Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Magnet Academies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
U-46 proposes lottery priority, renames Elgin academy and expands IB access
Summary
District U-46 presented updates to its magnet academies June 1, proposing a new U-46 enrollment lottery priority, renaming Elgin High School’s gifted program to the International Balaria Academy, aligning world-language pathways with IB, and adjusting dual-credit offerings after ECC catalog changes.
President Owens opened a presentation June 1 during the School District U-46 board meeting for updates to the district’s magnet academies. Melena Nandelovich, assistant director for gifted, accelerated and magnet programs, said the district is recommending a new lottery priority that awards one additional magnet-lottery entry for each year a student was enrolled in U-46 during middle school, to be implemented for the 2026–27 planning cycle affecting the 2027–28 application process.
Nandelovich and program leads outlined several program-specific changes. Dr. Jeremy Burnham said Elgin High School’s current “gifted and talented” academy will be renamed the International Balaria Academy beginning with the 2026–27 school year to reduce perceived barriers of the prior label and better align with IB program language. “The term gifted and talented may unintentionally discourage students who do not identify with the label,” Burnham said, and the rename will accompany training and communication for families and staff.
Administrators also described curriculum and pathway changes. The district will expand IB-aligned world-language pathways (Spanish, French, German and Japanese) and begin phased IB implementation for new freshmen classes in 2026–27, with fuller rollout across subsequent years. Johnny Chicone, assistant principal of innovation at South Elgin High School, explained that dual-credit offerings with Elgin Community College were revised after ECC updated its catalog; the district will align its media and digital arts pathway to the new ECC courses (Video Production 1–3) to preserve the dual-credit opportunity.
Board members asked for clarifications about lottery implementation and student retention. A student board member asked whether retention rates and lottery impacts were available; presenters said retention data will be provided later. Michelle Chapman, director of postsecondary success, said internship capacity is limited: “This year we have 124 slots for U-46 students to have internships,” and administrators said they will continue to work to expand placement opportunities.
The presentation also addressed program performance: administrators reported high freshman-on-track and graduation-credential rates across several academies (for example, STEM Academy freshman on-track rates near 100% and high rates of early college or career credentials). Nandelovich said the district will phase changes and provide professional learning, counselor coordination and Canvas-based resources for families.
No board action on the magnet-policy changes or renaming was recorded during the meeting; administration framed the items as recommendations and implementation planning. The board asked for demographic breakdowns, data on students with IEPs/504s in magnet programs, and retention statistics, which Nandelovich said she would provide.
Next steps: administration will update the Magnet Academy guide, communicate directly with families and counselors, and bring implementation details to future board updates.
