USD116 BOE Update: February 7, 2023

from Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Watch the 2/7/22 BOE Meeting

Administrative Reports

8.2 First Read of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 District Calendars

Changes being recommended for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 calendars

Starting the school year a couple of days earlier in August
Adding a Fall Break in October
Add a Spring Holiday in April

View the full presentation and draft calendars

Study Topics

10.1 The Freedom School and Alternative Education Overview

The Board was given an overview regarding the goals, current programming, and activities of the Freedom School After School Program and the Alternative Education Daytime Programs. Students from both programs participated in this presentation.

Urbana Freedom Schools:

The After School Freedom Schools (FS) Program is a new middle school and high school program that focuses on teaching and fostering black excellence, culturally responsive social/emotional learning, restorative practices/conflict resolution, financial literacy, and civic engagement through service learning projects in the community. The program will focus on recruiting UHS and UMS students, particularly African American and other students of color, to participate in the program. Freedom Schools runs from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Students will be provided a light meal every evening.

Courses in Freedom Schools After School Program

● Black Shakespeare (Fall 2022)

● Developing Entrepreneurial Identity (#SecureTheBag) (Spring 2023)

Service Learning Projects

Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center
Douglas Community Center
UHS/UMS Campus Clean Up
Cards/notes to senior citizens/veterans
*We are seeking additional service learning opportunities, please contact us if interested.

Freedom School has a maximum of 50 students across middle school and high school. Enrollment has been capped as of 2/3/23.

Alternative Day Time Program

Part-Time, hybrid model between in person learning at UMS/UHS, homebound (voluntary or expelled), and/or alternative education for 1-3 class periods.
Focus is on credit recovery, passing current classes, and small learning environment for students to be more successful academically, behaviorally, socially/emotionally
Individual Alternative Learning Plans will be developed with academic and behavioral goals.
4 week progress monitoring and communication to stakeholders

OPEN HOUSE FOR FREEDOM SCHOOLS AND ADULT ED IS FEB. 28 FROM 5-6:30 P.M.

View the full presentation

10. 2 District’s Crisis Planning Team Update

The Board received an update on the deployment of the new CrisisGo notification app and were given a demo of the basic features and functionality.

This app will be used during crisis events to communicate with staff
The app also allows the District to notify first responders and share information with them
It can also be used during any event that requires reunification
This is not replacing any other method of communication, it is being added as an additional tool in our kit

Watch the demonstration

View the full presentation

10. 3 Be SMART Presentation

Be SMART is a program developed by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to bring together

parents and all adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety.

The Be SMART program encourages secure firearm safety as an essential part of home safety. Ideas on how parents and adults can normalize conversations about gun safety to prevent child gun deaths and injuries were also shared.

View the full presentation

10.4 Wiley Asbestos Abatement Project

Wiley was built in 1950 with an addition in 1957. In recent years, administration (district & building), has remediated and made improvements; however, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain a safe and comfortable learning environment.

Our highest priority concerns include the following:

Inaccurate accounts of “leaking asbestos glue dots”; asbestos tile concerns
Roof is beyond it’s life expectancy and experiencing leaks and dry rot
Boiler replacement
Sewer lines are full of sediment and are partially collapsed
Water lines have built up sediment and need replaced
HVAC inconsistencies; hallway heat is not operational

Recent Financial Developments

We do not have to wait 2-3 years to begin the Wiley renovation project.

We currently have the funds, personnel, and expertise available to complete an ongoing Facilities Committee Goal to fully abate Wiley Elementary in SY24.

Timeline

2-3 months for bids, sampling, and inspection
1 month to empty the building and store items
minimum of 6 months for actual abatement
Project Scope - includes a complete abatement of the floors, ceilings, pipes, new windows (does not include the gym floor)

Enrollment

District enrollment has remained flat the past 12 years.
The Thomas Paine renovation has created new classroom spaces that will remain empty if student placements are unchanged for next school year.

We currently have the space to place Wiley students in our existing schools. For FY24 we need 232 seats, which includes rising 1st-5th grade and incoming K students.

King - 72 available seats
Leal - 49 available seats
Thomas Paine - 80 available seats
DPW - 22 available seats
Yankee Ridge - 73 available seats

Walking zones for alternate schools

70% of Students are within a walking zone for one other elementary school

50% are within a walking zone for at least 3 other elementary schools

There would be no additional transportation costs.

Student Transitions

As students are strategically placed into other elementary schools, informational sessions welcoming families will occur.

Tours and Meet and Greet sessions
Learning More About Unique Qualities of the School
Other Support Services On Site (ASCCP, HIT, First Student, etc.)

Petitioning will still be an option for families.
Students will be assigned as close as feasible to where they live and will be “grandfathered” for any attendance boundary changes that may occur in the future.

Human Considerations

HR has reviewed all open positions, vacancies, upcoming retirements, resignations, and natural attrition and can ensure that all current Wiley teachers and support staff have options.

This restructuring will help staffing shortages district-wide. We would be able to fill open positions and vacancies with licensed, trained educators across the district.

Timeline:

April Notify Wiley families of new student placements

May Work with First Student on transportation changes
Host Meet and Greets at New Schools

Future Considerations for the Redistricting and Facilities Committees for their 2023-24 planning:

Renovating Wiley to reopen as a 6th neighborhood elementary school
Renovating Wiley as a “Destination Location” (e.g., International Baccalaureate, Balanced Calendar, Magnet School or STEAM/Math Academy, Fine Arts Academy)