2016 Community Report | Page 13

Referendum Updates $8.5 million each year for 15 years About $3.5 million per year of referendum funds are used to pay down the debt the District incurred while building two brand new schools; Knapp and Olympia Brown Elementary School and adding a major addition to Gifford School making it a K-8. All three schools were completed on time and under budget. Olympia Brown Elementary Knapp Community Elementary During the referendum campaign, RUSD committed to adding funds to our own maintenance budget so that when the 15-year referendum ends, we have enough funds built into our budget to keep our facilities wellmaintained. From 2014-2016 we have increased from $600,000 to $1.2 million. Our plan is to continue to add $300,000 more each year. Horlick High School track Gilmore 1:1 New doors at Mitchell School RITE Grant The Technology Advisory Council includes members from the community as well as District staff. In Jan. 2016, the Board of Education approved the purchase of more Chromebooks to implement a 1:1 technology program at Gilmore Middle School. This fall, the Racine Innovative Technology Educators (RITE) grant gives teachers the opportunity to submit a proposal for how they will utilize technology to support student learning in the classroom.