July 28, 2023 6p
(WGTD)---Initial hesitations on the part of some school board members evaporated, and the Kenosha School Board voted unanimously this week to rename the nearly 40-year-old Educational Support Center after former Superintendent John Hosmanek.
Two months ago, the board only narrowly voted to create a committee to consider the possibility.
Hosmanek served as superintendent from 1979 to 1989 and is credited with launching a number of initiatives, including the notion of creating a centralized, administrative office building. The Educational Support Center was dedicated in 1985.
Eric Meadows was one of those board members who had initial misgivings. “I originally voted not to form this committee to rename the Educational Support Center just knowing the contention that happened in the past,” Meadows said. “However, I very much enjoyed learning the history of Dr. Hosmanek and learning about his contributions to the district and the city. So upon learning more about this individual I sully support this measure to rename it as such.”
Hosmanek died two years ago at the age of 94.
The move to rename the E-S-C in his honor was spearheaded by former KUSD administrator Dick Regner, who summed up Hosmanek’s accomplishments and personal characteristics. “He was a leader who held high expectations for himself as well as his entire staff,” Regner said.
Support also came from retired KUSD principal Nola Starling-Ratliff. “Dr. Hosmanek hired the first Black principal in KUSD. That principal was me,” she said.
In addition to pushing for creation of a central office, Hosmanek is credited with starting the district’s employee assistance program and the KUSD Education Foundation. He also chaired the Chrysler trust which provided assistance to the families of laid-off autoworkers.
The E-S-C will now be known formally as the John J. Hosmanek Kenosha Unified School District Educational Support Center.
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