Bonus City of Champaign Updates

We like to cover government and collaboration news on the Cheat Sheet, but a couple news items stood out as exceptional from the usual budgets and study sessions of today's other update post. City of Champaign employees working with Habitat for Humanity and neighborhood block parties organized with the help of the City of Champaign and the Champaign Park District!

First from the Daily Illini last week:

About 20 City of Champaign employees worked with Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County to help build a home last week as part of National Public Service Recognition Week...

Every year as part of the National Public Service Recognition Week, the city staff looks for an opportunity to give back to the community and work on team building skills...

“This great project with Habitat for Humanity allowed city employees who may not normally work together an opportunity to get to know each other better while working for a good cause,” said communications manager Jeff Hamilton.

The goal of Habitat for Humanity is to “bring people together to build homes, communities and hope,” according to their website.

The organization helps build sell quality and affordable homes to families at a 0% interest rate. It also provides educational programs for financial management and maintenance to homeowners.

Full article here. WCIA had coverage including a video segment on the block party at the Country Brook apartments last week:

After bullets flew through this neighborhood, the people living there are showing it's not getting them down.

The Champaign Park District and the city have been throwing block parties throughout the city for the last four years.

Thursday night was the first of the summer, and they brought it to a community that saw some violence.

Earlier this month, some who live in the Country Brook Apartments were awoken in the middle of the night, to the sound of gunfire.

Those same people came out to enjoy themselves and some with the complex say, this is one way they're showing moments like that don't define them...

As they watched the kids playing and having fun, it put a smile on their faces. No one was killed in that shooting. A man showed up at the hospital who had been shot. Police say he was expected to be okay.

This is one of three community block parties planned for the summer. They will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month and in a different neighborhood each time. 

Full coverage here. The Champaign Park District had an announcement for their Summer Neighborhood Block Parties program with the latest dates and locations at the link. The News-Gazette had information on the shooting earlier this month here.

City of Champaign Updates

So far this month, the Champaign City Council has focused heavily on budget issues and planning on local programs, infrastructure, etc. There are also a couple study sessions people may be interested in coming up. This Tuesday, the City Council will be looking at funding options for additional Fire staff at the Champaign Fire Department. More information on how that could improve services and a video segment at WCIA here (agenda information here). Next month at the June 25th study session, the Council will again be looking at the reentry housing issue. More information and links on the reentry housing issue at the most recent Cheat Sheet post on the subject here) that touched on veteran populations affected.

Budget issues have dominated the City Council meetings this month. The News-Gazette had an overview of the fiscal demands and pressures facing the Council towards after a meeting earlier in the month:

$3M in unmet needs take focus as Champaign council starts tackling budget
With budget season now in full swing, and the prospect of a $3 million price tag for unmet needs, Mayor Deb Feinen said this month will see a "very serious discussion" on what the city can afford — and how it can afford it.

City council members on Tuesday got their first look at the preliminary numbers for the budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year that starts July 1.

What's not included in the proposed budget, said finance director Kay Nees, are "many needs and council goals for which recurring funding has not been allocated." The city continues to face financial constraints due to slow revenue growth from sales and because of state actions siphoning off money from municipal pots...

One sticking point is about $625,000 needed for three firefighter positions that were previously funded through a grant. Another is the need for two more police officers to meet demand in the city, as well as money for training and to keep up with the cost of the SWAT, canine and high-tech-crimes units. Police will present a staffing study before the council next week.

City needs are expensive and plentiful, too. Nees said there are several temporary positions that should be made permanent if the city wants to continue to meet its level of service. And there are open positions for the director of the CU Fresh Start program and the city's diversity and advancement program, about which staff said "a full-time position is needed in order to make sure the program continues to succeed."

There's also the backlog of capital projects like the Garden Hills drainage-improvement project — which council member Clarissa Fourman said she was happy to see in the list — as well as needed work on arterial streets in the city and for processing the high number of applications and permits that a city with such high levels of development can expect.

Full article here with more information. The week after that the Council heard more on the Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative along with all of the funding and budget concerns with that. The News-Gazette coverage of that meeting had a lot of details here. There's a Cheat Sheet post on the Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative here.

The week after that the City Council had a helpful explanation and presentation of the Capital Improvement Plan for the public's benefit on CGTV (available here). In a nutshell the City plans out a decade in advance how to maintain and replace infrastructure as needed. This requires setting priorities and careful budgeting to get the most out of our tax money while ensuring public safety and the economy we rely on humming along as well.

The News-Gazette had an overview of the Capital Improvement Plan and budget issues in an article previewing the meeting here. Excerpt:

A number of projects still remain unfunded or underfunded, and additional ones are delayed beyond their optimal schedule, according to the memo prepared for tonight's council discussion.

Among them:

— New city facilities for vehicle maintenance, improvements to arterial streets and projects to fill sidewalk gaps, which are unfunded in the 10-year plan.

— The much-talked-about Garden Hills Drainage Improvements project, also nowhere in the 10-year plan, though council members have directed staff to look for ways to advance the project more quickly than scheduled.

— Parking lot rehab projects and maintenance, currently only funded to the level of emergency repairs, at $10,000 a year.

