Superintendent Update:Aug. 11, 2023

To view past superintendent updates, please visit District Updates on our website.

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! It is a special time to be part of Urbana School District 116. Last year was a very busy one for Urbana Schools, and this year will be no different, with many district initiatives, special programs, and opportunities for community engagement to come. This week, I was thrilled to be able to extend greetings to our new staff members. District leaders and lead mentors spent several days with 54 new hires during New Teacher Orientation. They are excited to join our committed and dedicated staff across the district. I am encouraged that amidst the teacher shortage, we were able to hire a diverse group with their own unique experiences, personalities, talents, and backgrounds to be part of the USD116 Family. Please help us welcome these new staff members to the Urbana Family!

We are excited to announce the completion of two renovation projects at Thomas Paine Elementary and the Urbana High School Band Room. Please celebrate with us at their ribbon-cutting ceremonies on August 15, 2023, at UHS at 4:00 p.m. and Thomas Paine at 5:00 p.m. I particularly want to thank the staff, students, and families at Thomas Paine for your patience and flexibility these last two years. The Thomas Paine family experienced several challenges and setbacks during the construction process, but they handled each one with a positive spirit and attitude. It has indeed been a labor of love that is coming to fruition. Enjoy your fabulous new school and outdoor spaces this year!

This school year, we will embark on many celebrations and challenges as we share information and action steps from the Equity Audit/Equity Action Plan and the Dual Language Program Evaluation. These past two years have truly been an Equity in Action Journey that we hope the entire USD116 family takes with us. As our leader, I know that we have many areas of strength, but there are also areas of improvement related to student achievement, opportunity, access, and accountability, and we are committed to making progress in these areas.

Our recent findings and recommendations, whether related to our equity work, dual language program, or facilities, will inform our future work on our Strategic Plan moving forward. Students, staff, and families will have multiple opportunities to engage in the process. I encourage you to continue to visit the District’s website and follow our social media for important events and information throughout the year. I will continue regularly providing updates and reports to the Urbana community through my Superintendent and Board of Education Updates and communications.

We are on this Equity Journey together, and as Superintendent, I am proud of the fact that, as a leader, I’m visible and connected with the USD community; however, as we kick off several important initiatives leading to Strategic Planning, I am even more committed to listening to concerns from all stakeholders including our students and families, collaborating with staff, and being available and present in our schools for more open dialogue. I look forward to an exciting school year where we all reconnect with our why and find joy every day.

#UrbanaBetterTogether2023

All my best,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Join your school for its Back-to-School/Meet & Greet night. The dates and times for these events are listed in the flyer below.

Students entering kindergarten, sixth or ninth grades must complete a physical exam by the first day of school. Students will not be allowed to attend school without the required immunizations and physical exam.

Still need a physical or immunizations: The Urbana School Health Center offers primary care and dental services. Call (217) 239-4220 to schedule a medical appointment. Call (217) 403-5477 to schedule a dental appointment. Students can be treated without a parent or guardian present if they complete the proper forms. All the necessary new patient forms, minor consent for and release of information forms are on the Promise Healthcare website in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin: https://www.promisehealth.org/documents/

Other requirements:

• Students entering 12th grade have a vaccine requirement.
• Students entering kindergarten need a vision exam by Oct. 15.
• Students entering kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades also need a dental exam by May 15.

More information

August 16 the following grades attend school:

• Half of kindergarten classes*
• Grades 1-5
• 6th grade
• 9th grade
• UECS families have conferences/home visits

August 17 the following students attend:

• The second half of kindergarten classes*
• Grades 1-12
• UECS families have conferences/home visits

August 18:

• All students, UECS-12th grade, attend school

*Kindergarten families should have been notified by their student’s school when they should attend. If you have not received anything, please call the office on Monday.

Please click the following link for helpful resources to help you prepare for the upcoming school year, including information on school supplies, food service, transportation and more: First Day Ready

NEW THIS YEAR: You can view and download all food menus by using our new FDMealPlanner app! Simply scan the QR code and you can view your menus anywhere, anytime. Or go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search "FD MealPlanner"

Don’t want to install the app? You can visit the FDMealPlanner’s website where you can look up menus:

• https://www.fdmealplanner.com/
• type your school name
• choose the menu type you wish to see

UHS/UMS MTD riders, please see the following message from MTD:

• Check your eligibility: Contact your school and they will determine your eligibility for free rides based on your home address. They will place a sticker or label on your student ID, which can then be used as a bus pass to let you ride to and from school fare-free.
• Plan your trips: At mtd.org/maps-and-schedules/schools you can select your school from the list and find your trip by searching or locating your neighborhood. This will generate an itinerary and map for your trip to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Make sure to save the itinerary to reference throughout the year.
• Ask questions: We are here to help! At mtd.org/schools, many frequently asked questions have answers available to reference. There is also an informational “Virtual Learn to Ride” video available on this page. If you don’t see an answer to your question using these resources, please call MTD at 217.384.8188.

You're Invited! Come celebrate the completion of two construction projects with #USD116! There will be two ribbon cuttings on Tuesday, August 15.

• 4 p.m. | Urbana High School Band Room | This will be held outside, please enter through the Athletic Complex.
• 5 p.m. | Thomas Paine Elementary
• More info: https://usd116.org/tp-bandroom-ribbon-cutting/

Urbana School District will be at Champaign-Urbana Days in Douglass Park on Aug. 12 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. We will be handing out school supplies! Stop by and say hello!

Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 1101 East University Avenue, Suite B, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: 2173843600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Twitter: @urbana116