USD116 BOE Update: Feb. 6, 2024

The District has selected a new ELA-SLA (Literacy and English Language Arts/Spanish Language Arts) curriculum for K-5

• K-5 ELA: Amplify CKLA
• K-5 SLA: Amplify Caminos
• 6-8 ELA: HMH Products
• 6-8 SLA: Still under consideration*
• 9-12 ELA: Still under consideration*
• 9-12 SLA: Still under consideration*

* Decision must be made by February 14, 2024

The District started researching a new ELA-SLA (Literacy and English Language Arts/Spanish Language Arts) in April 2023.

• All district stakeholders were given an opportunity for feedback on literacy materials from two publishers (HMH and Amplify)

Next Steps:

• Training on Science of Reading
• Training on use of selected materials: Provided to classroom teachers and admin in buildings
• Adjust instructional time
• Training on co-teaching model and use of materials
• Adoption of progress monitoring tool: A way to check a student's progress every few weeks

Reminders:

• No single curriculum will meet all of our needs
• The intention is to commit to the selected curriculum for five years.

View presentation

Q: What is the cost for this program compared to what we currently have?

A: Right now we don't have one core curriculum. This costs more than $900,000 for over five years of materials. The recommendation is to use ESSER funds to make the initial large purchase.

Q: What is the advantage of having one curriculum K-5 and another 6-8 (versus having one across the board)

A: This will help us get our kids performing on grade level. The amplify program for middle school isn't as strong. One of the concerns at the middle school was for their EL students. There is a specific EL piece in HMH. For the middle school level, the offerings in Spanish were more limited than they were for elementary. We (secondary team) are currently reviewing two different curriculums that align better with the Spanish Language Standards at the middle and high school level.

The architects gave an update on the design for the Urbana Middle School Sixth Grade Center.

Timeline

• Construction is expected to begin in July 2024 and take approximately 13 months
• The 6th grade center will open to students for the 2025-26 school year

Cost Estimates

• Around $24 million

View presentation

Q: The main entry with this plan, it only has two single doors. Have you thought about whether the entry way would accommodate metal detectors if they were needed in the future? Would it make sense to plan for that now?

A: (IGA) I think two for the main entry is reasonable. We can look at widening the main entry way to allow some additional space.

Q: There is a lot of roof space. Have we thought about renting or purchasing solar panels?

A: We have talked about designing the roof so solar panels can be added in the future.

Q: For the multipurpose room, has there been any consideration to having a second stage space in this room?

A: It's possible we could accommodate a small stage or risers that could be stored when not in use.

Q: Why is the Spanish Dual Language Program not being placed at Wiley?

A: Wiley was a two stand school (two classrooms for each grade) with around 200 students. The district is planning for 450 students in the Spanish Dual Language building.

• The existing Wiley building is not large enough for Spanish DL. The initial estimate showed we would have to add 8-10 classrooms to make the building big enough to house the DL program. This is in addition to other renovations we would need, to ensure the Spanish DL students have the same program opportunities as our other students (fine arts space, multipurpose room, new gym, etc). The scope of this work was outside of our budget for this project.
• Another factor we considered was our enrollment needs. If we move 450 students from Dr. Williams and Leal, that would result in empty classrooms in our other elementary buildings. Our elementary enrollment is flat and our enrollment analysis isn't projected to grow. However, our middle school population is expected to grow in the next few years, and the current middle school is already overcrowded and has very significant needs.

NAMING THE BUILDING: The intention from the beginning was to have this building be an extension of the existing Urbana Middle School. However, we have not officially named the building the "Urbana Middle School Sixth Grade Center". The Board instructed the Superintendent/Administration to have a committee bring back a recommendation to the Board to vote on.

• The Board policy manual says the Board will direct the Superintendent and administration to put have a naming committee find a name for a new building or change the name of an existing place.
• The Board President asked the committee to also think about ways to honor Flossie Wiley as part of this process.
• The policy around naming a building after someone requires different steps. Including a formal letter to the Superintendent and a minimum number of signatures.

The District reviewed the long-term and short-term projects under consideration for completion over the next several years.

• List of long term projects

Dr. Ivory-Tatum's Superintendent Report is available here: February 6, 2024

Reminder: There are two upcoming public input opportunities on the new boundary plans and recommendations:

An electronic survey will be sent out to all families and staff during the public input dates. The survey will remain open until March 8.

The Student Ambassador Report is available here: February 6 Student Ambassador Report

Highlights:

• Mayoral Recognition Program: Students can enroll now
• UHS Students participated in One Winter Night