USD116 BOE Update: August 3, 2021
from Superintendent Dr. Ivory-Tatum
Urbana Project Ignition Recognized
Project Ignition's mission is to save lives by promoting seatbelt usage and eliminating both distracted and reckless driving.
Administrative Personnel Appointment
On Tuesday, August 3, the Board of Education approved Dr. Brandon Caffey as the District's first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Dr. Caffey currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Normal Community West High School. He is the creative visionary and founder of the Normal West Black Student Union, the Umoja African-American High School Graduation Ceremony and the Right of Passage: Father & Son Breakfast in the Bloomington/Normal Community.
Dr. Caffey’s professional and civic involvement has earned various accolades including: Peoria
School District Principal of Year, the Town of Normal’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Relations Award, Alton High School Distinguished Alumni, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Brother of the Year (Illinois District and Midwest Region).
See Dr. Caffey's full bio on the USD #116 website.
CDC Guidance and Back to School Logistics Presentation
Key Take-Aways from the CDC Guidance:
- Prevention and mitigation strategies are still important
- In-Person Instruction is the top priority
- Universal mask wearing and physical distancing are recommended
- Changes to prevention strategies should be slow; gradual
MASK WEARING POLICIES:
CDC Recommendations: In areas with substantial and high transmission and in
K-12 schools, the CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated
individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings.
The CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status to help prevent spread of the Delta variant and protect
others.
Given the mixing of vaccinated and unvaccinated people in schools (students and staff), and the fact that vaccines are not available to children under 12, USD #116 will start the year with Universal Masking at all levels.
We will re-evaluate the universal mask policy in mid-September. In the meantime, we will continue to offer vaccination clinics and provide robust testing measures as pieces of our layered prevention strategies.
MORE INFORMATION:
- Back to school informational flyer
- Presentation
- Watch the presentation on YouTube (20:30)
- The full plan will be posted to the website and shared with families soon.
Sub-District 7 Board of Education Member Vacancy
Per Board Policy 2:70 Vacancies of the Board of Education - Filling Vacancies: Board President, Paul Poulosky, discussed the qualifications, process, and timeline to fill the upcoming vacancy in Sub-District 7 following the June 29, 2021 announcement of Member Dimit’s resignation effective August 18, 2021.
This appointment will be from September 7, 2021 until April 2023. At a minimum, applicants for the School Board position must:
● Be a United States Citizen
● Be at least 18 years of age
● Be a resident of Illinois and the District for at least one year immediately
preceding the appointment
● Be a resident of sub-district 7
● Be a registered voter
● Not be a child sex offender
● Not hold another incompatible public office
● Not have a prohibited interest in any contract with the District
● Not hold certain types of prohibited State or federal employment
Applicants should show familiarity with the Board's policies regarding general
duties and responsibilities of a School Board and a School Board member, including fiduciary
responsibilities, conflict of interest, ethics and gift ban. The Board's policies are available on the USD #116 website.
Statement of Interest forms may be picked up at 1101 E. University, Suite B, Urbana, IL 61802
beginning on Monday, August 2, 2021.
A completed statement of interest, current resume and a letter that includes your reasons for
wanting to serve on the Urbana School District #116 Board of Education must be turned in by 4
p.m. on Friday, August 13 to 1101 E. University. All materials should be placed in a sealed
envelope to attention: School Board President, Paul Poulosky.
Interviews will be conducted during a special meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday,
August 31, 2021; time to be announced.
A virtual public forum moderated by the League of Women Voters will be held on Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.
The selected candidate will be seated at the September 7 Board of Education meeting.
2021-22 Board of Education Goals
Read more on possible Study Topics and future Board Work HERE.
Board Committees
Action Items and Resolutions
10.1 Approval of various personnel items will be requested APPROVED
10.2 Approval of various administrative personnel items will be requested APPROVED
Call for Future Special/Executive Meetings
Superintendent Report
Dr. Ivory-Tatum’s Superintendent Report is available HERE.
Urbana School District #116
Email: contactus@usd116.org
Website: usd116.org
Location: 205 North Race Street, Urbana, IL, USA
Phone: (217) 384-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/usd116
Twitter: @urbana116