WCIA had a short overview and video segment on the same here. Additional News-Gazette coverage highlighted the concerns about a recession as an inevitability that must be planned for, but there's not a lot of wiggle room and there's only so much local governments can do if the recession is severe:

Planning and Development Director Bruce Knight said in 2010 and 2011, the city had to face tough decisions when it came to what it wanted to fund and what it had to do without. Often, that meant focusing on maintenance projects while leaving large arterial-street projects, infrastructure expansions and other projects on the back burner, he said.

"The capital improvement fund is the most likely place to make cuts" in the event of a recession, Knight said Tuesday night before the Champaign City Council. "It's always possible that a recession would see us cut funding. We did that back in 2010 and 2011. We had to delay projects, and we're really just now catching up. It's taken us until now to repay the fund and get back to full funding of capital projects."
...
A recession would eliminate the flexibility to add new projects and address needs that pop up, he said.

That article available here. The Champaign Park District Board's collaboration with the Champaign City Council on summer camps was also in the news with the next steps towards approving extending access to the program to the Garden Hills neighborhood and Douglas Park area directly:

As many as 78 boys and girls will have an opportunity to take part in camps in the Garden Hills neighborhood and at Douglass Park this summer.

The Champaign Park Board voted 3-0 at a special meeting Wednesday night to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Champaign whereby the city will provide $32,478 to fund the camps, while the park district will provide personnel to run them.

The agreement is expected to be ratified by the Champaign City Council at an upcoming meeting.

"This is a phenomenal program for the kids," park board President Craig Hays said. "This is a great example of how the park district and the city work together for the good of our children."

Park district Executive Director Joe DeLuce said the district and the city have been involved with camps since 2007.

More preliminary information at the full article here. One last addition, Smile Politely had an overview of the Festival District open alcohol container event (Friday Night Live 2019 on May 31st) approved under new liquor rules in Champaign here. News-Gazette has more details here.

HAZMAT, Champaign FD and the Marathon Terminal

 

Earlier this month, Tom's Mailbag had information on the history and safety issues with the big Marathon Champaign Terminal on the west side of town where you may have seen giant tanks and been stuck behind fuel trucks coming and going. The part that stood out to me was the collaboration with local government and safety in case of a spill or accident. They listed details of their response plans and regular training and collaboration with Champaign County Emergency Management Agency and the City of Champaign Fire Department, which is part of MABAS 28 regional response for HAZMAT and other collaborations as well:

— Utilization of the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) System to constantly monitor pipelines and check for potential pipeline leaks. If a potential leak is detected, an Operations Center systems analyst is immediately alerted so that the line is shut down.

— Development and maintenance of an Emergency Response Plan (OPA 90) that details our response strategies.

— Utilization of the company's Corporate Emergency Response Team to ensure an organized response, utilizing best practices.

— Conducting HAZWOPER training for employees so that they can respond quickly and effectively to ensure the safety of themselves and the public.

— Conducting annual emergency response tabletop and equipment deployment exercises to ensure preparedness.

— Formation of the Rapid Ecological Assessment Countermeasure Team to coordinate the ecological activities associated with an emergency response."
...
John Dwyer, the coordinator for the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency, said his organization has a general "hazmat response plan" for hazardous materials incidents.

Dwyer said Marathon also sponsors regular pipeline training seminars for first responders and excavators who work in the area.

Champaign Fire Chief Gary Ludwig said his department has "an excellent working relationship with the Marathon plant in Champaign. They consider safety a priority as much as we do. We regularly and often meet with them and train with them.

More information at the full article here, including more background and details.

City of Urbana Updates

There's been quite a bit of news related to Urbana government lately. There was a new superintendent for Urbana schools (update here). There was financial pressure from property tax issues threatening historic buildings of the UI Greek system houses (more at this UIUC post here). But on issues more directly related to City of Urbana government I have City Council updates on the budget along with links on liquor, the Landmark hotel, lawsuits, and a library survey.


Urbana City Council Roundup:

The May 13th Committee of the Whole (preview coverage) and May 20th City Council meetings were both covered in the News-Gazette and culminated in some spending cuts and attempts to increase revenue. From yesterday's paper:

Urbana planning range of cuts in effort to fill $2.5 million budget deficit
...
Now, for the third year in a row — with a goal of cutting $500,000 — the city announced Monday that it would be continuing to make cutbacks, revenue increases and other changes to deal with the $2.5 million structural deficit in the next fiscal year, which starts in July.

That means a staffing reduction of about 5.25 full-time-equivalent employees from the current budget, in addition to five others over the past two years, putting the total at 10 full-time employees let go since 2018. That's about 4 percent of the city's workforce coming from police, public works and executive departments, City Administrator Carol Mitten said.

Funding for the Urbana Free Library will also be reduced by $59,100 — its proportionate share of the city's $500,000 expenditure reduction goal.

As for revenue increases, the city is in talks to raise its package liquor tax in an effort that is projected to generate about $220,000 a year, and an increase in late fees for unpaid parking fines will generate about $72,000 a year.

