Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Bryan Albrecht, president of Gateway Technical College, writes that a high-tech public safety training center benefits everyone, from first responders for preparedness to the residents who might one day need them.
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Wednesday, February 27
Public safety is important for society. It’s as basic of a service a government can provide its residents. Yet, the demands society places on law enforcement professionals for more sophisticated training grows. Successful public safety begins with the training law enforcement and correctional officers receive as they enter their career, and continues to build in quality through the professional development they receive throughout their career. The number of trained professionals who protect us is amazing. Gateway plays a role in this through its law enforcement academy and its law enforcement degree program graduates. Agencies in the Gateway district seek these graduates as qualified applicants for an increasing number of open positions – …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Two states now permit recreational use, following referendums in Tuesday's election.
Wisconsin voters had little to consider on Tuesday outside of state and national races for office, but in many other states citizens were asked to consider marijuana-related ballot measures. Colorado and Washington approved recreational marijuana use, becoming the first states to do so. Oregon defeated a similar measure. Massachusetts, meanwhile, became the 18th state to approve the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Arkansas voters said no thanks, while Montana voters supported a measure placing strong restrictions on an earlier medicinal marijuana law. The Badger State appears to be a long way from any kind of a vote on either type of use. Two Democratic legislators could not even get a hearing on a medicinal marijuana measure in …
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
If not $80 million, how much?
Racine Unified School District Board President Bill Van Atta doesn’t want to give up on a school improvement referendum. But, he also wants to know what local residents want from their school district in the wake of the resounding defeat of three school improvement referendum questions in early April. Racine area voters gave only about 37 percent support to referendum questions that would have brought smaller kindergarten and first grade classes to several elementary schools, paid for existing and additional staff and continued to support the district’s general fund balance. Reading from a “thought and discussion starter” outline, Van Atta suggested convening focus groups from various constituencies, such as business operators, politicians…
Monday, April 25, 2011
At least two members want to be board president.
At least two Racine Unified School District Board of Education members will be seeking the board president post when the group holds its annual reorganization meeting at 4:30 pm tonight, April 25 at the Administrative Service Center, 2220 Northwestern Ave. Bill Van Atta, who has served as School Board president the past two years, plans to seek another one-year term. “I would be interested in continuing. But, somebody else may want to step up as well,” he said. Dennis Wiser, who was re-elected to a second term on April 5, says he plans to toss his hat in the ring “to see how many Board members are unhappy with the way things are.” Wiser has split with the majority of the School Board during the past year on major issues, including placing …
Friday, April 8, 2011
Paul Holley talks about the impact of not receiving the referendum dollars on the Racine Unified School District's budget.
“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” – Bette Davis (“All About Eve”, 1950) This past Tuesday was the first of what could be many bumpy nights for the Racine Unified School District Board of Education. It really wasn’t a surprise that voters turned thumbs-down on school referendum questions with an accompanying $128.5 million spending increase. Supporters contended that the plan would have brought smaller class sizes to some of the district’s kindergarten and first grade sections, replaced or remodeled some outdated school buildings and set the stage for future rounds of school improvements. But, that couldn’t overcome the sticker shock. Voters also re-elected three incumbents (Pamala Handrow, Pastor Melvin Hargrove and …
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Board members seek deeper discussion with the public about what losing the referendum means to the school district.
The fate of the three Racine Unified School District referendum questions was sealed as the first votes were tallied Tuesday evening when the wards in the city and the Village of Sturtevant indicated a solid “no.” As the final votes were tallied about three hours later, more than 60 percent of RUSD voters gave a thumbs down to the referendum. The defeat means that RUSD officials must plug a $7.5 million hole in the upcoming 2011-12 budget, deal with a lengthy backlog of building repairs and continue to support an ambitious plan to improve overall student achievement by 2016. District voters turned down an $83.5 million bond issue to construct five new school and remodel five other buildings; a seven-year, $35 million spending increase to …
But the District's purse strings are tied.
Racine Unified School District voters returned three School Board members and resoundingly rejected $128.5 million in referendum spending Tuesday. Pastor Melvin Hargrove, Dennis Wiser and Pamala Handrow were all re-elected to three-year terms on the School Board. They outpolled challengers Patrick Flynn and Roger Pfost. All three school board referendum questions were rejected by wide margins. District officials had hoped that voters would approve referendum questions, which would have created smaller class sizes in 10 elementary schools and paid for staff and programming. The unofficial referendum outcomes were: The defeat of the three referendum questions means that RUSD administrators will have to overcome a $7.5 million deficit in the …
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant citizens can head to the polls from 7 am to 8 pm.
In many cases, where residents live in Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant determines where they cast their vote. The April 5 election includes a number of races including those for President and Trustee as well as for state Supreme Court justice, county executive, school board and three Racine Unified School District referendum questions. Both Caledonia and Mount Pleasant also feature write-in candidates. Caledonia: Wards 1, 2 & 3 - St. Louis Church, 13207 Highway G Wards 1, 2 & 3 - Gifford School, 8332 Northwestern Avenue Wards 7, 8 ,9 & 19 - St. Andrew Church, 1015 - 4 Mile Road Wards 10, 11, 12, 16 & 17 - East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Avenue Wards 13, 14 & 15 - Prince of Peace, 4360 6 Mile Road Wards 5, 6 & 18 - Holy …
This is the 14th referendum put to voters.
Voters in the Racine Unified School District are 9-4 on approval of referendum questions since 2000. Here’s a recap: On April 5, RUSD voters will be asked to approve an $83.5 million bond issue to construct five schools and remodel five others; increase spending by $35 million over seven years to fund program operations that would include hiring additional teachers for smaller class sizes, and to increase spending by $1 million annually for 10 years to improve cash flow and provide a continued favorable bond rating.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
While buildings do need improvement, reducing class size is more important, but the chance that voters will pass the referendum could be slim.
The election on Tues., April 5 could be key to whether or not Racine Unified can start working to close the achievement gap amongst its younger students, according to principals at two schools. Ken Black, a sub-school principal at J.I. Case High School, and Christopher Thompson, principal at West Ridge Elementary School, both feel that approving the funding for additional teachers and smaller class sizes is the most important referendum question facing residents. "It doesn't really matter where you teach," Black said. "Class size reductions are the key." Not only do smaller class sizes improve the relationships teachers have with students overall, fewer students means teachers have more time to review difficult material and schedule a …
Sarah
12:20 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I personally believe that if you are allowed to drink alcohol in your own home, you should be able to use marijuana. I also think that marijuana could help people with medical issues, and it could help our economy. more ›