USD116 BOE Update: Oct. 1, 2024

The District Family Liaison, gave an update on McKinney-Vento Services and Community Partnerships. In Urbana School District, 97 students have been reported homeless so far this year. (July-October of 2024)

Supports in place:

• Mrs. Mitchell's Closet has six locations in the district (personal hygiene items/school supplies/clothes/etc available)
• Spring Job Fair for Parents: Held on a weekend in May 2024
• Mental Health Service Referrals: Made upon request to local low- and no-cost providers.
  
• Housing: Referrals to shelters or other housing providers
• Food: Tiger Market (mostly UHS families but does support other District families as well). Families are also provided with a list of food pantries.
• Clothing/Shoes: Items available through Mrs. Mitchell's closet and referrals are also given to other places that have free or reduced cost items.

Q: How do families find out about the services?

A: Teachers, social workers, administrators often assist families. We also share a lot of resources and information at community events.

Q: Is the intention to rehouse them here in Urbana?

A: We try to keep them in Urbana to keep consistency for the children. Sometimes we do have to place them in other areas if nothing is available in Urbana.

Q: Is there funding for emergency hotel stays this year?

A: We do not have the funding through the ROE this year, but we are working with other community partners to be able to provide emergency housing, especially in the winter months.

Q: What are the qualifications for families to work with Cunningham Township for housing?

A: It is income-based. The number of people in the household is also a qualifying factor.

Q: What is the most need in terms of items?

A: Hygiene products (deodorant/toothbrushes/toothpaste) and youth boys pants. There is an amazon wishlist if anyone would like to donate to Mrs. Mitchell's closest.

View the full presentation

The Director of Curriculum and Student Learning gave an update on the new language arts curriculum.

Elementary uses Amplify CKLA and Caminos (Yankee Ridge) for literacy. Amplify follows the Core Knowledge Sequence, a content-specific, cumulative, and coherent approach to knowledge building. This approach improves reading scores and closes achievement gaps by establishing a robust knowledge base that strengthens comprehension.

• Writing and reading instruction are integrated so students simultaneously strengthen their communication skills, comprehension, and confidence.
• mCLASS is given three times a year. It is an all-in-one system for Science of Reading-based universal screening, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, and instruction for grades K-6.

New positions for curriculum support:

• CKLA and Caminos coach on-site each week to work with teachers on implementing the curriculum.
• Curriculum Implementation Teachers
• Tier 1 Intensive Teachers
• Substitute Trainer/Mentor

Secondary Curriculum

• Into Literature (reading and writing): Grades 6-9
• Writable (writing): Grades 6-12
• Read 180 (Tier II Intervention for reading): Grades 6-10

View the full presentation

11.1 ISBE PE Waiver - Approved

The Board discussed the policy around Personal Technology and Social Media: Usage and Conduct. The Director of Communications with work on more specific guidelines to provide direction for staff when engaging in online social media activities and bring the recommendations back at a future meeting.

Board Members Langendorf and Stanton presented their recommendations for modifying the public participation policy.

Recommendations/Suggestions:

• Change the public comment time during the Board Meetings from 5 minutes to 3 minutes
• 1 hour limit on public comment
• Limit meetings to 3.5 hours and then have a vote if the meeting needs to be extended based on the agenda items.
• Move Board Reports to immediately following public comments with a limit of 3 minutes for Board members as well

In order to increase the time Board Members have to engage the public outside of Board Meetings the following was recommended:

• Each Board Member would meet with public in alternative settings (library, etc) two times a year (7 meetings over the course of the year where two Board Members would attend)
• Each Board Member would attend two PTA meetings/school meetings each year

Next step: A draft amendment to the current meeting policy (2:230) will be brought back to the Board for approval.

Dr. Ivory-Tatum's Superintendent Report: Oct. 1 Supt. Update

Highlights:

• Buddy Benches
• Panorama Family Survey: please complete

Student Ambassador Report: Oct. 1 Student Ambassador Report