More at the full article here. WILL had additional coverage here. Some of the issues such as the liquor tax and procedures for the Council approving planning developments in coverage ahead of the Committee of the Whole meeting here. After that meeting there was additional coverage of some of the nuance of the liquor tax and an explanation of some of the funding for assistance programs. Here's an excerpt on the City and Champaign County Health Care Consumers collaborating:

In other business, Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth told aldermen about the social-services agencies that have applied for Consolidated Social Service Funding money this year.

That $225,000 pool is intended to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that sponsor social services for Urbana residents and combines funds from the city, township and federal governments.

The committee tasked with finding appropriate organizations to receive the funds considered several criteria and implemented a scoring system. The top scorer, which requested $28,000, is Champaign County Health Care Consumers...

Jakobsson said the organization provides help for people who are still "falling through the cracks," adding that it is there "to provide either material help or informed advice for navigating this system."

And it's a complex system, Chynoweth said, that the township currently doesn't have the expertise to deal with in addition to its other missions. She said Health Care Consumers "is an example of an organization where we refer people to on a daily basis," as it is the primary entity that helps people apply for government programs like LINK.

More at that full article here. The Mayor's office has been making news with the Landmark Hotel and potential new buyer. The News-Gazette had more on that last week:

Urbana's Landmark Hotel may finally have a buyer
...
Spiritos has also signed a letter of intent with the city of Urbana to redevelop the hotel at 210 S. Race St. into a boutique Hilton Tapestry-branded hotel.

"I started working with the city when I got the property under contract," Spiritos said Thursday.

Spiritos and Yuan declined to divulge the sale price, but the letter of intent with the city states that the maximum price for the land is $1 million...

Under the letter of intent signed Thursday, the city would reimburse the developer at least $5.2 million through its central tax-increment-financing district once the $16.8 million project is completed.

With interest on the expected 10-year bond, Marlin said the total cost to the city could be about $6.5 million.

More at the full article here, including more details about the possible sale, contract, incentives, and a history of the Landmark's previous history of sales falling through. Additional coverage at WILL here.

In an ongoing legal dispute with the City of Urbana and Stark is going to court. From Tom's Mailbag last week:

The dispute between the city and Stark Excavating Inc. has gone to Champaign County Circuit Court before Judge Jason Bohm. The city alleges a breach of and default on its contract with Stark. It wants "an amount sufficient to properly fix or remove and replace all of the cracked and defective concrete pavement" installed by Stark...

The city alleges that Stark breached the contract in several technical aspects of concrete work, such as the failure to ensure that dowel bars — short steel bars within concrete — were correctly installed and lubricated, to use a mechanical spreader for placing concrete and to ensure that the concrete "haul time" did not extend beyond specified time limits...

Urbana claims that because of defective work, "the expected lifespan of the reconstruction work performed by Stark on Windsor Road will be significantly shortened" and that the city will incur substantial costs repairing or replacing the concrete. It claims it has been damaged in excess of $2 million.

In its response Stark "admits it conferred with the city about pavement cracking but denies both that the cracking was excessive or the product of Stark's work. The city, although conferring with Stark about the pavement cracking, never definitively ordered Stark to repair or replace cracked panels."

More details, including a history of the dispute and more information on the claims of both parties here.

On the Urbana Free Library Survey (available here):

A survey asking patrons and others how they use the library and how satisfied they are with its various collections, programs and services is available online and at the library through May 27.

The library's previous strategic plan has expired, and the survey is intended to provide officials with public input for a new plan.

Full blurb here. Survey here.

UIUC Preservation Concerns and Applications Boost

Here are a couple UIUC updates on preservation concerns with Greek housing and a continued jump in applications to the UI system. Champaign and Urbana property taxes and planning is apparently adding some financial pressure to historic buildings in the Greek System on campus. From the News-Gazette earlier this month:

UI Greek houses make state preservationist group's 'most endangered' list
Landmarks Illinois, which promotes preservation of historic structures across the state, placed Greek Housing at the UI on its 2019 list of the 12 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois, saying an increasing number of fraternity and sorority houses face demolition.

"These beautiful homes, which have become an integral part of the architectural fabric of Champaign and Urbana, have suffered from deferred maintenance, declining occupancy rates and a rapid escalation of property-tax assessments, often making them tear-down targets to make way for new, higher-density apartment buildings," Landmarks Illinois said in its announcement Tuesday.

Compounding the trend is a recent spike in property-tax assessments, particularly in Champaign, the group said. Beginning in 2016, fraternities and sororities saw their land values triple or even quadruple as the City of Champaign Township adjusted assessments to reflect rising sale prices for Campustown properties amid a boom of apartment construction, officials said...

Advocates have pushed for tax relief for sororities and fraternities, arguing that they are nonprofit organizations providing affordable, university-approved student housing. But a bill to exempt school-approved dormitories or residence halls from property taxes failed in 2018, the group said.

Full article here.

The University's applications increased 10% across the system and at the local UIUC campus, likely due to the "free tuition program." The News-Gazette had more on that yesterday:

UI admissions applications up 10 percent systemwide for 2019-20
The actual numbers won't be released until next fall, but applications to the University of Illinois are up more than 10 percent this year, driven in part by interest in a new free-tuition program.

