District U-46 construction going smoothly as classes resume next week

With classes starting next week, school board members for Elgin Area School District U-46 were given an optimistic report Monday on ongoing construction and how things are shaping up for the new school year.

Ann Williams, deputy superintendent for operations and chief school business official, said U-46 is in the home stretch of an incredibly busy summer.

“But tonight’s update feels a little different,” she said. “We’re reaching the point where we’re not just talking about construction anymore. We’re actually seeing new spaces come to life, and it is so very exciting.”

A ribbon-cutting was held last week for the newly completed addition at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin, and another was scheduled for Wednesday at Kimball Middle School in Elgin. In a few weeks, ground will be broken on a new elementary school being built on Elgin’s northeast side.

Williams said Kimball has been one of the district’s most complicated projects, taking nearly 18 months to expand and renovate.

“If you knew the old Kimball, you’re going to have several ‘wow’ moments walking through this building,” she said. “One of my favorite examples is the new cafetorium.”

After having to eat in the basement of the school, students will now dine in a space with modern lighting and furniture, she said.

Construction of the three-story Legacy Middle School on Elgin’s southeast side should be substantially complete later this fall, Williams said.

“That gives us something that we don’t normally have when we open a new school — time,” she said. “Time to commission our systems, install furniture and work throughout the building.”

This may give staff and students a chance to visit the building in the spring, months before it opens in August 2027, she said.

U-46 Chief of Staff Brian Lindholm summarized work at elementary schools.

Century Oaks Elementary in Elgin is nearly ready for occupancy, and Glenbrook Elementary in Streamwood is seeing steady progress on its addition and renovations work, which should be done by August 2027, he said. Meanwhile, staff and students will be at Hanover Countryside for the coming school year.

At Illinois Park Elementary in Elgin, work on an addition should be completed by mid-October, Lindholm said.

After 64 years, Larkin High School will finally have its own lighted stadium for soccer and football. Field turf was recently installed for the athletic complex, he said, and the field — to be called the Ray Haley Field at Royals Athletic Complex in recognition of Larkin’s first football coach and athletic director — should be ready to host its first varsity football game on Friday, Oct. 2.

“We’re working to finalize a ribbon-cutting event for Thursday, Oct. 1, as well as a ceremony on opening night itself in honor of Mr. Ray Haley and his unique contributions to the athletic programs at Larkin High School,” Lindholm said.

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mark Moore told the board things are also looking good in terms of staffing. The district is welcoming more than 200 new teachers this year, he said.

In past years, U-46 has started the school year with 80 or more paraprofessional vacancies, Moore said. As of Monday, there were 51.

“For the first time in more than four years, I can say we have just one dual language vacancy at the elementary level, which is down from many every year in the past. That’s very good news,” he said.

As of Monday, the district’s website listed more than 140 teaching spots, but those “will be picked up by overloads, as always happens,” Moore said.

The district also had an unprecedented 100 bus assistants on staff to cover 89 bus routes and is continuing to hire bus drivers.

“I’m not sure we’ll ever be 100% staffed on bus drivers, but we are in better shape than prior years,” said Moore, who also noted that 220 people attended a recent U-46 job fair. “People want to work for us,” he said.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News.