The ABCs of what to watch for this year in U-46
Fifty Elgin Area School District U-46 schools began a brand-new academic year today. Wondering what to watch for in the state's second largest school district? Here are our picks of the ABC's.
A is for: Adequate Yearly Progress
The federal No Child Left Behind law this year requires 62.5 percent of all students to read and calculate math at grade level, up from 55 percent last year. Under the law, schools that miss their targets for two consecutive years must offer students supplemental educational services or school choice.
While the district's elementary schools saw 39 of 40 elementary schools meet state standards last year, Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin and Streamwood high schools, Kimball Middle School and Larsen Middle School all failed to meet state standards for the past five years. The middle schools and high schools face further state and federal restructuring if they again miss the mark this year.
B is for: BEACON Academy
A new academy for U-46 high school students officially opened its doors Wednesday at South Elgin High School.
BEACON, an acronym for Broadcast Education and Communication Networks, will teach 50 gifted teens from across the district mobile broadcasting, directing, media ethics and theory, broadcast journalism and Web design. According to Principal Melanie Meidel, the academy will focus on preparing students for placement into journalism programs at two- and four-year colleges, as well as those who wish to go straight into media jobs after high school graduation.
C is for: Capital Planning and Facilities Study
U-46 will spend $635,000 on a long-promised capital planning and facilities study this school year, the first for the district since 1998. The study aims to develop a plan for establishing consistent teaching and learning environments and to reassess support and athletic facility needs. It also aims to eliminate the use of mobile classrooms.
It is expected to be completed by spring, and district lawyer Pat Broncato says the results may lead to an analysis of the district's boundary system.
D is for: Dual Language
The district's dual language program has caused much buzz as of late.
On one end, district officials have expanded the program, which splits students school days and subjects into Spanish and English taught lessons, from Channing Elementary to Ellis Middle School. Back at Channing, a number of parents are outraged at the district's recent decision to remove a majority of teacher aides from the school's dual language classrooms.
To further examine the program, Torres has established a 16-member dual language committee. It meets for the first time Sept. 9.
E is for: Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co.
U-46 Superintendent Jose Torres and board President Ken Kaczynski will both speak out at 6 p.m. Thursday at a hearing at Bartlett High School on Canadian National's proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co. CN wants to buy EJ&E for $300 million and use the line, which runs in an arc around the Chicago region, to reroute some freight traffic from lines in Chicago and inner suburbs. U-46 officials oppose the deal, because they believe additional freight trains would interrupt school bus routes in Bartlett, where one-fifth of U-46 students attend school. District buses cross train tracks on West Bartlett Road about 55 times each school day. At tracks on Army Trail and Smith roads, crossings are estimated at 15 each.