The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Contracts await approval of District U-46 board

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 is set to vote on two contracts totaling $852,480 at its upcoming meeting on Monday, Aug. 21.
  The contracts were presented on Aug. 7.
  Included is a $742,728 contract renewal with Gorbold Behavioral Consulting that will be paid for by the nation’s taxpayers, if approved, through federal grants. Gorbold will provide consulting for specialized student services.
  “With 15 of our ILP (individualized learning program) classrooms starting the year with larger numbers than usual and the addition of [two kindergarten] classrooms, the increased level of student needs, and the hiring of 7 new ILP teachers, there is a need to expand the level of coaching, consultation, professional development (in addition to that provided by U-46), crisis prevention training, and classroom-based supports,” the proposal states.
  The proposal adds that autism has “rapidly become the fastest growing neurodevelopmental disability” in the last two decades growing from 1-in-150 to 1-in-44 children being autistic.
  “It is anticipated that the need will be greatest at the onset of the year and that over time these supports should fade out as capacity is built and staff are hired and trained,” the proposal states. “Specialized Student Services programs will utilize the services of a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Consultant and BT in order to address the areas of need outlined above.”
  Additionally, the district is seeking $109,752 for a contract with NoRedInk, paid for by the education fund if approved.
  The contract is for English Language Arts (ELA) digital resources, and it would replace StudySync which was phased out at the end of the 2021-2022 school year based on low usage. Last year, teachers did not have an ELA-specific digital resource.
  The proposal states that NoRedInk was “recommended by the ELA teachers and administration from multiple secondary sites…. Teachers do not have district primary or supplemental resources to support student instruction and practice of writing and grammar,” the proposal states.