U-46 to present waiver requests
As state and local revenues for Elgin Area School District U-46 decline, district officials are contemplating requests to waive provisions of Illinois law or regulations.
The waiver requests will be presented to the board of education at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, in Room 140 at the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin. A public hearing on the requests will be held at that time.
The waivers include:
English Language Learner '90 percent' Rule: State regulations require school districts to staff bilingual classrooms at a ratio that does "not exceed 90 percent of the average student-teacher ratio in general education classroom." Should this waiver be approved, the district estimates a savings of more than $500,000 annually. According to district data, the average bilingual class size is currently less than 22 students, smaller than the district's current staffing standards of 25 students per teacher.
Subcontracting: Illinois law currently makes it difficult for school districts to subcontract services in noninstructional areas to private contracts. A law that became effective in 2007 provides that, in order to outsource noninstructional services, contractors who bid must provide evidence that the company's benefits package is comparable to the benefits offered by the school district. Few contractors are able to submit proposals that will compete with the benefits package, including health and retirement benefits, provided by school districts.
Reduced hours: Illinois law currently prohibits school districts from reducing the hours worked by educational support personnel without issuing a notice of reduction in force approved by the board of education, followed by a 30-day notice of the reduction. If approved, the waiver would provide the district the option of reducing hours of educational support personnel without issuing a reduction in force.
Transportation eligibility: State law requires school districts to provide free transportation to students who live one and one-half miles or more from their school. The waiver request would allow the district to increase the number of miles to two in order to provide transportation. According to the waiver request, the district estimates a savings of $521,000, and would also save the state $2.1 million in reduced transportation reimbursements.
Driver's education: The district is seeking a waiver to allow the use of simulators as part of the district's driver's education program (a law that took effect July 1, 2008, - Public Act 095-0310 - had removed the ability to use simulators). If approved, the waiver will allow students to spend time learning the basics of safe driving habits before being placed in an urban street environment, and address specific driving conditions not easily duplicated during the behind-the-wheel portion of training.
Teacher evaluations: As a result of the new teacher appraisal plan agreed to by the U-46 board of education and the Elgin Teachers Association, the district is seeking a waiver to substitute the current performance ratings teachers can receive to "unsatisfactory," "basic," "proficient," or "distinguished." State regulations currently require districts to use ratings of either "unsatisfactory," "satisfactory," or "excellent," which do not align with our new evaluation plan.
If the board approves these waivers, the next step would be to have them presented to the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois General Assembly. Action on the waivers would be taken during the spring session.