Unite U-46 - Sept. 30

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first Unite U-46 session of the year on Monday, Sept. 30, at the U-46 Welcome Center!

Nearly 100 parents, staff, and community members reviewed progress on key school construction projects, discussed middle school transition options that were presented to the Board of Education. They also engaged in a hands-on activity exploring district boundary challenges and opportunities that will be further explored at our upcoming Unite U-46: Mapping Our Future workshops.

For those who could not attend, a recap of the key information presented is below. A video recording of the session will be posted in the near future.

New half-day preschool classrooms have been added at the following schools:

• Larkin, Liberty, Huff, Willard, Sunnydale, Timber Trails, Hilltop, and Sycamore Trails.

• Preschool and high school students at Larkin have a unique opportunity. The high school has expanded its Early Childhood career pathway by offering full-time preschool classes, providing hands-on learning opportunities for high school students. This year, two dedicated preschool teachers are working alongside these high school students, marking a significant step forward in early education and career training.

Four elementary school projects are currently underway as part of the Unite U-46 planning initiative.

McKinley Elementary School

Plans are moving forward to replace McKinley Elementary due to its age and accessibility challenges. The district is exploring a new site at the former David C. Cook property on Grove Avenue. Our architectural partners are working on a conceptual design that honors the location's historical significance while taking advantage of its natural landscape near the Fox River. The timeline for this project is being finalized.

Glenbrook and Century Oaks Elementary Schools

Glenbrook and Century Oaks elementary schools will undergo renovations, including new additions, while students continue learning in the buildings throughout the process. The updates are expected to be finished by 2026.

Illinois Park Early Learning Center

Illinois Park, currently an early childhood center, will transition to an elementary school and will receive a small addition and updated driveways and drop-off areas. The update is expected to be finished by 2026.

• New Middle School in Bartlett: Construction is on track, with no major delays or budget changes. Expected to be under roof by December 1, 2024 and completed in time for the 2025-26 school year with 7th grade only.
• Kenyon Woods Middle School: A 46,000 sq. ft. addition is planned, with completion targeted for August 2026.
• Kimball Middle School: A 53,000 sq. ft. addition is underway, scheduled for completion in August 2026.
• New Middle School in Elgin: Scheduled for occupancy in August 2027, extensive site work and community feedback are shaping its development.

On Sept. 23, three options for the transition to the 6 - 8th grade middle school model were presented to the Board of Education. These were presented to participants at the Unite U-46 Community Engagement session and were part of the evening’s work activity. The options are:

• Option A: Delay the shift of 6th graders to middle school until the 2027-2028 school year.

• Option B: Phase the transition over two years, beginning with the east side of the district in the 2026-2027 school year.

• Option C (Preferred): Transition all 6th graders in 2026-2027, with temporary placements at Abbott and Ellis for students attending the new middle school in Elgin.

Currently, Option C is the district’s preferred option.

Based on the community-developed boundary planning criteria, the district is developing a number of attendance boundary scenarios that will be presented at a series of Unite U-46: Mapping Our Future community workshops later this year.

It is anticipated that new districtwide attendance boundaries will be presented to the Board of Education in the Spring of 2025 and go into effect in August 2026.

Budget planning for ongoing school projects remains on track. As originally planned, all of the construction projects covered during the community engagement session are being funded through the April 2023 bond referendum and reserve funds.

New Middle School in Bartlett:

• Fully funded by district reserves.
• Significant portion of costs included in this year’s budget.

Other Middle School Projects:

• Kimball, Kenyon Woods, and the new middle school in Elgin funded through a combination of reserves, referendum bonds, and potentially working cash bonds.

Elementary School Projects:

• Fully funded by referendum bonds approved in April 2023.

Total Estimated Cost: $365 million, aligned with the original $380 million plan.

During the small group activity, participants took on the role of demographers to assess one specific quadrant of the district, which they chose. They examined various factors such as the proximity of neighborhoods to current or future schools, school capacities, new housing developments, natural barriers, and transportation routes. The goal was to identify challenges and opportunities in that area, with each group listing the top three key questions or issues they believe should be addressed in the upcoming Mapping Our Future workshops.

In the second part of the activity, participants were asked to provide feedback on Option C for transitioning to the 6-8th grade middle school model. They considered how the district could best support students, families, and staff who would spend an additional year at Abbott or Ellis Middle School while awaiting the completion of the new middle school in Elgin.

In December and January, Unite U-46 will hold a series of interactive Unite U-46: Mapping Our Future planning sessions within each high school feeder network, focusing on potential boundary changes impacting specific areas of our district.

Participants will have the opportunity to review detailed maps and attendance boundary scenarios and offer feedback as we work toward final attendance boundary recommendations. With the goal of presenting these plans to the Board of Education in spring 2025, the District is ensuring that families have over a year’s notice of any changes that may affect them.