Superintendent Update: 1/28/22

To view past superintendent updates, please click here. To view weekly updates online, please visit our District Updates archive on our website.

When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week in 1926, he realized the importance of providing a theme. The goal of the theme is to help us pay attention to significant developments that merit emphasis. The Black History Month 2022 theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” explores "the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine” but also more non-traditional fields. The 2022 theme celebrates the activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well."

At this point in the 21st century, the understanding of Black health and wellness is broader and more nuanced than ever, especially amid a pandemic. This year’s theme intends to create a platform that shines a light on the multiple facets of Black health and wellness through education and activism. Follow the themed activities for "Black Health and Wellness" to learn about how you can embrace the rituals and traditions shared during Black History Month.

This Sunday, January 30, at 2 p.m. the District will kick off Black History Month at Dr. Williams Elementary School with a celebration in honor of Mrs. Janice Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell spearheaded similar events in the District for many years. Click here for more information and to access the flyer. On Monday, February 7, the District will celebrate National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID). See the full update for additional details or you can view our district's 2022 NAAPID plans here. Families are encouraged to join the activities virtually.

COVID Updates

We have been sharing updated guidance for the shortened quarantine and isolation period and protocols for students returning to school. If you would like more detailed information, review the full slides from the 1/18/2022 COVID-19 Board Presentation here. Here are a few important highlights:

• The District is providing KN95 masks to staff and students returning from quarantine. These masks must be worn during days 6-10.

• Schools have designated lunch spaces for students returning from the shortened quarantine.

• The Test to Stay option began this week for close contacts.

• Outbreak testing is underway and happening throughout the district.

• Information on ventilation in buildings

• A Return to School Health Screening Forms must be completed by families prior to students returning on Days 6-10.

If you have specific COVID related questions, please contact your building administrator(s), District Nurse Amy Marx, amarx@usd116.org, or contactus@usd116.org.

We also encourage families to upload your new or updated vaccination card. It is a fairly easy process through Skyward Family Access! Once you login into Family Access, click on "Online Forms" on the left toolbar. You will see a link to complete a COVID vaccination form. Once you locate your file and upload it, then you are done! I have also attached instructions with screenshots from Family Access.

Many initiatives and much effort have been put into maintaining in-person learning for our students. This week we celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the start of our COVID-19 testing program. Thank you to the many staff who have been with the COVID testing program and proudly lead this effort since its inception a year ago. We are starting to see our diligence to testing pay off as our district is experiencing a slight decrease in positive cases; click here to view these numbers on the District’s Data Dashboard.

5Essentials Survey

The 5 Essentials Survey is OPEN! USD116 parents, students, teachers, and others from across Illinois are asked to participate in the annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. This is an opportunity for all our teachers, parents, and students to have their voices heard so that we may foster strong relationships and refine the learning environment.

You may take the survey by visiting https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/ and selecting the appropriate survey to begin.

For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, please visit https://www.isbe.net/Pages/5Essentials-Survey.aspx or click on these flyers for additional details. 5E English Parent Info 5E Spanish Parent Info 5E French Parennt Info

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

In closing, I would like to take a moment to honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 (yesterday), the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides. "The writing of history and the act of remembering brings dignity and justice to those whom the perpetrators of the Holocaust intended to obliterate."

In solidarity and remembrance,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum,

Superintendent

Dr. Ivory-Tatum,

Superintendent

The District is proactively planning ahead for an E-Learning Day on Tuesday, February 22. This will be an asynchronous workday for students. We encourage families and staff to take advantage of this day following an extended weekend to get tested before returning to school/work, especially if you have traveled. We will offer additional drive-thru testing on Wednesday morning, Feb. 23. Please be on the lookout for more details about this in the coming weeks.

Please see the full letter to families that was sent on Jan. 26

If you have any questions regarding the E-Learning day or assignments, please contact your child’s teacher or building administrator.

The public is invited as Urbana School District #116 celebrates the start of Black History Month. There will be a welcome message given by a former student, a song dedicated to Janice Mitchell and a brief speech, “Why Black History Month is Important,” given by former Superintendent, Dr. Preston Williams. This will be followed by a balloon release. The event will be held outside in the front parking lot. Please dress accordingly.

National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is a day for parents to visit their children’s schools, see what their children experience daily at school, and to support their children’s educational futures. NAAPID has been a traditional day of parent involvement in Urbana for many years. On Monday, February 7, Urbana School District 116 schools is hosting several virtual events to celebrate NAAPID with our community.

Find out what's happening in your student's school here: https://usd116.org/naapid-2022/

If you haven't already, be sure to opt-in to receive USD text alerts! USD116 utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages, straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more.

You can participate in this free service* just by texting “Yes” to 67587.

You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”.

SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy Pledge, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.

Parents and guardians of USD116 students are invited to complete a survey about their child's school. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and is available in several languages. It is completely anonymous.

The annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent/guardian, this opportunity allows you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness.

The survey is open through March 11: https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/

The 2020 Census data indicates that School Board Member Districts have grown disproportionately over the past decade, thereby requiring redistricting in 2021 to achieve greater equality between Districts.

Based on the Board’s discussion, the new apportionment map will include the following six criteria:

• Sub-districts that are substantially equal in population based on the 2020 US Census
• Sub-districts that are contiguous in territory
• Sub-districts that are compact
• Sub-districts maintain proper minority balance in compliance with voter’s rights act
• Sub-districts that exhibit equitable distribution of University of Illinois students
• Sub-districts where at least 2 BOE representatives are attached to an existing elementary school attendance area

The deadline for the public to submit a map is March 1. Directions on how to do this along with other helpful information is available on our website: https://usd116.org/redistricting/

Last weekend at the Big 12 tournament and Olympia tournament, two athletes wrestled their way to 2nd place finishes:

• Andre Hunt at 220 lbs
• Deonta Hill at 195 lbs

Congrats to both athletes!

The Urbana Swim and Dive Team took home a 3rd place finish at last weekend's Twin City Championship Meet. Junior, Jack Lusakembi, took a second place finish in diving. #ProudofU

Students to be honored for doing good in community WCIA

Urbana school district's new CFO an 'Urbanite through and through' The News Gazette

Meet the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation's Class of 2022 The News Gazette

Families, we need your help reminding students to keep their masks on, over their nose and mouth, while at school and on the MTD and yellow buses. This helps keep our school community safe and helps keep us IN-PERSON! We appreciate your continued support!

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