Superintendent Update

from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Superintendent Update from USD116 Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum

May 17, 2024 Superintendent Update

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

Greetings, USD116 Family and Friends,

Earlier this week, we announced that Urbana Middle School Visual Art Teacher Rusty Clevenger was named the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Gene Amberg Excellence in Teaching Endowed Chair from the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. During Mr. Clevenger’s 15 years in USD116, he has taught elementary visual art at Dr. Williams (Prairie), Wiley, and Urbana Middle School. Mr. Clevenger received recommendation letters from colleagues, current and past administrators, and current and former students. In addition to the title, he will receive a monetary award to recognize his accomplishments. Rusty Clevenger is the seventh recipient of the Amberg Excellence in Teaching Award. We are proud that Mr. Clevenger will represent UMS and USD116 in this role for the next three years.


This week, we celebrated numerous achievements throughout the district. We honored UHS Class of 2024 Seniors for their academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, and scholarships at Honors Night. We also honored fourteen USD116 retirees, who collectively represent 264 years of service, during our annual Board of Education Retirement Dinner; seven were able to attend in person. I invite you to watch the 2024 Retirement Video to learn more about these remarkable retirees. Additionally, UMS recognized the achievements of fourteen track athletes who qualified for State with a celebratory parade. We wish them all the best in this weekend’s IESA state tournament in Peoria.


All elementary schools have hosted their Kindergarten Open House and Welcome to Our School nights. Thank you to all of the families who visited their new schools and our Kindergarten families who learned more about what to expect in Kindergarten. We look forward to seeing you all again in August before school starts at our various Welcome Back to School events. To help us continue to prepare for the new year, all families must register their students. Online Registration for returning students opened on May 1st. Please log on to Skyward Family Access to register your returning student(s) by July 26. If you will be a bus rider next year, you must register by July 26 to ensure bus transportation has been finalized for the first day of school. You can also call the school's main office for assistance or find more information on our website: https://usd116.org/registration/.


The last two weeks of school will go so fast, so please make sure you have marked your calendars for upcoming 5th and 8th-grade promotion ceremonies and the UHS Graduation Ceremony at State Farm Center on May 23 at 6 p.m.


Enjoy the celebrations and events to come,

Dr. Ivory-Tatum

Online Registration

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Online Registration for returning students is open. Please log on to Skyward Family Access to register your returning student(s) by July 26. If you need help, please email onlineregistration@usd116.org. Please include your student’s name, school and your contact information in the email. You can also call the school's main office for assistance.You can find more information on our website: https://usd116.org/registration/.

Good News in the U

UHS Honors Night

On May 16, we highlighted the incredible achievements of the Class of 2024 during Honors Nigh at Urbana High School. Congrats to each one of you. Your hard work, dedication and passion should be celebrated.

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USD #116 Staff Retirement Celebration

Thank you to our 2024 retirees for your years of service. We wish you well!


  • Ellen Baxter, UMS Teacher
  • Kevin Collins, District Grounds
  • Pam Duda, District CASE VI/DHH Coordinator
  • Edwin Durham, UMS Teacher
  • Julie Erlinger, District Professional Development and Teacher Leadership Coordinator
  • Dan Lance, UHS Building Operations
  • Laura Lindeman, UMS Teacher
  • Lorna Lutter-Adams, Yankee Ridge Teaching Assistant
  • Liz Lynch, Yankee Ridge Teacher
  • Jill McPike, Thomas Paine Lead Secretary
  • Rochell Mercer, District Accounting Clerk
  • Karen Stephen, Thomas Paine Teaching Assistant
  • Nancy Yeagle, District Occupational Therapist
  • Jo Young, Thomas Paine Teaching Assistant

Mayoral Recognition Program

Congratulations to the 102 students who completed more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service this school year.

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USD Dual Language Program and Illinois State University Partnership

The UHS Class of 2024 includes the first group of USD #116 students to participate in the Dual Language Program since its inception.


This year, the Urbana High School Dual Language Program teamed up with Illinois State University to expose first generation Latine high school students to ISU’s Bilingual/Bicultural program, as a way to build interest in pursuing a profession in bilingual education.


A highlight of this partnership was a campus tour at ISU, led by first generation, bilingual Latine students and professors. The day included a workshop and presentation on preparing for the college enrollment process.


Read more about this partnership: https://usd116.org/blooming-bilingual-leaders/

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UHS Receives Path to Zero Energy Award

Urbana High School has been awarded the Path to Zero Energy Award from the Illinois Green Schools Project for their energy consumption project.


The Engineering Club at Urbana High School examined the energy consumption of the engineering lab. After auditing the classroom and researching solar panels, they purchased a portable solar panel kit with a grant through Illinois Green Schools. They then set up the solar panels at outdoor events, demonstrating and promoting green energy to students and staff.

Community Events/Programs

Upcoming Dates

  • May 23: UHS Graduation

  • May 27: Memorial Day - No School

  • May 30: Last day of school: Early dismissal. Elementary 12:45 p.m. | UMS 1:15 p.m. | UHS 12:26 p.m.

Urbana School District #116
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