[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6235524,"mediaKeyId","3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51","parentId",3397239,"title","Board meeting opens with music, state competition winners and a high‑school robotics demonstration","audioSeconds",1342,"startMs",691905,"endMs",2034125,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51&start=691&end=2034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51/thumbnail_691905.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235524/Wisconsin/Board-meeting-opens-with-music-state-competition-winners-and-a-highschool-robotics-demonstration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235524-6e8a6ff1161f8a0c67719cf08f53d6e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770939754&Signature=hIYFITLJpRkMsVl0xgkroWb5RiPN7qbRPfTHJ0hekUgNODsM9DPSROjEmsdz~yDNQsyC9Ee6msKG75kwnpihBPrmRUWdCKv6P~3I-2MFKHWeGbHMuGWh~tLfpF71hOwYlMyDm6bB7D7zz9UuTI5sUL1kdfVz~CSBGSfCbhm-2hGNdZ5LQENafSV3cAKLSDAR5OLgLrBxwXxYyqOXwhUTypC5wxNlMTch8mnXyzR5ZSB8YgU3vitAjX9AMQexbDG08lqG-Jr65ID97RVg4TIBZT5re2T-zGpKIZ8Ge4haPDbCQ-sPARBh7NiNBx4miPjEnUTmR4M0Aw-kEbAAt1Caog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Racine Unified School District, WI","date","2025-05-20T09:20:02.547Z","article","The Racine Unified School District board began its May 19 business meeting with recognitions and student demonstrations, including multiple Gilmore Fine Arts ensembles that won gold at the World Strides Heritage Festival, student winners from SkillsUSA and HOSA state competitions, and a robotics demonstration by high‑school teams.

District staff invited musicians from Gilmore Fine Arts to perform and recognized five Gilmore ensembles that earned gold in New Orleans and were invited to participate in a Festival of Gold in New York. Staff named individual awardees, including Bella Kyra, who received a maestro award, and Alyanna Fournier, a fourth‑grader from Wadewitz Elementary who earned a Creative Power Award from Arts for All Wisconsin.

The board also honored multiple SkillsUSA competitors from district high schools (Case, Horlick, Gifford, Mitchell, Porter Lake, Park) who placed at state competitions and in some cases qualified for national or international competition. HOSA state winners were likewise recognized; the board named Ella Bridal (Walden) for a third‑place finish that qualified her for international competition.

Superintendent Soren Gajewski introduced local high‑school robotics teams from Case and Real School (team members Steve Kennedy, Wyatt Sadowski and Emily Struck) who displayed their robot “Dreadnought” and described winning the Imagery Award at the Wisconsin regional competition. Students from Walden (Mila Anderson and Zoey McKellen) also described their team’s judges award and invited the community to open‑house events where visitors could see or drive their robot.

Board members and the superintendent offered public praise for the students, and the recognitions portion of the meeting concluded before the meeting moved to business items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Business Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Racine Unified School District board opened its May 19 meeting by recognizing Gilmore Fine Arts ensembles and multiple statewide SkillsUSA and HOSA winners and by hearing short presentations and demonstrations from local robotics teams, including CASE’s team showing its robot Dreadnought.","taxTitle","Racine Unified School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",14859,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235531,"Frat and Knapp principals report literacy and writing gains; Knapp close to exiting CSI list pending Forward results",1180,2193944,3374230,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51&start=2193&end=3374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51/thumbnail_2193944.jpg","/articles/6235531/Wisconsin/Frat-and-Knapp-principals-report-literacy-and-writing-gains-Knapp-close-to-exiting-CSI-list-pending-Forward-results","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235531-19c0d0e08601200849874fb5ad4bbe2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770939754&Signature=eyjfDOQOFwvS76apo4nrOUUfo5qt~GhWvBM0IXlBmm750TtZZwtMSMpNz0pOWG11MQ-1EUw88nNKRcW56vaN1qGAgrIgXDBDaK0-B1egjRkY1hUVkxsL45KtoeyW0tVNbZ1BufLhCb8Cdgwm-Dj7B94WDDW8TkxZ32qV9NkCgaT3-cBhgsX9PagbkDO5VEScaEzzCHJop9R2xlyY48jZwOuamtwSUehSIeIkywoFwHXql6zojTnzaN1NOGSCELBpEmt0oKb15lnJgP3E5RXgCYrHAuy532kYrEbUeUXTAgbjH59AF3LJt84iyKK-1mJrfdASF6M4Hd9NpefvZappyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Administrators from Frat and Knapp elementary schools reported to the Racine Unified School District board on May 19 that writing and literacy initiatives implemented this year produced measurable gains and that one school is poised to exit Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) list pending final Forward Exam results.

