USD116 BOE Update: Jan. 9, 2024

11.1 Dual Language One School Model

The Board APPROVED unifying the District's K-5 Spanish strand model into a whole-school Spanish Dual Language Program.

* Note: USD is not advocating or considering closing the French dual-language program. This is a grant funded program and there are specific rules for bilingual education programs regarding budgeting, resources, teacher licensing, etc. What we are discussing is being realistic about the numbers we have and what we can do in the boundaries of the grant. There is a French Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Yankee Ridge at 9:30 a.m. for anyone who would like to attend.

The Board of Education was given an update on the Student Services Department. This included Guiding Principles and current efforts. Some items the department will be focused on in the future:

• Retention and Recruitment of Staff
• Instructional Practices and Service Delivery
• Specialized Instruction
• Legal understanding and compliance
• Improved discipline decision making
• Threat Assessment and Crisis intervention

View full presentation

USD schools newly designated for school improvement will have two different needs assessment:

• Illinois Quality Framework for School Rubric (IQFSR): A school level needs assessment in intended to be a self-reflection process in which the School Leadership Team (SLT) immerses itself in studying current conditions and the needs of its schools. It includes standards, indicators, and guiding questions. The IQFSR is used along with other data sources, such as attendance data, graduation rates, and other assessments (MAP/SAT/IAR).
• New this year: A partnership with the American Institute of Research (AIR). This is required by the state for DPW and Yankee Ridge because of their rating on the State Report Card. The goal of the AIR assessment is to provide the schools with data and information about their strengths and areas for improvement.

A: If you complete a complex plan for DPW and Yankee Ridge and one of those (schools) becomes a whole school dual language school, (therefore moving kids around) how would that work?

Q: We would have to work with our ISBE consultants. There is still money tied to those students even if they move schools. We would have to work with ISBE on how we would move forward to help those students.

View full presentation

There have been some changes to the 2024-25 calendar to be more intentional with staff development. This is a first read, it will come back for a vote on January 23.

Four major changes:

• Winter Institute is moving to October 24, 2024 (previously in February) to help with School Improvement efforts by front loading support for our teachers.
• Staff Development is being moved to Feb. 14, 2025 (previously Feb. 13)
• Staff Development is being moved to March 27, 2025 (previously April 18)
• Spring Holiday is April 18, 2025 (previously April 21)

Q: Do these changes go through the calendar committee?

A: Yes, it was shared and they provided feedback.

View the updated calendar

An updated timeline has been set in the redistricting process. There will be opportunities for public input on February 28 and 29 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Urbana High School. There will also be an electronic survey distributed for feedback.

• The District will receive a final boundary plan in early April.

• More information about these public input sessions will be shared soon.

See the boundary process timeline

Q: Are Wiley families who have already been reassigned be allowed to stay at their current school?

A: Wiley families will be given a choice of staying where they are, or moving to the new school they are assigned to.

Now that a decision has been made to have a whole-school Spanish dual-language program, the DL administrators will work with the redistricting consultants to consider logistics for students currently attending one of our strand schools.

Dr. Ivory-Tatum's Superintendent Report is available here: January 9, 2024

Highlights:

• Sign up to be a mentor -- three upcoming trainings
• Congrats to the UHS Students who are MLK Jr. "Living the Dream" Scholarship Recipients
• Annual Black History Month celebration is Jan. 28

The Student Ambassador Report is available here: January 9 Student Ambassador Report

Highlights:

• Summer Youth Employment Program
• UHS Farm-to-School interns
  
• Upcoming events