The Racine Unified School Board's president, Tony Baumgardt, announced Monday that he's stepping down; while former state lawmaker Kim Plache is running for a seat on the board.

Baumgardt was elected to the School Board in 2006 and was appointed as its president in 2007 and again last year.

The next president will likely be picked by board members in late April, after the municipal and school elections.

RUSD Spokeswoman Stephanie Hayden said Baumgardt was tending a family illness Monday and unavailable for comment. But he did release a brief statement that said he was leaving at a time when the school district is moving forward.

"I have had a very rewarding experience over the past three years, but it is necessary that I concentrate on other facets of my life at this point," Baumgardt said in the statement.

Baumgardt presided during some difficult times for the School Board and Unified as a whole. Former RUSD Superintendent Tom Hicks left in 2007 and a candidate the board picked to replace him opted for a job in another state.

The board suffered through a report released in late 2007 that was critical of Unified's Special Education Department, and the district's chief academic officer resigned in 2008.

But fellow board members credited Baumgardt for bringing order to a sometimes unwieldy school board, and for supporting more involvement from the business community in Unified's efforts.

"I think it will be a real loss," said Gretchen Warner, who was elected to the school board the same year as Baumgardt.

"He's really put himself into being president, 100 percent, and that takes a toll on your family life and work life. I'm sure it was a tough decision for him. He was very torn and thinking about it for a long time."

"We went through some pretty tough times as a school board and he worked closely with other board members, the administration and our attorneys and got us through the mess," said Susan Kutz, the school board's vice president.

Julie McKenna, Unified's longest-serving school board member, said she was impressed with Baumgardt's efforts to communicate major board decisions and developments to parents and staff.

"We didn't always agree with each other 100 percent of the time," McKenna said of Baumgardt, "but that's par for the course. If everyone agreed we wouldn't need nine people on the board. I just want to wish him well."

"I think the strongest characteristic he had that I will miss is that everyone had a chance to be heard," school board member Dennis Wiser said. "Whether someone was on the prevailing side or the losing side of a vote, he wanted to make sure everyone got their ideas out and he wouldn't rest until it was done properly."

Historically, the School Board and Racine Education Association have been at odds over education issues. But REA President Peter Knotek said Monday that his discussions with Baumgardt "were very collegial. … We understood we needed to cooperate on moving the district forward, and if we disagreed we were professional about it.

"He really modeled a way that a (school board) president can provide leadership in support of both teachers and students."

'It's a good time'

Plache, who lives in Racine, has kept a relatively low profile since she lost her re-election battle for the state Senate's 21st District in 2002 to Republican Cathy Stepp.

But Plache said Monday that her years of experience serving at the state Capitol could still be useful for the struggling district.

"I do think that the board has taken a positive turn on a professional level, and I also think the new superintendent (Jim Shaw) offers a lot of promise," said Plache, who is currently a senior community relations officer with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, which links Wisconsin residents and communities with affordable housing and economic development opportunities.

Plache once chaired the state's Senate Education Committee, and she also served on the powerful Joint Finance Committee, which essentially serves as the purse strings for state government.

Plache said her experience could help Unified respond to the state's changes in education policy or school funding.

Plache wouldn't predict whether she could get more state funding for Unified. But "the partnership is there," she said, with state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine and state Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, now members of the Joint Finance Committee.

"I'm just feeling like it's a good time, if I can move forward (in the election)," Plache said.

Plache and incumbent School Board members Don Nielsen and Warner have filed nomination papers for the April 7 school election. Three seats are open on the board, and nomination papers for candidates are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

If seven or more candidates file to run for the open seats, a primary election will be held on Feb. 17.