The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Various expense items set for District U-46 vote

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 is set to vote on $1.7 million in expenditure items at its upcoming meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.
  The items were presented on Aug. 22.
  The largest item is a contract renewal with four municipalities to provide school resource officers at secondary schools. The cost, to come from the education fund if approved, is $1.1 million which is an 8.3 percent increase from last year’s contract of $1 million.
  “The School Resource Officers (SROs) will act with the recommended TRIAD roles of: 1) Law Enforcement, 2) Teacher, 3) Informal Counselor/Mentor, but do not enforce school rules, policy, or discipline,” the proposal states.
  Included are seven officers from Elgin ($545,662 total/$77,952 salary/$71 hourly overtime rate), three from Streamwood ($225,894/$75,298 salary/$73.81 overtime) and two each from Bartlett ($143,864/$71,842 salary/$73.39 overtime) and South Elgin ($182,464/$91,232 salary/$68.51 overtime).
  Costing $218,645 from the operations and maintenance fund, the district wants to purchase a Morbark Tub Grinder from Alexander Equipment to replace one that’s reached the end of its life cycle.
  “In 2002, the district made the capital investment in a Morbark Tub Grinder,” the proposal states. “This piece of equipment has been used to convert yard and wood waste into mulch for use in landscaping and playgrounds. The ability for the Grounds Department to create mulch in-house reduces costs to the district, reduces waste from landscaping projects within the district, and allows for playground mulch depth to be easily addressed when needed.”
  An item that was expected to be voted on earlier in August but was pulled has returned, that being $195,000 (education fund) for a three-year contract with Hudl for livestreaming and online storage of athletic games and practices for all five district high schools. Historically, the district said athletic programs used private donations to purchase the service, but now taxpayer funding will be sought.
  The proposal was revised to better define the uses for Hudl.
  Costing $181,725, through federal grant funds, the district is seeking a contract renewal with Gorbold Behavioral Consulting for consultation related to autism.