More Referendum Meetings Set

The Racine Unified School District will host four more public meetings the week of March 28 to explain the upcoming schools referendum.

A Linking and Listening session with RUSD School Board members and district administrators at Schulte Elementary School, 8515 Westminster Drive, Sturtevant, is rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, March 28. That program was canceled Feb. 17 because a sick-out by teachers and staff resulted in the cancellation of classes and activities that day.

A public meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Racine Public Library’s West Learning Center, 75 Seventh St.

Two more public meetings are scheduled for the next day, Thursday, March 31. One is at Fratt Elementary, 3501 Kinzie Ave., where student-led tours of the school’s new multi-purpose room addition start at 5:30 p.m. followed by an informational meeting at 6 p.m.

The other meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Park High School, 1901 12th St. The public will have the opportunity to tour the recently remodeled Park Field House, which was built with proceeds from the 2008 maintenance referendum, and the school’s Automotive Department, constructed through a 2001 referendum.

Voters within RUSD will be asked to approve three school spending questions on April 5. The questions involve:

• An $83.5 million bond issue to construct five new elementary schools and remodel five other buildings.
• Permission to increase spending by $35 million over a seven-year period to maintain existing programs and to hire as many as 60 additional teachers and other staff members.
• Continuation of an earlier referendum to add $1 million annually over 10 years to the district’s general fund balance.