Dist. U-46 to ask for waivers for busing, English language class sizes

Elgin Area School District U-46 plans to ask for waivers and modifications in complying with several state mandates, including how far students must walk to school and class size limits for students learning English.

The move, district officials say, is expected to save U-46 millions as it tries to climb out of a $53.5 million budget hole.

But union officials say they need time to examine the requests.

"We need to review them, particularly with members that might be impacted," Elgin Teachers Association President Tim Davis said.

The requests, which the school board must approve before sending to legislators, ask for exemptions or modifications from the following state mandates outlined in the Illinois School Code and the Illinois Administrative Code:

•That students who live farther than 1.5 miles from their home school must be provided transportation.

•That student-teacher ratios for English as a second language classes are set at 90 percent of the average student-teacher ratio in general education classes.

•Evaluation procedures for certified teachers and administrators.

•Requirements for employing educational support personnel.

•The ability to employ third-party services in the midst of a collective bargaining agreement.

•That students in driver's education classes must log 30 hours of classroom time and 6 hours behind the wheel of a car with an instructor.

"Even though we're asking the board to consider these waivers, it doesn't mean that we have to do them. It just gives us the ability," district spokesman Tony Sanders said.

U-46 has not yet provided details on the modifications they plan to institute if the requests are approved.

Districts across the state routinely ask for waivers and modifications to the school code each year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Since 1995, there have been 5,751 requests. More than 5,100 have been approved.

Waivers for driver's education programs are frequent, but exemptions to class-size rules for students learning English and busing requirements are virtually unheard of, state board spokeswoman Mary Fergus said.

Not a single Illinois district has applied for a change to English language class-size caps. Only one district, Steeleville 138 in downstate Randolph County, has asked for modifications to the transportation requirement.

In order for the waivers to be voted on by the General Assembly in the spring, the district must submit its request by Jan. 8.

A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the U-46 board room, 355 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.

Board President Ken Kaczynski said he is studying the proposals.

"In general I can tell you that we were looking for ways to get us out from under certain mandates that don't contribute to our core mandates," he said.

In the midst of a tough budget year, "I would hope we would have a more critical eye," he said.