Citizens press board on vouchers, recertification and clearer board‑member info on district website

Two speakers used the Oct. 20 public comment period to ask the Racine Unified School District Board of Education to pursue legislative action on vouchers and to make board-member information more accessible to the public.

The comments matter because they represent organized community requests about state voucher rules and local transparency that affect citizens' ability to contact elected board members.

Christian De Jong said a January petition of more than 600 signatures asked the legislative committee and the board to seek repeal of a local policy allowing government funds to be used for private-school vouchers; he said the item was briefly discussed in June then tabled and asked the board to return the issue to the legislative committee or to support Wisconsin Assembly Bill 496 to require annual income recertification for voucher eligibility.

Becky Spica, speaking for Racine. We Are (a nonpartisan civic engagement group), said volunteers who helped with Family Empowerment Day found it difficult for residents outside city limits to find correct board-member contact information on the district's recommended MyVote link and that the district's school board web pages are confusing. Spica urged the district to post each board member's photo, contact information and assigned schools at physical school sites and to add an illustrated board-district map and school lists on the district website; she offered the group's assistance and asked for a response within 60 days.

Board members did not take immediate legislative action during the meeting; those requests will need follow-up by the board or staff outside the public meeting process.