Applications rose by more than 10 percent systemwide at the UI's three campuses in Urbana, Chicago and Springfield, over the 62,800 received last year, UI officials said...

The numbers include a 10 percent increase at Urbana and a comparable hike in applications from in-state students, said Admissions Director Andrew Borst...

The increase in applicants has leveled off somewhat after a 24 percent jump in applications for early admission last fall, with the UI receiving 5,000 more than the previous year.

Full article here. More on the previous jump here. The News-Gazette also had a full description of the free tuition program here.

Urbana Property Tax and Superintendent Updates

[UPDATE x2: The board chose Jennifer Ivory-Tatum as the new superintendent. From the News-Gazette:

After a Sunday evening school board vote, the current assistant superintendent of Champaign’s Unit 4 is now poised to assume Urbana’s top leadership role as members unanimously confirmed Ivory-Tatum as the district’s next superintendent.

The decision left the nearly-full boardroom cheering and applauding, making it feel less like an announcement and more like a homecoming for Ivory-Tatum, who spent 12 years in the district prior to joining Unit 4 administration.

Full article here with background and more information about her career with the district. WILL had additional coverage here. As with a lot of the Urbana schools coverage, there always seems to be a hint at the underlying power dynamics without clarity. So much is obscured by rumor and closed meetings, it's difficult to know exactly if an old power bloc was just restored in dramatic local government fashion. Sometimes the answer is more mundane than the rumors. With school boards and local power, history shows it can get brutal.]


[UPDATE: WCIA is reporting that a decision on the superintendent hiring will be made tomorrow night at a special school board meeting. The agenda is available here and lists a board vote for superintendent as the only action item.

The Urbana School District will have a new superintendent on Sunday.

The board will make their decision during their meeting at 7:30 on Sunday evening.

Full WCIA blurb here. Meeting agenda here.]

There's an Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole meeting tonight, but I can't tell from the agenda if either the property tax figures or the superintendent pick for District 116 will be addressed for certain. The News-Gazette coverage hinted at the possibility for the superintendent pick last week:

Urbana school district announces 3 superintendent finalists
...
The Urbana school board plans to choose a new superintendent from a field of three finalists by mid-May.

Among the candidates announced Tuesday is a familiar face: Champaign Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum, who left Urbana after an unexplained demotion from then-Superintendent Don Owen’s administration in 2017. Prior to becoming a deputy superintendent in Urbana, Ivory-Tatum was principal of Martin Luther King Elementary School.

Ivory-Tatum is the lone local candidate in a field that also includes Brian Metcalf, managing director of Impact at City Year Chicago, an education nonprofit aimed at helping students in high-need communities succeed; and Kirk Koennecke, superintendent of Graham schools in St. Paris, Ohio...

The board expects to formally announce its choice to replace Owen the week of May 12, following “an extensive vetting process.”

That full article with more details here. Another article at the previous step, previewing the narrowing down to three candidates here for more information on the process. This is following up on previous Cheat Sheet posts available here.


The City of Urbana is also working to resolve an issue with the County over incorrect tentative information on property taxes. From the News-Gazette last Friday:

Urbana's 2018 tax rate skewed by inclusion of OSF properties
The city of Urbana's 2018 municipal property-tax rate was tentatively set too high because OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center properties were taxable for that year, local officials said...

OSF HealthCare, which bought the Urbana hospital from Presence Health in February 2018, doesn't agree its Urbana properties are taxable for 2018, according to the Peoria-based system's corporate counsel, Michael Henderson.

The Champaign County Board of Review conducted a hearing on OSF's application for 2018 tax exemptions and recommended to the Illinois Department of Revenue earlier this year that the exemptions be denied.

The state granted the exemptions, but the county is appealing that decision and a final decision is pending, according to county Assistant State's Attorney Joel Fletcher.

 This is also partially related to the issue with the County's tentative property tax rates:

The county clerk's office has since posted an update saying final tax rates will be available May 20. That's the tentative date county officials have set for 2018 tax bills to be mailed.

Hannan said the county clerk's office incorrectly set Urbana's 2018 municipal tax rate — which is part of the overall rate Urbana residents will pay this year — at $1.5591 per $100 of assessed value.

The city had directed the county to set its tax rate lower than $1.3555 if any hospital properties were taxable for 2018, so the city's rate will be reduced to 1.3499, Hannan said...

Andy Rhodes, the county's IT director who is assisting with this year's tax work in the county clerk's office, said the tentative municipal rates for both Champaign and Urbana will be lowered when final rates are issued.

"The county clerk's office missed applying abatements to the city of Champaign and city of Urbana levies, and it generated an artificially high rate," he said.

More at the full article here. More on the County property tax delays at another Cheat Sheet post here.


[Updated. Originally posted 5/13/2019 at 9:28am.]

[Updated x2. Previously updated 5/18/2019 at 4:49pm.]

Violence Response Forum: Elijah Booker

[UPDATE: Latest news and details after the other child involved in the shooting tragedy turned himself in:

• News-Gazette 5/21: details on what may have happened after the incident. Also information on the other child's detention and other pending legal matters here.
• WCIA 5/21: update that the child police were seeking after the shooting has turned himself in here.
• WILL 5/20: more information on the need for community support after shootings and the program being developed locally here.

