Students return to new additions, programs, equipment at four suburban districts
Thousands of students returned for the first day of classes Wednesday at four Kane County school districts debuting new additions, programs and computing devices.
The state's second-largest school district welcomed more than 40,000 students, including about 2,500 kindergartners enrolled in a new full-day kindergarten program, and 262 new teachers.
Elgin Area School District U-46 launched full-day kindergarten districtwide in all 40 elementary schools. The district also has expanded its gifted program into middle schools and adopted a one-way dual language program for seventh-graders this year - two-way dual language students will be served in middle school starting next year.
"The level of excitement among our principals, teachers and especially our early childhood staff is palpable," U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said. "Together, with parents and our dedicated staff, we are building new pathways to ensure our students are prepared to succeed in college and careers. We can't wait to begin the journey with our students."
New elementary school boundaries allowed U-46 to eliminate some mobile classrooms this year. Boundary changes primarily affect 13 elementary schools and about 600 students.
Three new classroom additions at Coleman, Highland and Laurel Hill elementary schools debuted Wednesday. Coleman and Highland, both in Elgin, now house 10 additional classrooms each, and Laurel Hill in Hanover Park has six more classrooms - a $9.3 million total cost. The additions were necessary to accommodate full-day kindergarten students.
Other new features include full-time social workers at each elementary school, wireless access at all school buildings, and implementation of the Raptor visitor check-in system to verify people visiting the schools are not on any sex offender lists.
Huntley Community School District 158's school year started with more than 9,600 students and more than 1,200 teachers and staff members walking the hallways.
Among the highlights is the district will have 11,111 personal learning devices districtwide after Huntley High School juniors and seniors receive Chromebooks this year. The high school also is getting 192 additional parking spaces expected to be completed in September.
Martin Elementary School in Lake in the Hills will be opening a new learning lab space and a new principal, Henry Soltesz, takes the helm at Marlowe Middle School after previously serving as assistant principal there.
At Batavia Unit District 101, 6,049 students and 462 teachers returned to classrooms Wednesday. Work on a new, artificial turf field at Batavia High School is nearly finished. Officials expect to have it "substantially completed" in time for the first home soccer game Sept. 6, said Sue Gillerlain, the district's communications manager.
Construction also is ongoing at West Aurora High School, which is adding a third field house. And students at Hill Elementary in Aurora will be able to see a new, replacement school rise to the rear of the current building. The new school will open next fall.
Throughout West Aurora Unit District 129, geothermal heating and cooling systems were installed in many buildings. Several buildings had additions or other major modifications, including a four-room addition at Fearn Elementary School in North Aurora.
• Daily Herald staff writer Susan Sarkauskas contributed to this story.