The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 approves expenses, debt refinancing plan

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 approved of a debt refinancing plan as well as $3.5 million in expenditure items at its Jan. 24 meeting.
  The votes were 6-0, board member Eva Porter was absent.
  The refinancing included two resolutions issuing general obligation (GO) bonds in not-to-exceed amounts of $96 million and $44.8 million with the proceeds going to two 2015 GO bonds. Robert Lewis, with PMA Securities, said the move will save the district $23.6 million, slightly lower than earlier estimates from December 2021 of $25.8 million.
  Presented and approved that evening was $212,875, to be paid by the nation’s taxpayers through grant funds, with Virtuoso Education Consulting (VEC) for a disproportionality consultant.
  “The district needs ongoing assistance from an expert in disproportionality,” the proposal stated. “The continued goal is for staff to understand and address academic and behavioral challenges prior to consideration for special education services. As a result of the root cause analysis completed during the 2020-2021 school year, select schools will strategically implement processes around multi-tiered systems of support practices and proactive social-emotional behavior, the two primary focus areas. VEC will provide professional development, onsite coaching, consultation, and integrate concepts in Canvas, our district’s professional learning platform.”
  Education fund items approved included $1.5 million for network switches from Sentinel Technologies, $209,808 to the Crisis Prevention Institute for training and materials and $72,500 for community engagement, surveys and communications with Creative Entourage, LLC.
  Operations and maintenance fund items included $1.2 million for lintel and window replacement at Elgin’s Ellis Middle School with Northwest Contractors, Inc., and a three-year agreement with Cintas, Inc. for annual fire alarm inspections and testing costing $67,988.
  Through grant funds, $144,750 will be spent for a consultant through Gorbold Behavioral Consulting, a supplement to an $85,000 contract approved last August.
  Also approved was $10.8 million in itemized bills.