Sturtevant voters Tuesday narrowly approved – 352 to 346 – an advisory referendum directing village leaders to more fully explore a school district separate from Racine Unified.
As it stands now, Racine Unified would need to give its blessing to Caledonia and Sturtevant to separate from the district. The group behind forming the independent school district wants state Legislators to change the law to allow communities through a referendum to separate from unified school districts, which would apply to the dozen unified districts across the state. The rule change would also allow school districts to join a unified school district if it was feasible to do so and the communities wanted to support such an arrangement.
Residents also sent incumbent trustees Chris Larsen and Chris Wright back to the board. Challenger Michelle Duchow beat out John Johnson by one vote, 367 to 366.
Sturtevant Administrator/Clerk Mary Cole said absentee ballots will be received up until 5 p.m. Friday and will be counted Monday. Still, there will almost certainly be a recount since the votes are so close between Duchow and Johnson.