Schools
Local Schools Closed Due to Staff Absences; 400 Teachers Took the Day Off
School District officials will consider making up the day on Feb. 25, which is a scheduled winter recess day.
Update: Nearly 400 teachers called in to take sick or personal time overnight Wednesday prompting Racine Unified School District officials to cancel classes early today, an RUSD spokeswoman said.
Stacy Tapp, RUSD director of communication and public information, said the
decision to call off school was made about 5:45 a.m. and announced to the public
and media via text about 6 a.m. Tapp declined to comment on possible
disciplinary actions against staff members who were not on the job today.
District officials will determine when today's classes will be made up, Tapp
said. A winter break day, scheduled for next Friday, Feb. 25, is on the school
calendar as a contingency snow day for the first semester. Because RUSD's only
snow day occurred after the first semester, on Feb. 2, that day will made up at
the end of the school year. Park High School, however, is scheduled to use Feb.
25 to make up classes missed because of a power outage in January.
About 1,600 RUSD teachers are represented by the Racine Education Association
(REA.) Members of the REA and the Racine Educational Assistants Association
picketed outside District headquarters earlier this week to protest the
governor's state budget amendment bill being considered by the Legislature.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill today.
Original Post: Students will not have school today because of teachers protesting Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill.
Stacy Tapp, communications director for the Racine Unified School District just issued the following statement at 6:05 a.m. today: "Because of the high number of staff absences, Racine Unified Schools will not operate today. If students arrive at school, staff will be present to provide for their safety until parents can be contacted. Private schools will remain open."
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The Joint Finance Committee passed the bill, which includes a provision that would strip collective bargaining for public employees. The Senate is expected to take up the matter today.
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