I hope to have a more substantive update on the community response and other related news later this week.]

Yesterday the community held its first Violence Response Forum after the death of 14 year old Elijah Booker by gunfire this week. The News-Gazette had a quick explanation of these forums a couple weeks ago here:

After months of preparation, the Champaign Community Coalition announced Wednesday it will start a pilot program to hold neighborhood forums no more than 36 hours after a shooting...

After an incident of gun violence, said response team leader Karen Simms, neighbors and community members want to know they are safe, that there is information available and that they can quickly find resources.

"One of the things we know can reduce the impact of gun-violence events is if we get in early," Simms said. "People are less likely to have mental-health complications if that's the case, and they'll be able to have spaces to come together."

These "safe spaces," Simms added, need to be able to accommodate about 100 people and must already be perceived as a safe space within the community. Preston James, a team member and Urbana community-relations specialist, said the team will also identify speakers to deliver targeted messaging around safety, mental-health resources and crisis response.

Full article here. WCCU had additional coverage with a video segment here. Cheat Sheet post announcing this specific forum here. An overview of the meeting is below, but first here are some links to the resources made available at the meeting:

• A Community Resource List with contact information and more information (PDF).
• The Community Guide brochure on violence prevention in the community (about the source) 
• Tips for Survivors: Coping with Grief After Community Violence (about the source)
• Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event (about the source)
• Preventing Gun Violence (about the source)
• Local Rosecrance Counseling Services Brochure

The City of Champaign had information on youth programs going on this summer with additional contact information for people in their Neighborhood Services department (click to enlarge):

The United Garden Hills Neighborhood Association had information on upcoming neighborhood meetings for all Garden Hills residents to stay involved in the community:

Tonight's meeting agenda was followed pretty well. The generic "meeting name" highlights what Karen Simms described as some of the kinks being worked out in establishing these Violence Response Forums:

The contact information is a bit hard to read on my scanned copy: it's curesponder@gmail.com and the phone number is 217-673-7122. Rochelle Johnson of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming out. She said the church offered their love and help to those in need. Janice Walker of the local Moms Demand Action survivors group also welcomed everyone and stressed the importance of the community coming together.

Karen Simms explained the purpose and format of the forum and thanked team members for bringing the event together. She said that it might be "politically messy," but the forum was going to give priority to impacted members of the community and ensure they get first voice. She explained the need to be respectful to and honor those voices.

Anthony Cobb, Champaign Police Department's Chief of Police gave their update on the situation. At the time the investigation was still open and they were still needing help from the public by calling 351-4545 or contacting Crime Stoppers with tips and information.

As of the time of the meeting the incident was assumed to be unintentional discharge of a firearm, though he didn't provide details at this time. The deceased victim was 14 year old Elijah Booker who was found shot and killed. A 15 year old is believed to be involved and they need help finding him. The child is a minor so they can't release the name, but they are hoping those familiar with the situation will provide police with information. He offered to answer any questions people had during the forum.

The Educational Representative from Unit 4 explained the response of the school district, how they learned of the incident in the early hours of the morning, and how that began a process of notification and bringing together the crisis response team. The team was described in the paper earlier this week as "a group of administrators, social workers and psychologists that planned the next '24-48 course' of events." She laid out the conversation about facts, in spite of the prevalence of rumors they go through. She explained the use of classrooms made available by an unrelated field trip for smaller intimate groups to inform students and provide counseling as needed.

The Educational Representative laid out some of the "Do"s and "Don't"s of talking to children after a traumatic event such as "do tell the truth" and "don't tell people how to grieve." At the end of the day the staff had a debrief. Many kids wanted to advocate for their community to be able to do something. Some were angry at the inability of adults to protect them.

The City of Champaign's Neighborhood services coordinator highlighted local programs, including the SLEEP program for the Garden Hills neighborhood. Karen Simms highlighted the Garden Hills Neighborhood Association information (in flyer above).

Champaign County Crime Stoppers explained how their tip system works for anonymity and that they had a table of information for anyone that needed it there.

A psychologist explained how adolescents and adults respond to grief and what to expect. She encouraged doing activities together, even if its just chores or errands and giving kids space to talk When they do talk, be a mentor. She encouraged physical activity since young minds aren't fully developed and need physical activity to deal with the physical effects of trauma their minds can't simply process away.

She got into a lot of details that I didn't understand completely, so I'll try to avoid paraphrasing it incorrectly. She explained how kids process thoughts on mortality, what's normal or fleeting, and what kind of thoughts (such as planning suicide) are emergency help situations. She explained how aspects of our culture can cause different behavioral responses due to expectations children learn about being boys or girls generally and of particular races. In the end, she explained, grief is a part of life.

Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen was invited and spoke during the civic leader portion of the agenda. She thanked the Community Coalition and Violence Response Forum team. She said she never expected the forums to be needed so soon and expressed sadness on behalf of herself and other board members present. She encouraged people to stay active in their community.

