The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Expense proposals slated for upcoming U-46 vote

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 is set to vote on $296,422 in expenditure items at its upcoming Monday, Sept. 9 meeting. The items were presented on Aug. 19.
  Included is a $246,460 proposal, to be paid for by education funds, for foundational literacy resources.
  “This proposal is for the adoption of supplementary foundational literacy resources to support preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade with phonemic awareness and phonics instruction in order to build a strong foundation for reading,” the proposal states.
  The proposal adds: “We will use Heggerty English and Spanish for preschool, UFLI for kindergarten through second grade, and the Sound-Spelling Transfer Kit for dual language classrooms. There are also manipulatives that include letter magnets and trays as well as whiteboards to enhance student learning.”
  Costing $49,962, to be paid by the nation’s taxpayers through Title I funds, a proposal from Catalyst for Educational Change (CEC) was presented.
  CEC would provide “leadership coaching, team coaching, and professional learning sessions” at Abbott Middle School,” the proposal states.
  “Abbott Middle School’s designation as a comprehensive school mandates the selection of an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved learning partner,” the proposal states. “The proposed partnership with CEC addresses this need by fostering a collaborative environment where stakeholders are engaged in continuous improvement efforts. This plan introduces structured professional learning to build empowered teams that use data to drive student growth. This partnership aims to enhance instructional practices and improve student outcomes at Abbott Middle School.”
  Additionally, the board will vote on its board meeting schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. It includes 23 regular and 10 optional meeting dates as well as a board self-evaluation on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.