Racine Unified's Dr. Shaw Told State Lawmakers that School Choice is Bad for the District

Racine Unified Superintendent Dr. Jim Shaw took part in a press conference this afternoon, June 13, in the Assembly Parlor at the State Capitol building. He was there to urge state lawmakers to remove school choice for Racine from the state budget.

Shaw said the press conference was organized because over the weekend, he'd been told that some state legislators thought Racine Unified officials might support school choice. After talking with School Board President Bill Van Atta, Shaw said they decided to let lawmakers and the Racine Unified community know in no uncertain terms their opposition to vouchers.

"We needed to send a very clear message about where we stand with vouchers," he said by telephone as he drove back to Racine from Madison. "What residents need to understand is that vouchers mean greater defunding for public schools."

Further, he said, by funding school choice, lawmakers are turning away and giving up on public schools as a tool to educate children.

"At the beginning of the budget situation, we faced a $25 million hole and made the decision to eliminate 125 positions," he said. "Taking more money away from Racine Unified means that we may have to eliminate 118 teaching positions and that means larger classes, less attention, and fewer services."

Specifically, Shaw pointed to Knapp Elementary, which has a 70 percent poverty rate. Classes there are expected to balloon to 28 children.

"Racine already has fewer resources than other communities so to take $2 million away in order to fund the first two years of school choice just means things will get worse," he said. "Vouchers take money from the districts with the poorest students to fund private education."

Moreover, Shaw said people need to really understand the financial impact of school vouchers. It will cost $2 million for the first two years, but when the cap comes off for the 2013-2014 school year and there is no limit to the number of students who can apply and receive vouchers, property taxes could go up by $10 million to pay for it all.

"We have an obligation and a responsibility to serve kids through public education," Shaw continued. "The financial impact of vouchers will be significant for both the district and the taxpayers."

Van Atta, Representatives Cory Mason and Bob Turner, and NAACP officers Gloria Rogers and Beverly Hicks joined Shaw in Madison today. 

Represenatative Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said that with the widespread support in the Racine Unified community, school choice will remain part of the state budget.