David Sankey's mother, Yvonne Johnson, spoke about the loss of her son and the pain of not knowing what happened caused while waiting for people to come forward with information. She encouraged people involved or know what happened to come forward to end that pain for the family. She talked about the subject in a recent WCIA interview available here along with an update on that case. David's grandmother also rose and spoke of the unimaginable loss she endured. Yvonne thanked the Champaign police and others in the community for doing what needs to be done.

Patricia Avery wanted people to know that the "room is here for you" and not just talk. She explained that "you are not alone" and people were ready to provide support and the community has a job to do too. "We can't do everything. But everybody can do something."

The forum then went into Q&A:

A veteran with the local Black Lives Matter organization asked what was being done about the people who are bringing guns and drugs into the community, pointing out that that takes resources the residents here don't have, yet are harmed and punished by. Chief Cobb attempted to explain that it was complicated and highlighted the evolving nature of the task forces the police have as the drug issues morphed with the opioid crisis and the reasons for disputes behind gun violence changed. The answer left the questioner frustrated about money needing to go to the community side of things instead of more police and jails, arguing that current policies are criminalizing the symptoms. The Chief argued that there's a shift in society towards that, and highlighted the presentation at the last City Council meeting on those very issues (Cheat Sheet post on that here). The questioner pointed out that this isn't a unique problem in Champaign and that her own niece had been shot in the neck the day before, though currently in stable condition in Chicago.

Another questioner asked about tracing guns and again Chief Cobb answered with some details about how the department has been working with the ATF on tracing databases.

There were a couple questions about summer programs for kids. The Daily Illini covered a recent event that highlighted some youth programs in the Garden Hills neighborhood this week here. Someone from neighborhood services pointed out the information they brought (above), that many were highlighted in that City Council meeting (video available online here), and that a lot of the programs aren't filled. The questions highlighted the need for more evening programs between 4-9pm, when kids are most likely to engage in risky behaviors, get pregnant, etc. Tracy Parsons of the community coalition noted the need for an inventory of programs and that may be a goal in time for next summer.

When it comes to youth programs there were gaps acknowledged. Adults plan for their convenience while kids often need services that don't line up and it will take the community to step up to fill those gaps. It was also pointed out that ensuring good adult outcomes will help ensure good outcomes for their kids, so not to leave out the needs of parents.

There was a question about access to a gym and computers at a local space that was planned, but now that space is being used for other programs related to community schools. There was some frustration with that answer and an offer to help make use of the space better.

A friend of the victim's family raised issues of education and firearms and concerns that kids without familiarization and training with firearms may be more prone to misuse or injury. He questioned the dedication of fathers and whether it was worth supporting programs if they're failing families.

Minnie Pearson of the NAACP followed up on the question of where the fathers were with an impassioned demand to make sure when we have that conversation we included mass incarceration policies and ensure that those reentering from the criminal justice system aren't punishing them for crimes they already paid for and preventing them from being there. Not just fathers, but mothers as well, who can't attend a PTA meeting because of an ankle monitor. She insisted that we have to advocate for them.

Someone requested child care at future forums, noting that many families wouldn't be able to be at the event because they have kids to take care of. Karen Simms encouraged feedback, even harsh criticism, on the evaluation forms so they can fill those kind of needs better.

There were a couple final announcements. One for a support group for young men whose details I unfortunately missed. And the last was from the family friend thanking everyone on behalf of Elijah's Dad along with some funeral details. Karen Simms gave some advice for those who might attend to be containers for grief.

Afterward a lot of people connected and talked. I'll update with more information as I learn about more follow up actions.

WCIA had some coverage of the funeral and interviews with the family earlier tonight here.


[Updated. Originally posted 5/18/2019 at 7:50pm.]

Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative

There was recently a Champaign City Council study session that included a presentation by community leaders on a Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative. Video of the presentation from that City Council meeting is available here from CGTV. The study session documents include an outline of the proposal, the Champaign Community Coalition and the collaboration between the City of Champaign and the Unit 4 school district. It summarized the proposal like this:

...a partnership between the City and Champaign Unit 4 School District to improve the lives of African American youth and their families who are in crisis and experiencing challenges in the areas of academic achievement, discipline, suspensions, community violence, mental health and trauma.

And explained the role of the Champaign County Community Coalition:

Community Coalition Works with Citizens to Address Community Needs. In addition, the Community Coalition - a collaborative initiative involving governmental partners, (including the City of Champaign and Champaign Unit #4 School District), community organizations, and citizens - works to address and solve community problems of mutual concern through the following pillars: Police and Community Relations; Community Engagement; Youth Development; Community Violence; and Mutual Advocacy (racial justice, homelessness, mental health). Community Coalition partners have analyzed data which demonstrates that African American youth and their families are more likely to be disconnected, disengaged and discouraged by the lack of access to support services. They are also disproportionately negatively impacted in areas which include health access, educational success, economic stability, police interaction and criminal justice involvement.

There was an array of local coverage of the presentation and I've excerpted some below. From the News-Gazette Wednesday:

Champaign council hears proposal for program to offer youth hope, help
Community members and Champaign school district staff filled the city council chambers Tuesday to hear about a proposal aimed at providing "wrap-around" social help for African-American youth and their families.
The result of more than 400 hours of meetings and work by city staff and school officials, the proposed Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative would be a partnership meant to support youth and their families by providing them with mentorship, therapy, career development and anything else they might need. It's meant as a direct response to increasing gun violence in the community...

