The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Staff, significant weeks recognized by Dist. U-46

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 recognized various staff at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 2.
  Included was a proclamation to celebrate National Principal Appreciation Month, held in October.
  Superintendent Suzanne Johnson said the month “recognizes the essential role that principals play in the education, growth, and well-being of students.”
  Two principals, Mike Demovsky of Bartlett High School and Marc Spacone of Elgin’s Larsen Middle School, were on hand. Demovsky thanked the board and administration for the recognition as “teammates, partners in education and partners in student greatness,” and Spacone said: “I know everybody, on behalf of all the principals, they work very hard to make it a great day to learn in U-46.”
  National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 16 to 20, was recognized. Johnson said the district transports about 24,000 student, and bus drivers travel over four million miles annually.
  Heather Weiss, president of the transportation union, accepted the recognition but spoke about the need for a new union contract.
  “While it is very nice to be honored, I would like to remind the district that it is also important to appreciate our transportation workers through their actions as well,” Weiss said. “We are experiencing a massive bus driver shortage across the state of Illinois, and I believe that is part in due to the wages being offered by school districts across the state.”
  Weiss added: “We are grateful the district has agreed to bargaining sooner rather than later, and we are hopeful we can come together to address this crisis that’s a problem not just in our district but across the entire state.”
  The board also recognized National School Lunch Week, Oct. 9 to 13. Johnson said thousands of students daily are served breakfasts and lunches by the district.
  Daniella Beci, assistant director of food and nutrition services, said: “National School Lunch Week is a very exciting week for our team. We dress up, we have contests and get our staff involved…. We have been putting in a lot of efforts to get feedback from students, parents and staff. And I can tell you with that feedback, we’re already seeing tremendous turnout in our meals.”