At Frat, presenters said the school’s attendance goal for the year was 95 percent but the campus ended at 90 percent. Frat staff described a goal to increase ELA performance for students with disabilities by 20 percent on the Forward Exam and said 21 percent of students performed at or above proficient on ELA this year compared with a 24 percent target. Frat administrators described implementing Think SRSD, a structured writing framework, during the year and said special-education teachers were trained this year to use UFLI (referred to in the meeting as a University of Florida program) during SDI time. A staff example given in the presentation noted a student’s reading level moving from 0.6 to 1.6 on the school’s progress measure after targeted intervention.

Frat presenters said the school will continue monthly PLCs (professional learning communities) with an emphasis on writing and monthly data meetings that include special-education teachers. Board members praised the work; one board member who teaches at the high-school level said the elementary efforts should better prepare students for secondary writing expectations.

At Knapp Elementary, Principal Rich Bytonic and Assistant Principal Melissa Dimashki reported a rise in early-literacy proficiency to 51 percent this year (the school’s goal had been 55 percent) and set a 65 percent proficiency goal for the upcoming year under a revised measurement approach. Knapp reported a small number of students contributing a disproportionate share of office referrals (six students currently accounting for roughly 26 percent of referrals) and described supports including a full-time social worker, a school-based mental health clinician (reported as full), a part-time counselor, and coordinated student-collaborative meetings that use the district’s ICS equity framework and trauma-informed practices.

Bytonic told the board Knapp has met two of the three state CSI criteria related to academic growth and PLC functioning; the school must meet the same indicators on the most recent Forward Exam to complete the exit. The administration said Forward Exam results were expected within a week or two of the May 19 meeting.

Both schools said staff stability, collaborative PLC work and targeted literacy interventions were driving improvements. Knapp noted a long-term mobility challenge: a prior study showed roughly 40 percent turnover of the student population every two years in the school’s neighborhood, a factor staff said complicates continuous growth.

Board members asked clarifying questions about UFLI, the role of special-education teachers in PLCs, and how intensive supports are being targeted to a small set of students who generate most office referrals; school representatives described data-driven interventions and increased coordination of services as the district’s approach.","Leaders from Frat and Knapp elementary schools told the board May 19 that a district rollout of the Think SRSD writing framework and the UFLI literacy intervention produced measurable student growth, and Knapp reported meeting two of three state CSI criteria and expects Forward Exam results to confirm exit.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235536,"Board approves Aramark extension with 3% meal-rate increase and ratifies staff wage deals",223,2789210,3012815,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51&start=2789&end=3012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51/thumbnail_2789210.jpg","/articles/6235536/Wisconsin/Board-approves-Aramark-extension-with-3-meal-rate-increase-and-ratifies-staff-wage-deals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235536-58d220c02b560084268ad60980481252/orig.mp4?Expires=1770939754&Signature=WC1zHBaR~2xGZja6UW5cuqZS~fN2JS9DaTaiAMfmcHyAa79OjEiCzmbmicDJCsrGmJhB-R-YSBIBHsDiHnDpHqZgu9QwVZZu-HJXvN48hPK1O88peNbjDRrl~bS0DFHtApDaFjKK~R~xS44cxx59LIRPH2AL4t5aXlUlvXPnvbIUozQaabkXfpwVSh9EEK~vClz~TSgviR9JP6rS5Otv529AA0ye9bOJAk8PEcjpbroEiKK4sMgF7IflC~pQ7pLJaYxiZh7YgY76ca8es3ZzlaIh1-1E6UbFW0942UQEMPu4udwdUn5dQDhSZ3xgEQnHwg0kytgsphUV1L6buPEYHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Racine Unified School District Board of Education on May 19 approved multiple contract and compensation items, including a one‑year extension with Aramark for food services that includes a 3% meal-rate increase, and ratified collective bargaining tentative agreements that raise base wages for teachers and building service employees.

Administration described the Aramark item as a second one‑year renewal of the district’s food-service management contract; the packet and on-record slide noted a 3% increase to breakfast, lunch and dinner meal rates “as aligned to the USDA regulations.” The board approved the Aramark contract renewal by recorded vote: seven yes, one no. The record shows Mister O'Connell moved the Aramark motion and Miss Doxey seconded; Mister Coe recorded a no vote.

