Kenosha Reporter

Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) has announced a community reception to dedicate the Bradford High School planetarium in memory of Mildred "Millie" Carlson, the district’s first planetarium director.

According to KUSD, the dedication reception will take place on Wednesday, May 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 3700 Washington Road. Carlson began teaching science in Kenosha in 1968 and later became the district’s first planetarium director. After retiring from classroom teaching, she presented more than 100 shows annually at Bradford High School, continuing her engagement with students and the public until her passing in 2021.

The program will commence at 3 p.m. with a student musical performance, followed by a planetarium presentation led by current director Jason Standish at 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The event aims to honor Carlson’s longstanding dedication to science education and her impact on fostering scientific curiosity within the community.

Bradford High School serves grades 9-12 with over 1,500 students and 145 faculty members. According to its website, the school improvement plan targets a 12% performance increase over three years by aligning instruction with grade-level standards, using assessment data to enhance teaching, and implementing behavior management systems. The school follows an "Every Kid, Every Day" motto, emphasizing student support through a freshman academy, intervention programs, and diverse academic offerings including over a dozen Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

The Kenosha Unified School District was established in 1967 and serves the City of Kenosha, Village of Pleasant Prairie, and the Town and Village of Somers in southeastern Wisconsin. It operates numerous educational institutions including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, charter schools, choice schools, a specialty school, and a Head Start center. The district reports a total enrollment of 19,069 students with an annual operational expenditure of approximately $304 million.