The U-46 Family and Community Engagement Committee has come up with an outside-the-box idea that has the potential at least to be a win-win-win for the School District, the taxpayers and the business community.

The committee is distributing a flyer inviting folks to an April 8 breakfast event that will give real estate agents highlights of the U-46 school district and community. The idea is to promote the schools, which are a prime consideration for many people buying homes. Better home sales raise property values and contribute to the schools’ tax base.

“We want to shine a light on U-46 and show all the great things happening in U-46 schools,” said Kai Rush, a parent and organizer of the event. “We want to arm Realtors with the highlights of U-46 to sell houses in all 11 communities of U-46. In return, U-46 communities will gain more great families, higher parental involvement in our schools and a hope that our School District will be the shining light of education in this state.”

More information on the program can be found on this page of the U-46 website or by contacting U46 Parent/Community Outreach Coordinator Karla Guzmán Jiménez at 847-888-5000, Ext. 4211.

The program is being put forward as part of the U-46 parent /community outreach initiative and is an interesting experiment in school district branding. It will provide real estate agents with talking points about the district and introduce real estate agents to the U-46 “Academic Success for All” experience.

The School District recently posted a draft of its Longterm Strategic Plan, which can be viewed in PDF form here.

The event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. April 8 at Tefft Middle School, 1100 Shirley Ave., Streamwood. A second meeting is set for 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 13 at Larkin High School. Anyone interested in attending can sign up here.

Part of the impetus is to turn a downward spiral into an upward one. Since 2009, home sales have generally fallen, but there has been a rebound in the last year or two.

As the second-largest school district in the state of Illinois, U-46 officials feel they have something special to offer.

“Just this morning , I was talking with a family, who wants to move from Oswego to Elgin, because of U-46’s dual language program,” Rush said. “Other families have moved here after learning about our academies’ program. A few new homeowners from other states like the student options available in a large system, like U-46.

“This is a win-win situation for everyone!”

About U-46

U-46 serves more than 40,000 children in grades preK-12. The district ranks as the second largest in Illinois with 40 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and five high schools. Our mission is to be a great place for all students to learn, all teachers to teach, and all employees to work. All means all.

SOURCE: U-46