Separately, the board approved supplemental salary actions for FY 2026 related to rung/step advancements and to level changes/credit attainment for eligible employees. Those supplemental-pay items were approved by the board (recorded votes on the supplemental pay motions were unanimous, 8-0). Administration said it will bring updated salary schedules next month to reflect these changes.

The district also reported it reached and received ratification for tentative agreements covering teachers and building service employees for the 2025–26 year. The teachers’ tentative agreement includes a 2.95% increase to base wages; Racine Educators United confirmed ratification by its membership, and the board voted to ratify the agreement (7 yes, 1 no on the board record). The board also ratified the building-service employees’ tentative agreement, which includes a 2.95% base-wage increase for that bargaining unit (board vote recorded as 7 yes, 1 no). In the votes where there was a single no, Mister Bellagio was the board member recorded voting no for one of the ratifications and Mister Coe recorded a no on at least one other item; the meeting record shows the board’s roll-call responses for each motion.

Board members and district staff emphasized that these actions reflect previously discussed budget priorities and that administration will present salary schedules and implementation details in the next month. The Aramark renewal and wage-ratification votes were taken after prior discussion at the May 5 work session and public materials were attached to the meeting packet.","At its May 19 meeting the Racine Unified School District board approved a one‑year extension for Aramark food services, including a 3% increase to meal rates, and ratified tentative agreements and supplemental salary actions that raise base wages for teachers and building service employees.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235540,"Racine board approves $6.601 million early bid package for Goodland Montessori construction",90,2686470,2776995,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51&start=2686&end=2776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397239-c16cefbc761c60112e02c98c18f7bb51/thumbnail_2686470.jpg","/articles/6235540/Wisconsin/Racine-board-approves-6601-million-early-bid-package-for-Goodland-Montessori-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235540-3365be12dfa01ac4387f7985bd3e839b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770939754&Signature=DTBW4rMAPh8Jlf32ljtgbbB6w6OEBqSJQJ54C6rrS4-5quYm-Mi7Zc9IrUgORErEEsS5BrJAC6LT0291tXsOeyNCTV~OADyvTvcyUwqW2C0UvDxyMU8KsLlIl62tIFRPxipxbHRGwPN-4RlCOgcI6hwl0rv9dplJfw7K6-hv9Tz-MfWCN-3GxS3fhfKYp0x5dwU~c-7m-ySu2989AhcEma5iEJSya9ldcbVaM6siqz71A7rAlIwU1Gd0WUmwrMOgH6lssnPknGyJiQ0Wn4FmMytu-UXqa8KQEcKl5o78NEh0Fszgtz57WvhJ1eLLULpVG7huLUOh8-y36~3TVXaI2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Racine Unified School District Board of Education approved an early bid package for construction at Goodland Montessori totaling $6,601,305 at its May 19, 2025 business meeting.

Administration presented the recommendation and the board voted 8-0 to approve the early bid package. The motion to approve was made from the board dais and then seconded; the vote was recorded as eight yes votes and no dissent.

District staff presented the early-bid package as an item discussed previously at the May work session. No additional conditions or contingencies were stated on the public record at the time of the vote. Superintendent Soren Gajewski earlier in the meeting referenced recent district groundbreakings, placing the Goodland work in the context of ongoing facility projects.

Board members who voted in favor were Missus Allen; Missus Barbian; Mister Bellagio; Mister Coe; Missus Doxey; Mister O'Connell; Miss Velar; and Miss Walker Cleveland. The motion as read on the record was: “Move to approve the early bid package for construction at Goodland Montessori in the amount of $6,601,305.”

No staff or public speakers on the record opposed the package during the business meeting. The administration did not present a separate ordinance, funding resolution, or amended budget language on the record when the board took the vote; the slide attached to the meeting materials displayed the proposed total.

The board moved on to subsequent business after the vote; no implementation timeline or contractor names were announced on the record at the meeting.","The Racine Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously May 19 to approve a $6,601,305 early bid package for construction work at Goodland Montessori, the district said during its business meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board meeting opens with music, state competition winners and a high‑school robotics demonstration

Frat and Knapp principals report literacy and writing gains; Knapp close to exiting CSI list pending Forward results

Board approves Aramark extension with 3% meal-rate increase and ratifies staff wage deals

Racine board approves $6.601 million early bid package for Goodland Montessori construction