On behalf of the Racine Education Association, I thank the NAACP and Voces de La Frontera for the opportunity to speak.  We give recognition today to an accomplishment that is the fruit of fair and reasonable bargaining between the RUSD and teacher’s union.

Dozens of elected teacher leaders communicate with Racine’s teachers to frame our interests in negotiations.  On their behalf I’m happy to say we’re very pleased the parties came to consensus on reworking the school year calendar to accommodate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

In building consensus with District management on this school calendar change, the REA acted in a manner consistent with social justice ideas and consistent with Dr. King’s contributions to this nation.  We look forward to the opportunity to help organize future King holiday events that are educational for all members of our community.