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Racine Unified board advances new contractor-selection language to consent agenda
Summary
The board reviewed language requiring the superintendent to present, before selecting contractors on construction or renovation projects over $1 million, an evaluation of bids showing community benefit, environmental responsibility and workforce equity; the change will move to the consent agenda and to the governance committee in May.
The Racine Unified School Board reviewed proposed language that would require the superintendent to present, before selecting a successful bid on construction or renovation projects that exceed $1 million, an evaluation explaining how each contractor’s proposal reflects the district’s commitment to community benefit, environmental responsibility and workforce equity.
The draft language — prepared by board member Miss Walker Cleveland and read aloud by the chair during the April 13 work session — would require that "the superintendent shall for all construction and renovation projects in excess of $1 million present to the board prior to the selection of the successful bid proposal . . . an evaluation of each bid that addresses how the contractor's proposal reflects the district's commitment to community benefit, environmental responsibility and workforce equity. This evaluation shall be presented in a consistent format using criteria established in administrative procedures." The board indicated the bulleted A–H items previously used would be removed and folded into that summary statement.
Board members had no substantive objections in the work session and the chair said the item will be moved to the board consent agenda and referred to the governance committee in May for further review and administrative-procedure alignment. No formal vote occurred at the work session; the chair said the policy change will appear on the April business meeting consent agenda for consideration.
Supporters of the language said the change is intended to make the district's priorities — including workforce equity and community benefit — more explicit in procurement decisions for large capital projects. The board’s next procedural step is governance-committee review followed by placement on the business meeting agenda.
If approved at a later meeting, the change would require district staff to present contractor-evaluation materials in a consistent format prior to final contractor selection for covered projects. The work session did not provide draft administrative procedures; the governance committee will consider criteria and the presentation format in May.
