The Racine Way

This past week, Racine Unified staff studied successful schools from across the country. They used data to study the problems of Racine and begin school plans to improve learning for all students and track the improvement over time. While we know that other schools and communities in our nation have successfully closed achievement gaps, we also know that Racine is a different community. We can learn from others, but in the end we must improve schools in Racine in a way that addresses the unique features and needs of our community. I summarize the “Racine Way” with five major characteristics.

The first unique feature of the Racine Unified School District is the North Star. The North Star is a vision of improvement and a track for student progress from kindergarten through career and college readiness. This vision is unique to Racine because it was developed by all employee groups and involved parents and students as well. The North Star is independent of the Superintendent because it was developed in a time of transition over the past three years. The North Star belongs to the Racine community.

In Racine, employees repeat the mantra “All Means All”. Racine employees are convinced that every employee, every employee group, and every type of employee must make a contribution to improvement of the school district if we are to achieve the North Star. I know of no other community where all employee groups are involved in planning to improve learning for all students.

Diversity in Racine is unique. The Racine community involves every segment of American society. We are fortunate to have rich and poor children, black, white, and Latino children, special education children, and children from culturally varied backgrounds that speak over twenty languages. In Racine, the public schools serve all the children of all the people.

I have observed a unique relationship between the Racine community and the public schools. Some times it is a love-hate relationship. Clearly the community loves the public schools and wants the public schools to be successful. The community supported a recent referendum and parents send more than 21,000 children to our schools. The community gives us their most precious asset. But the community is clearly dissatisfied with education in Racine. They want improvement and they want it quickly.

Finally, Racine enjoys a unique personality trait. Racine has experienced strikes, repeated budget reductions, dramatic achievement gaps, and increased poverty. Racine was once known as a model school district and is now viewed as a district in need of significant improvement. But the teachers, the staff, the students, and the community never give up on public education. Racine believes in public education and the North Star is the first step in improving public schools for all the children of Racine.
*Have a comment or wish to contact the Superintendent regarding this post? Directly email Dr. Shaw at: suptblog.comments@racine.k12.wi.us.

The Superintendent or district staff will try to respond to each e-mail received, so it is important that a valid name and e-mail address are associated with comments to ensure response.

Money Matters

Last Monday, the Racine Unified School District approved an operating budget of $267,005,722 for the 2009-2010 school year. The District’s spending per pupil and revenue per pupil is significantly below the state average, yet the poverty of our children and their educational needs far exceed the state average. We are a high needs, low spending district. The challenge of educating all children to succeed with less than average resources is significant yet this budget is a well-organized attempt to meet that challenge.

The nation, the State of Wisconsin, and many school districts are in financial crisis. Some districts have reduced the number of teachers and other staff. Some have eliminated educational programs. The Racine Unified School District is not in a financial crisis. Instead, the School Board, the Racine Unified staff, and the community have collaborated to reduce the costs of bussing, utilities, facilities usage, and borrowing. There was a reduction in workforce in Racine because the district has declined in enrollment by 500 children, but the ratio of teachers to children remains constant. While these reductions were necessary, they were painful for staff members who were reassigned to other duties. The inconvenience of straight-line and three-tier bussing impacts the entire community. Refinancing debt reduces the tax burden. The entire community deserves a thank you for accepting inconveniences and financially supporting education in Racine.

Because the school district adopted a tough budget, any additional revenue outside of the regular budget process will be used for educational improvements. The district has been aggressive in pursuing additional resources. Local legislators and government leaders have worked diligently to secure more funds for the Racine Unified School District. Over the next two years, the district will receive $10.3 million in federal stimulus funds, $2.1 million for technology from the Microsoft settlement, $1.2 million in additional poverty aid, and approximately $500,000 in competitive grants that will fund a variety of educational programs throughout the district. All of these new revenues represent an unprecedented opportunity for the Racine Unified School District to make educational improvements in a time of financial crisis.

Because I am relatively new to the Racine Unified School District, I can’t brag about my contributions to the budget process. But I can acknowledge the hard work of the Racine Unified School Board and the Chief Financial Officer David Hazen and his staff for long-range financial planning that began two years ago. I can acknowledge the sacrifice of employees, community members, and taxpayers in making this budget work. I believe, as a relative newcomer, that the district faces huge financial challenges from old and poor school facilities with no handicap access to large class sizes and old technology. As a former business manager, I can also observe that for the 2009-10 school year, the Racine Unified School District is as well managed as any in the state. Our children have a better chance of success because of this budget.

