Leaders of RUSD and the teachers’ union are skeptical.

“I think they’re very well intentioned, so I feel like it’s incumbent on us as the educational experts to help them along that path,” said Angelina Cruz, president of Racine Educators United.

Racine Leaders Academy is still a glint in the eyes of its planners. There isn’t a location picked or a tentative school year when it could be up and running. First, they need to get approval from RUSD, then apply for a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction grant before anything else can come together, Anderson said.

The plan would be to start with two kindergarten classes and a first grade, then add one grade each year until RLA is K-5. Students who apply would be admitted to the school through a lottery system.

Making tough choices

Racine Unified has a School Choice program through which parents can apply for their kids to be enrolled in certain schools — like the STEAM-focused Red Apple Academy, Walden III or Gilmore Fine Arts — instead of automatically enrolling in their neighborhood school.