The Examiner U-46 News FeedVote on mobile classrooms extends their use in U-46 By Seth Hancock
The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved of a resolution declaring the need to continue using temporary classrooms, or mobiles, at its Monday, June 6 meeting.
The vote was 6-0, board member John Devereux was absent.
There are eight double mobile units and five single listed in the resolution for 21 total temporary classrooms. That is the same amount as last year’s resolution.
“School District U-46 has experienced changes in student enrollments and educational program requirements that have resulted in a need for additional classroom space in certain schools in the District,” the resolution states.
The resolution adds: “All options to address availability of space in permanent buildings have been considered in light of these enrollment changes and the programmatic needs of students…. It is necessary to utilize temporary classrooms at certain schools in the District in order to address the changes in student enrollments and educational program needs.”
Total enrollment did drop again this year for the seventh straight year with a loss of 533 students to 36,090. That is a 10.9 percent decline in enrollment from 40,487 students in 2014.
The bulk of the mobile units to be used will be in Elgin schools including two doubles at Century Oaks Elementary School, one double and one single at both Hillcrest Elementary School and Lowrie Elementary School and one single each at Creekside Elementary School, Harriet Gifford Elementary School and Washington Elementary School.
There will be two doubles at South Elgin High School and one double at both Streamwood’s Hanover Countryside Elementary School and Hoffman Estate’s Lincoln Elementary School.
In a May 16 memo, board member Dawn Martin asked if eliminating the mobiles is part of the ongoing facilities and boundary discussions. The district responded: “Yes, one of our long-term goals from facility work should be to eliminate mobile classrooms.”
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