Kim Plache

1) Last year, the School Board was divided for months on the district’s employee handbook. What role should administrators, unions and the board have in future handbook changes?

Administrators, with input from both union and non-union employees, should bring proposed employee handbook changes to the board where all district stakeholders have an opportunity to voice their opinions. All proposed changes should be evaluated in terms of how how they will advance our goals of closing achievement gaps, raising academic achievement for all students and graduating every student to be ready for college or a career. The current board policy (Section 13 of the employee handbook) is at best unworkable and at worst illegal. The board needs to ensure all policies are unquestionably legal and meet the needs of employees, union and non-union, and all district stakeholders.

2) The district recently entered into a tentative agreement to buy the Sturtevant Sportsplex for $5.2 million, and the district is studying how to use and pay for the complex before the board’s May 10 deadline to approve the deal. If you are elected, under what conditions would you support the district buying the Sportsplex?

A solid fiscal and academic plan is critical for any proposed acquisition. The purchase of the Sportsplex would be a major investment. The board must clearly understand the planned purpose of this acquisition, and evaluate any facility related costs and benefits relative to existing facilities, ongoing maintenance and community needs.

3) As the district implements block scheduling in high schools next year in preparation for new career academies, some have criticized the district for moving ahead on the change too fast, most notably employee unions. Should the district go ahead with block scheduling next year? Why or why not?

Block scheduling should move forward as planned. It is a key component to the career academy model. This is a significant shift in the way the teacher presents the material and does require professional development and on-going professional support to successfully make this change. The planning has been going on for more than a year, with input received from numerous teachers and professional staff. Paid professional development opportunities are being offered. If more professional development is needed then it should be offered. I find it very concerning that the union leadership chose not to accept repeated offers to become much more engaged in the early planning process, but we cannot allow the union leadership’s unwillingness to participate in the planning undermine our efforts on behalf of the students. We cannot delay the education of our kids for the career opportunities of today and tomorrow. This change is critical for the future of our kids and our community.

4) Over the last year, the villages of Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant have been weighing whether to fund a study of leaving the Racine Unified School District. Would you support these communities breaking away from Unified? Why or why not?

My goal is to continue recent efforts to engage more actively with our municipal counterparts and continue to learn from each other. It is clear that many individuals in Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant do not feel heard and they have a desire to better understand the work of RUSD as it relates to “their” kids. The duplication of operating costs, facilities, etc., in multiple school districts are likely to be prohibitive for taxpayers. As we do engage with these village leaders, they have had an opportunity to share concerns they have heard and to learn about recent changes in RUSD that are showing significant and exciting gains. Our school district and our communities will be stronger if we are united and working together.

5) If elected, what is the most pressing change you would push for the district to make?

If elected, I will continue to push for an administration and board-aligned 3, 5 and 10-year district plan, encompassing all district operations. This plan would not be stagnant, but would be adjusted as needed. Currently the administration has created a 3-year plan, but to me it is crucial that the board, representing all district constituencies, quickly address creation of a long-range plan in an open and transparent manner.

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Plache: I am running for re-election to the Racine Unified School District Board of Education to continue the early signs of progress RUSD is seeing towards closing the achievement gap between minority and white students, while continuing to offer a broad array of outstanding educational opportunities to all students of RUSD.

My background as a state legislator provides a unique perspective on the state of Wisconsin’s policies and politics related to K-12 education. My extensive network of community contacts is useful for collaborating and communicating between a wide range of individuals and the district, on behalf of the district.

The ability to raise achievement levels for our students is directly related to the long-term success of Racine and the surrounding communities, which has been a driving force for me throughout my professional life.^[11]

Plache: Raising the achievement levels of our lower-performing students, while continuing to offer a broad range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities, in a climate of reduced state and limited local aid.^[11]

Plache: RUSD offers academic and extracurricular opportunities for all levels of students; in an environment reflecting the rich ethnic and economic makeup of the community and the country. Dividing up the district would adversely affect RUSD’s ability to continue to do so; and could increase property taxes to support additional and duplicative administrative services.^[11]

Plache: The proposed cuts in the 2015-17 state budget are projected to reduce aid to the district by approximately $10 million. At the same time, the superintendent has identified investments designed to propel the district forward in raising achievement levels for our students, which would cost the district more than $6 million.

Because of state laws limiting school districts’ ability to raise taxes, these investments will need to be reconciled within our current budget. It is the responsibility of our superintendent to develop and maintain a multi-year financial plan that is related directly to the board’s number one priority to ensure “all students are prepared academically, for personal success in life, for their chosen careers, and to be positive, contributing members of the global community.”

It is the board’s role to deliberate and take action once the proposals are presented to the board. My focus in these deliberations will be on raising achievement and aligning our resources with this goal.^[11]

Plache: Yes, I did support the referendum because it was a unique opportunity to invest much-needed financial resources in our facilities, without raising property taxes.^[11]

Plache: By continuing and expanding programs that, where implemented, have begun to show significant improvement in the rate of achievement growth in minority test scores.^[11]

Plache: One need only read the A+ section in the Racine Journal Times to see countless examples of outstanding young people who are accomplishing amazing goals and to see that RUSD is succeeding in its charge to educate every student who is applying themselves towards receiving a great education.

Many of our students are dealing with the effects of poverty and high community unemployment, and are not coming to school prepared to learn. RUSD is not responsible for outside adverse circumstances, but we are responsible to meet every child where they are and assist them in reaching their potential.

Through the leadership of Dr. (Lolli) Haws and the incredibly hard work of hundreds and hundreds of educational professionals and community partners, we are beginning to see improvement. However, until we see significant improvement in achievement levels, throughout the district, we will be judged as failing to educate all local students.

We can do much better. We have the foundation in place. We have the leadership and talent in the district and community to make significant improvement.^[11]