The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 Board primed to vote on three proposals

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 will be set to vote on three proposals totaling $2.9 million at its upcoming meeting on Monday, Sept. 11. The items were presented on Monday, Aug. 21.
  The largest item is a $2.4 million expenditure, to come out of the education fund if approved, with EyeMed/Combined Insurance Company of America for a four-year contract renewal providing optometry insurance to staff.
  According to the proposal, U-46 “pays the full premium and is reimbursed for half the cost through employee contributions through payroll deductions” making the total cost to the district $1.2 million.
  The proposal also states “there are 3,328 participants enrolled in the plan” currently.
  Board member Jeanette Ward asked if this was contractually required.
  Beth Berg, coordinator of employee benefits, said “it is currently part of our full benefits package, but it is a separate policy from the health.”
  Vision insurance is an uncommon benefit in the private sector according to 2013 numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which show only 25 percent of employees in private industry receive such benefits.
  Board member Phil Costello asked if there was an “escalation from a prior contract period” in the price. Berg said it’s a 6.3 percent increase and “we have very high utilization among our employees.”
  A proposal with Mind Research Institute would cost $507,504, if approved, and would be paid for by the nation’s taxpayers through Title I funds.
  According to the proposal, the district would purchase the ST Math which it states is a “visual instructional program that builds a deep conceptual understanding of math through rigorous learning and creative problem-solving to engage, motivate and challenge students toward higher achievement.”
  Trisha Shrode, director of curriculum and instruction, told board members reviewing the resource to “prepare to be frustrated… there’s no words. It’s not language dependent,” and Shrode said she had troubles when she first reviewed it.
  Ward asked if it is a resource to help with Eureka Math to which Shrode said it’s “an intervention and enrichment for math in general” that aligns with Eureka Math among others, and it goes through algebra.
  The final proposal, costing $75,000 would be paid by the nation’s taxpayers through Federal IDEA Grant funds if approved, is with Gorbold Behavioral Consulting, Inc. The proposal states: “These programs will utilize the services of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Consultant and Registered Behavior Technicians in order to address significant behavioral needs of students who exhibit the need for intervention beyond the scope of our current staff.”
  Board member Melissa Owens asked if the proposal is strictly for consultancy services and Leatrice Satterwhite, director of specialized student services, said “they will be working with our staff… but they will be modeling with our students.”

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