July 12, 2022 5:00p
(WGTD)---Discontent is brewing among some Racine School Board members over the pace of the implementation of Racine Unified’s facilities master plan.
Two years ago, voters—by a five-vote margin—approved exceeding state levy limits in order to fund a nearly billion-dollar, 30-year building plan aimed at downsizing and modernizing school buildings.
The plan then got hung up in a state Supreme Court challenge—which the district eventually won—and the departure of a key architect of the plan, Chief Operating Officer Shannon Gordon. Gordon left to become the Chief Operating Officer for the Tennessee Department of Education.
After a planning break due to the pendency of the court decision, work on refining the master plan resumed in earnest following the April decision. But supply chain problems and inflation are causing additional problems.
All of these factors mean that ground won't be broken on major construction projects until next summer. That has infuriated at least two board members, Jane Barbian and Ally Docksey.
"All I've heard from the superintendent either in board meetings or with my one on one conversations with him is 'we're working on it, '" Barbian said at a Monday night board meeting. "What's the delay? Let make some decisions and get going."
To complicate matters, RUSD Superintendent Eric Gallien wasn’t at the meeting—he’s out on a long-term sick leave.
Board members are expected to learn more about revisions to the district’s master plan at a retreat in August.
In a statement, district spokesperson Stacy Tapp defended the delays. "After the April state Supreme Court decision, we immediately resumed planning and design work and will present plans to the Board as soon as possible," she said. "As we committed to when we developed the plan, we will make smart, data-based decisions that reflect the current demographics which have vastly changed since April 2020."
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