As part of the proposal, the initiative would aim to hire a program manager with a mental-health background; four family intervention specialists to provide "direct intensive support, one on one"; a therapist and researcher; as well as immediate service through a 24/7 hotline. Their job would be to provide service to impacted students and their families.

If approved, it would mean $200,000 to $250,000 in recurring expenses for the city and a match by the school district. The total cost for the proposed program could be between $372,000 and $436,000.

More at the full article here, including more on the support and concerns raised at the meeting on everything from staffing to adequacy to address the community's need. WCIA had a video segment and article on the proposal at the City Council meeting here. Excerpts:

The Community Youth and Family Empowerment Initiative would be available to students starting in the 6th grade, but it wouldn't just focus on kids.

"These families are experiencing trauma that affects them every day, every hour, minute by minute. These families have challenges that affect them in their homes in the classroom and in the community. Challenges that affect their basic standards of living," Joan Walls says...

No decision was made as to what the council will do. The project team is asking for the city to contribute. It could be anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000.

Kids in the program would have access to a family support advocate and a mental health therapist. There would also be a 24-hour hotline for advice on how to deal with difficult situations. 

Full article with video segment here. WCCU's coverage included next steps and some of the previous collaborations between the community and the city:

The next steps include finalizing the program components based on feedback from the council and the Board of Education.

The City Council and school district have already worked together in the past with other programs like D.A.R.E., Risk Watch and Community Matters.

Their coverage along with a video segment here.

Veterans Transfer Credits and Reentry Housing

Two articles hit on issues affecting veterans at the University of Illinois this past week. First on veterans and reentry housing, the News-Gazette had an interview with the Veterans Legal Clinic director on campus available here. Here's an excerpt:

Ever since the University of Illinois College of Law launched its Veterans Legal Clinic, Director YULANDA CURTIS has been working to provide free civil legal assistance to those who served and their family members.

Now, the daughter of two Army veterans has been recognized with a $15,000 grant from the Military Service Knowledge Collaborative to research an issue that has come up again and again in her work helping formerly incarcerated veterans: housing instability.

With ongoing conversations in Champaign over language in the city code that allows landlords to discriminate against people with prior felony convictions, News-Gazette Media's Adalberto Toledo sat down with Curtis for a conversation about the obstacles formerly incarcerated veterans face and what she hopes to do about it....

The fact people even come to us to ask for that tells you that their record is creating a problem with them in their life, getting a job or finding housing.

With an expungement or seal, the landlord can ask the question, but you're legally allowed to check "no." That's another instance of people actually leasing to individuals with previous criminal backgrounds and they may not have knowledge of it.

I've had clients before that were living with family for years or even decades after conviction because they couldn't get adequate housing. I mean senior citizens; stuff they'd done so long ago and it's still being held over their head. When is the punishment enough?

Full interview available here. More on the Champaign housing issue here. Latest updates on the City Council's upcoming study session (date still to be determined) from an April Cheat Sheet post here. The housing issue was also mentioned in the April meeting of the Human Rights Commission covered here.

Last week there was some movement reported on veterans transfer credits for their experience in the military which can be difficult or impossible to translate into civilian education and business regulatory bureaucracies in spite of the value of their training and experience in the civilian world:

New UI panel to focus on making it easier for veterans to transfer credits
A new University of Illinois committee will examine ways to make it easier for veterans to transfer academic credits to the UI and get credit for real-world experience in the military.

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, and Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, said they have been working on the issue for several years, to improve access for veterans.

The UI agreed to form a committee headed by Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences, and Naval ROTC Commanding Officer Captain Anthony Corapi. The panel is to deliver recommendations by the end of the fall semester...

Rose said Hanley-Maxwell and her staff have pulled together research on the issue, and Corapi has experience in the Pentagon, "dealing with large bureaucracies. I feel good that we've got the right group now to spearhead this and actually get something done," he said.

Pitts said the campus will continue to gather information over the summer about what other universities are doing, primarily in the Big Ten but also around Illinois. It will also review the UI's policies and procedures to see where there might be "gaps in our coverage. Are there some things that are particularly challenging for veterans?"

More information and descriptions of previously proposed legislation available at the full article here. WCCU had additional coverage here.

Parkland Updates

In recent Parkland news, there was a report on how local campuses are preparing for the possibility of active shooters and an overview of the Parkland Trustees meeting. WCIA had a video segment and an online article on campus policies on active shooters for Parkland and the University of Illinois campus last week:

There have been 15 shootings at schools around the country this year where someone was hurt or killed; four on university campuses.

It led to the question what plans are in place in case of an active shooter on college campuses around Central Illinois? Students say they don't know what to do if a shooting happens at their school...

Both Parkland and UI have extensive plans for this very situation. The most important part is to work quickly...

Both schools use procedures from those who know best.

"Which are based on the Department of Homeland Security recommendations of run, hide, fight if a situation presents itself to you," Short says.

But Parkland adds a little more to its plan.

"We endorse the run, hide, fight training but specifically we endorse the A.L.I.C.E. training," William Colbrook says...

