USD116 BOE Update: March 11, 2025

The Urbana Board of Education approved the appointment of Katrina Williams as Assistant Principal at Urbana Middle School.

Williams is a dedicated educator and instructional leader with more than 20 years experience in instructional leadership, curriculum development, instructional design and professional learning facilitation.

Welcome Katrina!

Read Katrina's bio

The Board was presented the First Read of the 2026-27 school calendar, which follows the approved 2025-26 calendar closely, and is more inclusive to all cultures/religions.

• Kept Yom Kippur in this calendar as a Fall Holiday (September 21, 2026)
• Parent/Teacher Conferences are before Fall Break in 2026
• Added Eid Al-Fitr as a Spring Holiday (March 10, 2027)
• The last day of the year is May 28, 2027 (if no winter weather days used)

Approval will be requested during the April 1, 2025 Board of Education Meeting.

View the proposed 2026-27 school calendar

Dr. Ivory-Tatum gave the Board an update on the Strategic Planning process. Almost 300 people completed the initial survey gathering feedback. This included responses from families, staff and community members. Two of the five community listening meetings at the elementary schools are complete. The next community meetings are March 12 at Leal, March 13 at Thomas Paine and April 2 at Dr. King. There are also several small group engagements planned in different areas of the community.

On April 16 and 17, USD116 stakeholders (Superintendent, District Admin, Community Members, two Board Members, teacher leaders, support staff) will develop a new comprehensive strategic plan to guide our work in ensuring students are college, career, life, and future-ready. The plan is for an outside person to help facilitate the sessions.

• The first day will be looking at a lot of our District data and our new Portrait of a Graduate, and setting our Mission and Values
• Day two will focus on setting goals for our priority areas

The two Board Members who will attend in April are Jennifer Hixson and Lola Jones.

Dr. Ivory-Tatum's Superintendent Report: March 11, 2025

Highlights:

• Kindergarten Registration is April 10
• Thanks to all who helped with Read Across America
• Mayoral Recognition Program is April 16