USD116 BOE Update: June 6, 2023

Eleven Urbana High School students have earned the prestigious Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy in 2023. They are:

• Maria Castro (Spanish)
• Dylan Criollo (Spanish)
• Jose Davila Jr (Spanish)
• Jessica Diaz (Spanish)
• Leo Dougan (German)
• Amelia Gimbel (Japanese)
• Santiago Gonzalez Ahuerma (Spanish)
• Omar Ibarra (Spanish)
• Nicholas Lehman (Spanish)
• Katherine Powers (German)
• Ashly Ramos Rivera (Spanish)

The State Seal of Biliteracy program recognizes high school students who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and in one or more foreign or world languages. The seal is designated on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Additionally, eight Urbana High School students have earned the Commendation toward Biliteracy in 2023:

• Mia Ruiz Almaraz (Spanish)
• Jennifer Arriaga (Spanish)
• Alistair Forsyth (German)
• Mary Fraley (Spanish)
• Kristan Howell (Spanish)
• Denisse Perez (Spanish)
• Aaron Rosenstein (German)
• Tess Uricoechea (Spanish)

The commendation toward Biliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate progress toward biliteracy, but do not fully meet the requirements of the Seal of Biliteracy.

Ms. Lola Jones, the newly appointed Sub-District 4 Board Member, took the Oath of Office.

Jones is a lifelong Urbana resident who has lived and served in Sub-District 4 for over three decades. She attended Urbana schools, has two children who are Urbana High School alums, and her grandchildren currently attend various Urbana Schools. Jones has been active in the community for decades, and after many years working in social services, she made the choice to work as a school bus driver for Urbana and Champaign Schools. She has made even more community connections as an electioneer. Jones and her immediate family members have been active in the community, the Urbana Schools, and the Urbana Community for decades. One of Jones’ primary goals as an incoming Board member is to improve and increase community engagement and parent involvement.

Jones' appointment runs until April 2025.

The Board of Education received a tentative budget for 2023-24 (fiscal year beginning

July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024).The following are dates for developing and adopting the final 2023-24 district budget:

• June 20, 2023: Adoption of tentative budget.

• September 5, 2023: Public Hearing and Study Session on the 2023-24 budget.

• September 19, 2023: Board approval of final 2023-24 budget.

The Urbana Board of Education approved the appointment of Ms. Sima Thurman as the next leader of Yankee Ridge Elementary.

Thurman is currently the Head Principal of Post Franklin Elementary in Battle Creek, Michigan. While there, she continually maintained the highest family engagement rate in her district and led her school to continued success in both reading and math proficiency scores.

Her previous experience includes an elementary Assistant Principal and teacher at various grade levels. Thurman was rated as a “highly effective teacher” in the State of Michigan for several consecutive years.

The 2023-24 school improvement plans were presented to the Board of Education. This year, USD is focusing on five equity strands. All of the District SMART Goals will fall under the following equity strands:

• Systems: Ensure a systemic and continuous development toward advancing equity across policies such as attendance, academic monitoring, restorative practice, and clear expectations across all USD 116 schools.
• Student Voice: Consistently seek students' feedback and experiences on their social-emotional competencies and perception of the school culture and climate.
• Teaching and Learning: Intentionally embed equity-driven pedagogy across all content areas through curricular resources, instructional strategies, use of assessments, and academic programming for the purpose of advancing equity among all students.
• Family and Community as Agency: Foster authentic opportunities to develop partnerships with families and stakeholders to enrich the lives of students and the greater community.
• Professional Learning: Provide opportunities for professional growth to meet diverse learners' needs.

View the full presentation

You can find the individual 2023-24 school improvement plans here:

• UECS
• DPW
• King
• Leal
• Thomas Paine
• Yankee Ridge
• Gerber

USD Student Services focuses on students with disabilities. Students with individualized education programs receive specialized instruction and related services from special education staff.

• The District serves students from age 3 until the last day of the school year when they turn 22 years old.
• The District offers a continuum of services for students with disabilities based on individual student need.
• All schools have special education teachers, related service providers, support staff, and teaching assistants working with students with diverse needs
• Some buildings have specialized programs that are more intensive in their focus.

Things we are proud of:

• Pathway program
• High quality, state recognized, Inclusive Early Childhood Program
• Responsiveness to teacher need by having IEP curriculum evenings each month

• Commitment to having bilingual staff at all levels
• Extension of Teaching Assistant calendar for the upcoming school year to allow for more collaboration and professional development
• Committed Special Education Staff

Concerns/challenges

• Academic outcome data
• Staffing
• Need for professional development
• Rebuilding/strengthening trust and relationships among district, staff, and families

View the full presentation

Highlights:

• Summer Meals
  
• Registration information