The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Variety of expense items approved by U-46 board

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved $3.1 million in expenditure proposals at its meeting on Monday, March 1.
  The highest price tag came from a proposal with CDW Government to purchase 6,220 Chromebooks at a cost of $2.3 million, to be paid through the education fund. The Chromebooks will replace devices that are four to five years old.
  “The Chromebooks are moved from school to home on a daily basis which takes a toll on the devices,” the proposal states. “Not only will the new Chromebooks receive security updates, but they will also have updated operating systems and a life span of five years.”
  For $722,500 (operations and maintenance fund), the district will be replacing lintel and windows at Elgin’s Ellis Middle School with FH Paschen, SN Nielsen and Associates.
  “The lintels at Ellis Middle School are at the end of their life cycle,” the proposal states. “Their age and current condition cause heat loss and trapped moisture, which results in end user discomfort and water infiltrations.”
  To replace a make up air unit at the transportation department’s paint booth, U-46 will spend $126,890 (operations and maintenance fund) with Trico Mechanical Services.
  “Plant Operations could not source the parts needed for repair due to the age of the equipment,” the proposal states. “As a result, the unit is currently inoperable.”
  Also unanimously approved by the board was $3.4 million in itemized bills.