Home > Resources> Featured Articles > Submitted Articles > Tara Malone

U-46 finds new ways to praise employees
By Tara Malone
Daily Herald Staff Writer

Sometimes a simple “thanks” isn’t enough.

Elgin Area School District U-46 officials hope a $588 gold watch, a $459 mountain bike, or perhaps a $602 digital camera and binocular set will drive home the point.

Officials this week unveiled a plan to give employees who have worked in U-46 schools for 25, 30 and 35 years a catalog of gift options to choose from.

If school board members approve the plan next month, district veterans will choose from the selection offered by St. Charles-based Award Concepts this year.

The gifts are expected to cost U-46 about $40,500 this year, less than 1 percent of the district’s $258.7 million education budget, Chief Financial Officer John Prince said.

The anticipated cost exceeds the $33,500 spent on 56 Movado gold watches last year, the traditional gift reserved for district employees who logged 25 years.

“It did go up,” Prince said of the cost. “Both years we budgeted $45,000 for recognition awards and both years were under budget.”

The recommended change comes as district leaders look for new ways to celebrate people who teach, drive, manage and cook for U-46 students.

Veterans will be awarded service pins for every five years spent with the district.

And one of the district’s 6,000 employees will be honored as worker of the year next winter.

Such recommendations were floated by a task force of community members last year who studied how U-46 might better thank its employees.

The 11-member group recommended giving praise earlier and more regularly — rather than reserving it for the twilight in a person’s career — and recognizing quality in addition to longevity.

“It goes above and beyond their salary,” board President Ken Kaczynski said. “Giving employees something of value they will be able to use as their careers wind down is a good thing to do.”

***********************************************************

U-46 to thank its workers:

Monday, June 13, 2005

Elgin Area School District U-46 soon will thank district veterans with more than a gold watch. School board members this week agreed to give U-46 employees of 25, 30 and 35 years a catalog of gift choices. The traditional gold watch remains an option. U-46 signed a deal with St. Charles-based Award Concepts this year that could cost $40,500.

***********************************************************