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RUSD board votes 6-1 to keep 'Red Apple' name for relocated school
Summary
After public comments and a facility-committee recommendation, the Racine Unified School District Board voted 6–1 to retain the Red Apple name for the school relocating to Center Street; the committee had recommended retention by 3–1.
The Racine Unified School District Board of Education voted 6–1 Monday to retain the name Red Apple for the elementary school that will relocate to Center Street.
The decision followed public comment from school alumni and community members and a recommendation from the district facility renaming committee, which voted 3–1 to keep the Red Apple name rather than rename the school for astronaut Laurel Clark.
Board Member Michael O'Connell, speaking as the committee's presenter, said the committee was impressed by the "history and the accomplishments of Red Apple" and by past district practice of preserving program names when a program moves buildings. "The rationale was ... we were concerned about it losing its brand, its reputation," O'Connell said. The committee recommendation, he added, was not unanimous: it passed 3–1.
Community speakers urged the board to preserve the Red Apple name. Jeff Cole, who identified himself as a longtime community member, told the board that Red Apple represents "a torch that's been passed down for nearly 5 decades" and urged the board not to change the school's identity during transition to a new building. Carolyn "Bongo" Baninski, a former Red Apple school social worker of 22 years, also asked the board to keep the name, describing Red Apple's place in community memory.
Board Member Coe cast the lone no vote. Coe said he had originally proposed the idea of recognizing Laurel Clark and argued for ways to honor Clark's service and ties to the community; he said he had suggested hyphenating names or creating in-building program recognitions to preserve both histories.
Board Member Barbian moved to accept the facility committee's recommendation; Bellagio seconded the motion. The roll call showed six yes votes and one no vote. After the vote, board leaders said they will pursue options to incorporate aspects of Laurel Clark's legacy into the building without changing the Red Apple name, and the superintendent will bring proposals to the February work session.
The vote came after the board amended the meeting agenda earlier to move the Red Apple item to the top; that procedural motion passed unanimously with seven members present at the time the amendment passed.
The board's action preserves the Red Apple name as the school prepares to move to Center Street; the board also asked administration to explore ways to honor Laurel Clark inside the building or through programs.