*Have a comment or wish to contact the Superintendent regarding this post? Directly email Dr. Shaw at: suptblog.comments@racine.k12.wi.us.

The Superintendent or district staff will try to respond to each e-mail received, so it is important that a valid name and e-mail address are associated with comments to ensure response.

Thanks for the Memories

It was a good week to be Superintendent of the Racine Unified School District. The Racine community is proud of its public schools and its children. Sometimes that pride is expressed in compliments to the Superintendent. The Superintendent cannot take credit for the wonderful prom that occurred last weekend. Yet, I received compliments about the prom from Police Chief Kurt Wahlen, school board members, parents, and from Rotarians.

The prom is truly the work of the entire community. The Rotarians deserve a compliment from the entire community for their tireless work and generous financial support for the prom. The Racine Police Department and Chief Wahlen deserve a compliment for their work in supporting the principals, staff and students of our high schools. Our principals deserve compliments for developing consistent policies and plans for a successful prom. Parents and students should be complimented for their tremendous support of this wonderful Racine tradition. Finally, we are truly proud of our well-mannered students who elegantly represented the Racine Unified School District.

I have been told by parents, students and community leaders that this prom was the best ever. Because this is my first prom, I will remember it as one of the best events of the school year. Thanks to the community for the memories.

*Have a comment or wish to contact the Superintendent regarding this post? Directly email Dr. Shaw at: suptblog.comments@racine.k12.wi.us.

The Superintendent or district staff will try to respond to each e-mail received, so it is important that a valid name and e-mail address are associated with comments to ensure response.

Eternally Grateful

Research has consistently identified quality teaching as the most important factor in improving student learning. Research has also affirmed the importance of teachers as role models and career counselors. Common sense affirms the research. Every successful person and probably every person reading this blog can thank a teacher who believed in them as learners, demanded high achievement, and encouraged them in a career. In my case, it was the demanding Sister Adrian who insisted that I perform at higher levels or experience the dreaded home visit, including a family discussion that was less that an hour but seemed like a week. The formula for successful teachers is eternal. Love your students as persons and expect the very best performance.

In the classic sociological study, Schoolteacher, author Dan Lortie asserts that the primary reason people chose to become teachers is “to make a difference.” Most of us know a teacher who made us a different person. Teacher Appreciation Week is a good time to remind ourselves about the importance of quality teaching in our own lives and in improving education in the Racine Unified School District. As Superintendent it is also a good time to say thank you to all the teachers who try every day to make a difference in the lives of children. Supporting our teachers is the way to improve achievement for all students and move toward the “North Star” goal of making every child college or career ready. Henry B. Adams said that “a teacher affects eternity” and all of us are eternally grateful to teachers.

*Have a comment or wish to contact the Superintendent regarding this post? Directly email Dr. Shaw at: suptblog.comments@racine.k12.wi.us.

The Superintendent or district staff will try to respond to each e-mail received, so it is important that a valid name and e-mail address are associated with comments to ensure response.

School Safety is a Community Concern

Last week I toured Roosevelt, North Park and Janes Year-Round Elementary Schools with Mr. Chuck Saylors, National President-Elect of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). While I was proud to show off the accomplishments of our children and staff, I was also reminded as I confronted locked doors and restricted access to schools of the safety concerns that impact all our schools. Racine schools are safe schools. But after the tragedy of Columbine some ten years ago, schools and parents everywhere are concerned about school safety. In Racine, the concern for safety emerges as a concern in almost every discussion about priorities to improve our schools.

School safety is a top priority in the school budget for next year and the use of stimulus funds. We need improvements in equipment and facilities to improve school safety. We need school staff to monitor our halls, to supervise student activities and to develop emergency plans. We need programs like bullying prevention and “expect respect” in each school to improve the sense of safety and security for all children. We need each staff person to assume responsibility for improving school safety. We enjoy and need cooperation with the police departments serving Racine Unified to provide a coordinated approach to prevent crime and improve safety in our schools. We need a method to assess the safety of our schools and monitor progress in improving safety over time.

In the next year a three part school safety plan will be developed to include assessment, prevention programs, emergency plans, and strategies to improve safety throughout the district. The plan will be developed by a school safety committee that consists of citizens, staff and students. School safety, like school improvement, requires community involvement and community support.

*Have a comment or wish to contact the Superintendent regarding this post? Directly email Dr. Shaw at: suptblog.comments@racine.k12.wi.us.

The Superintendent or district staff will try to respond to each e-mail received, so it is important that a valid name and e-mail address are associated with comments to ensure response.