The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 Board approves variety of expenses, IGA

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved $944,998 in expenditure items, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Hanover Township and school fees for the 2023-2024 school year at its Monday, Feb. 27 meeting.
  The largest item is $640,000 (operations and maintenance fund) with International Contractors for an owner’s representative, or construction manager, for the upcoming work to convert Bartlett’s Hawk Hollow from an elementary to a middle school.
  The proposal states that the “size and scope” of the project is the rationale for the need for an owner’s representative.
  With Northwestern University Center for Talent Development, approved was $108,600 (federal funds) for “summer enrichment programming” for “students in gifted programming,” the proposal stated.
  The district will spend $94,160 (operations and maintenance fund) with Sound Productions to purchase auditorium equipment for its high schools, $58,200 (federal grant funds) with Virtuoso Education Consulting for a so-called “disproportionality” consultant and $44,038 (operations and maintenance fund) with Russo Power Equipment for the purchase of snow removal equipment.
  The IGA will allow Hanover Township use of facilities for programs, such as open gym, at five elementary schools: Bartlett, Hanover Countryside, Ontarioville, Sunnydale and Timbertrail.
  The school fees for the upcoming school year will be waived for the third straight year due to the windfall of excess federal funds from COVID bailouts over the last three years. This is expected to be the final year of the fee waiver, said Dale Burnidge, director of financial operations.
  Optional fees will remain the same including $80 per sport for the middle school athletic participation fee as well as several at the high school level: Driver’s education behind the wheel ($250), driver’s education textbook ($13), lifeguard course fee ($45.75), parking permit ($100), athletic participation fee per sport ($150), athletic fee for football/lacrosse ($200) and basic yearbook ($45). A customized high school yearbook is available, with price determined at each site.
  High school athletic fees are capped at two per student athlete, four per family.
  Also approved by a 7-0 vote was $6.8 million in itemized bills.