For Caledonia to secede, it would need 8,258 signatures

By Brent Killackey

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 2:11 AM CDT

CALEDONIA - If Caledonia wanted to break away from the Racine Unified School District - a proposal that Village President Jonathan Delagrave recently said deserved consideration - a required petition drive would need to gather at least 8,258 signatures.

State law regarding the creation of new school districts requires signatures from 20 percent of the total number of electors in the school district to trigger the two-year process. The law also specifies that the percentage is based on the number of electors who voted for governor at the last general election in that area.

In 2002, 41,292 votes were cast for governor in the municipalities that fall within the Racine Unified School District, which includes the municipalities of Racine, Caledonia, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Elmwood Park, Wind Point and North Bay, according to information provided by Racine County Clerk Joan Rennert.

But given that a petition effort probably doesn't have enough time to meet a July 1 deadline this year, the required number of signatures will change. The state will hold a gubernatorial election in November, changing the numbers that factor into the 20-percent requirement.

A few additional details on creation of a new school

district: * If Caledonia became its own school district, it could anticipate a student population of 3,390. That's the current number of students in Racine Unified from Caledonia, according to numbers provided by the 21,200-student district. Students from Mount Pleasant number 2,870.

* A majority of the Racine Unified School Board would need to agree to the breakaway school district. Their action is required at a few points in the two-year process.

* State law specifies a two-year process for considering creation of a school district. Near the end, voters residing in the territory of the proposed new school district would have to a approve a referendum. Additionally, if prompted by another petition signed by 20 percent of electors, a districtwide referendum could be held simultaneously.

* Four current Unified buildings stand within Caledonia: Olympia Brown, Gifford and North Park elementary schools, and the currently unused Caddy Vista Elementary School.

* If the process moves along, the school district or a School District Boundary would become involved in determining the boundaries and division of assets and liabilities between the existing district and the proposed district.

* A Web site has emerged in support of forming a new school district:

http://www.suburbanracineschools.info

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