives, including Lou Handziak, John Haumersen and Jim Morrison, have been involved with this commission for roughly two years. RTA has been involved because we believe that something must be done to turn this district around. We believe the commission is on the right track, but is not ready for prime time--the proposed fall referendums. Therefore, the RTA will be recommending to the board of education in the near future that action on the proposed referendums be postponed for at least a year while the commission, including RTA members, continues with its work. Here are the reasons:
John Haumersen
1. RUSD does not have a business plan in place as to needs, costs and proposed measurable results.
The referendums represent a tremendous cost to the Racine area which is very hard hit by the business recession.
Therefore, RTA must be assured to the greatest degree possible that Unified’s plan is well developed.
Don Botsford, Dennis Kisley, Nancy Meinholz
2. To this end, RTA has asked RUSD managers to identify a school district comparable or even similar to RUSD which has used successfully the approaches planned by Racine Unified.
Nothing has been forthcoming.
Diane Blackmon
3. RTA has urged RUSD to implement virtual school programs from the lower grades through high school.
Unified has some 500 district students who are being home schooled with many parents using virtual schools to assist them in their efforts.
Connie Ratke
Unified virtual schools should earn income and achieve savings for the district while providing service to many students.
At the high school level we believe virtual schooling would assist students in studying courses that are not available within the Racine program.
Right now these students can enroll in college courses which must be paid for by Unified.
We will urge the school board to require the administration to conduct a virtual school program since the RUSD administration has not followed through on past recommendations
Dick Reich, Dennis Kisley, Ruth Gedwardt, Len Jensen & Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance
4. To our knowledge, no committee has been formed to investigate the elimination of failing, failed or little used programs which could results in the savings of many tax dollars.
Some RTA members, working apart from Lou, John and me, have identified suggestions that could result in saving several million dollars.
RTA members are prepared to take part in working with RUSD if an invitation is offered.
Dave Hazen
5. RUSD has not formed a committee to study the return on investment for energy projects.
6. A major recommendation is that all referendum questions pertaining to operating referendums must have sunset clauses of three to five years.
This assures that the public will have periodic reviews at the polls to assure the programs are earning their keep.
As present day voters, we do not have the right to saddle future voters with unending costs.
James Shaw, RUSD Superintendent
7. Unified officials always talk about the need to recruit better teachers, but there is nothing in the current plans to show that Unified has the will to terminate underperforming teachers on the payroll.
Unified says it will provide coaching and assistance to help underpar teachers, but there is nothing that effectively says that Unified will terminate teachers who continue to underperform.
In summary, RTA ’s position is that with many open questions and little sound evidence regarding the success of RUSD’s proposals, RTA cannot support them at this time.
More study and actions are needed from Racine Unified.
Another year is needed before RUSD proposes any referendums.
