Superintendent Update: Feb 19, 2021

To view past superintendent updates, please click here. To view weekly updates online, please visit our District Updates archive on our website.

At our recent Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, February 16, the administration shared with the Board and the USD116 public that we are actively working on inviting more students into our schools for the 4th quarter. While we have seen significant improvements in our daily and 7-day positivity rates, our region and county remain in Phase 4 of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) Restore Illinois Plan. While in Phase 4, we are still held to very specific mitigation measures for social distancing during in-person learning. In the last few days, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new operational guidance for schools (Updated CDC Operational Guidance for Schools). I am proud to share that since our return to in-person instruction, our District has implemented the CDC’s recommended mitigation strategies successfully, including, but not limited to:

• Universal and correct use of masks

• Physical distancing to the greatest extent possible (at least 6 feet)

• Hand washing and sanitizing

• Maintaining clean facilities

• Strategies for careful contact tracing and isolation of potentially exposed individuals

• Phased mitigation for in-person learning and high-risk families are given the option of remote instruction

• COVID-19 testing, both diagnostic and surveillance screening

• Vaccination for teachers and staff

We thank our community for also doing its part to decrease community transmission rates. Our District currently falls in the lowest levels of transmission based on the CDC’s guidelines. Based on this information, at all levels, we are intentionally including more students in person during the fourth quarter.

• Urbana Early Childhood School (Pre-K) - Identifying and targeting priority students to invite back to in person learning. If you are interested please contact the school.

• Elementary (K-5) -Contacting families around their future plans to attend in person and identifying space, needs, and family desires. Please complete the survey to opt-in.

• Urbana Middle School (6-8) - Identifying and targeting priority students to invite back to in person learning. More details will be shared soon from UMS once the information is finalized.

• Urbana High School (9-12) - Identifying and targeting priority students to invite back to in person learning. More details will be shared soon from UHS once the information is finalized.

For our Elementary families, we ask if you are interested in returning in the fourth quarter that you complete a short survey or contact your child’s school with specific questions. We will add students to classrooms that have available space. The school will work with you to determine availability so students can remain with their current teachers. Students will be invited into the buildings for in-person instruction during their synchronous learning block time from 8:10-11:00 a.m. If you do not wish to return in person, it is unnecessary to complete the "Request for Full-Time Remote Learning from Home" form again. If you plan to return in-person, Monday, March 1st, will be your last opportunity to opt-in. This deadline will allow us time to develop class lists, plan for instruction, and arrange transportation. More information provided here via this slideshow.

Survey - Leal 4th Quarter Return to In Person

Survey - King 4th Quarter Return to In Person

Survey - DPW 4th Quarter Return to In Person

Survey - YR 4th Quarter Return to In Person

Survey - TP 4th Quarter Return to In Person

Survey - Wiley 4th Quarter Return to In Person

I want to thank families and staff for your flexibility on our first weather-related remote learning day. Families, students, and staff shifted quickly to respond following a 4-day weekend to work remotely during the season’s worst winter weather thus far. If your technology or internet accessibility were a barrier for your family, I encourage you to reach out to your school for assistance. We have WiFi and internet supports available, as well as devices for families with multiple siblings learning at home. We have touched base with families throughout the year; however, if your needs have recently changed and you need technical assistance, please do not hesitate to ask for additional resources. We are here to help!

I know I have shared a lot of information with you this week, but as always, we are here for U!

Be safe and stay well,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum,

Superintendent

UMS students and staff created a video to show their appreciation for C-U Healthcare Workers. The video was shared with healthcare workers all over our community at Carle, Christie, OSF, Public Health, and others. I hope the video brings a smile to your face as you listen to the heartfelt words of gratitude. We are thankful to our frontline healthcare workers for their compassion, their fight against COVID, and their efforts to help keep our community safe. Please share this video with any healthcare workers that you know. Thank You C-U Healthcare Workers

Please check your district email for the link to register for your vaccination appointment on Wednesday, February 24, from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or Thursday, February 25, from 11 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• You can sign up for either date if you came to the first clinic

• Your appointment should show up in your calendar after it is successfully booked

• Remember your vaccination card

In order to plan for the correct number of doses, we will close the sign-up on Monday, February 22, at 5:00 p.m.

C-UPHD has very limited 2nd doses, so we strongly encourage you to make your 2nd dose appointment on the 24th or 25th with us. If you are unable to receive your 2nd dose through our Vaccination Clinic, then you will need to contact C-UPHD to schedule an appointment.

If you would like to receive your 1st dose on the 24th or 25th, you can fill out the vaccination signup form and schedule a time. Please remember your consent form!

On Wednesday, February 24, and Thursday, February 25, about 70% of the USD116 staff will be receiving their 2nd vaccination dose. After getting the vaccine for COVID-19, a few common side effects may impact some of our staff. These side effects are normal but may affect our staff’s ability to follow through with their in-person activities. So out of an abundance of caution for our teachers and support staff, we are scheduling Thursday, February 25, and Friday, February 26 as Remote Learning ONLY days. Both February 25 and February 26 will still be considered student attendance days. All students still need to log on for their synchronous learning activities at their regular times. Please contact the main office of your child’s school for more information.

In anticipation of the upcoming remote learning days next week, we are planning to provide additional meals for students who attend in-person. Starting Thursday, February 18 (yesterday), we are sending home 2 days of meals with students. We will be sending home 2 days of meals each day on Thursday, February 18, Friday, February 19, Monday, February 22, and Tuesday, February 23. These additional meals will provide food for families to cover the days that there will not be in-person learning next week.

There are NO changes in the Wednesday meal distribution schedule. We continue to provide 7-days worth of meals every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. You can pick up your box of meals at any elementary school or Urbana Middle School every Wednesday.

Congratulations to UHS Alumni Meg Zucker and Ben Manns for being recognized in this year’s Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation annual awards! Meg Zucker was named a 2021 CUSF Distinguished Alumni Honoree and Ben Manns was awarded the 2021 Local Business Community Impact Award. Thank you for your dedication to our community! #ProudofU116 #UrbanaBetterTogether

Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 205 North Race Street, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: 2173843600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Twitter: @urbana116