Both departments say if there is an active shooter it takes everyone's help. They reach out to all area law enforcement and support from the fire department also. They come together once a year to train.

Video segment and article available here, with additional advice and information on what students and staff can do to prepare. Yesterday the News-Gazette had an overview of the Parkland Trustees meeting:

Parkland astronomy professor appointed to replace retiring planetarium director
...
At Wednesday night's meeting, the board appointed Erik Johnson, an associate professor of astronomy, to succeed the retiring David Leake as director of the school's planetarium, effective Aug. 12.

In other action by trustees:

— Raises of 3 percent — or up to 3.5 percent, pending how much the college is allotted in the state budget — were approved for Parkland's administrators and confidential and supervisory staff. The pay hikes match those approved previously for professional support staff, the college said.

— Open Road Paving of Urbana was awarded the $1,432,166 contract for campus walkway construction and parking-lot repairs.

— Champaign's Commerce Bank was chosen as the vendor for the college's procurement cards — or P-Cards.

Full blurb available here.

UIUC Updates

There's been a lot of University of Illinois governance in the news the past couple weeks: from another administrator for the Chicago area Discovery Partners Institute tapping Urbana-Champaign campus talent, updates on accusations against faculty, infrastructure and planning, and a UI Trustees meeting. The campus was also mentioned in an article on campus active shooter training, but I'm covering that in a Parkland post here. There were also a couple items on the University and veterans dealing with transfer credits and reentry housing in a separate post here.

First on the DPI administrator:

In a previous Cheat Sheet post on DPI updates, there were concerns about the new campus draining resources from the local campus. At the time the person chosen to head the Institute was from UIUC. The News-Gazette is reporting that another administrator from the local campus has also been selected. From two weeks ago:

UI names first academic administrator for Discovery Partners Institute
As plans proceed on the Chicago development that will house the much-heralded Discovery Partners Institute, the University of Illinois has hired DPI's first academic administrator.

The UI announced Friday that Urbana sociology Professor Phyllis Baker — who has been working on the DPI project as a special assistant to President Tim Killeen for more than a year — will be the inaugural director of academic affairs at the Chicago-based research institute...

Meanwhile, the University Senates Conference, a UI faculty advisory group, recommended that the project proceed on a temporary basis, and that was endorsed last month by the Urbana and Springfield campus senates.

The Chicago campus senate, however, declined to endorse DPI in March, citing questions about how faculty royalties and intellectual property will be handled and about DPI's costs and funding, among other issues.

DPI must still be formally approved by the UI Board of Trustees and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Full article with more information here.


In more salacious and strange news, the allegations against a professor have become more public along with his denials and the accuser has ended up in legal trouble in a separate incident related to online information. The News-Gazette had Petry's denials a little over a week ago:

UI professor admits sharing photos, denies 'sexual favors' allegations
...
Joseph Petry, who is under investigation by the UI, admitted he used poor judgment by sharing photos and having "communications of a social nature" online with a former student, but he insists it was consensual and he did not violate any UI policies.

Petry is also denying more explosive allegations that he offered to improve a student's grade in exchange for "sexual favors."
...
The News-Gazette's attempts to reach Naqvi for a response to Petry's statement were unsuccessful Tuesday and Wednesday. She was arrested Tuesday along with a roommate and charged with intimidation and aggravated unlawful restraint for allegedly threatening another man with a knife so they could delete information from his computer...

The university does not currently have a policy regulating consensual relationships between faculty members and students, though it is "in the process of developing one," spokeswoman Robin Kaler said....

On April 27, Petry announced his retirement from the UI, effective May 31, as part of a resignation agreement he signed with the UI in exchange for the investigation being dropped. The university, however, maintains that the investigation continues and that Petry remains on leave. Documents show the investigation has been referred to an outside law firm.

The full article, with a timeline and fairly comprehensive explanation of the accusations, denials, and reporting on the investigation is here. Petry's statement on the allegations here. The original resignation agreement with the University here. And finally the initial news of the accuser and another subject alleged to have held someone at knife point to remove data from his computer here. I honestly don't know what to make of it all.

Another faculty member from the UIUC campus raised this case and other allegations of misconduct to demand outside agencies investigate such cases to avoid the problems with University essentially investigating itself. That article here. It also highlights some other issues approved by the UI Trustees at the same meeting:

— The newly named Grainger College of Engineering, in recognition of the Grainger Foundation's $300 million in support.

— The Nick Holonyak Jr. Micro and Nanotechnology Lab, named for the UI engineering icon.

— The Sidney Lu Mechanical Engineering Building, named for the UI alumnus and CEO of FoxConn Technology, who donated $21.5 million for the project.

— Agreements allowing the Urbana campus to reassume control of the Research Park from the UI System.

— A $7 million budget increase for the Demirjian Park soccer and track complex, to $21 million.

Blurb available at the bottom of this article here. In more down to earth crimes, a second suspect has been arrested in the ongoing investigation of parking meter thefts by parking enforcement staff. Latest details here. Previous arrest story here.


In more, and quite literal, "down to earth" news, the University is installing geothermal heating and cooling systems on campus. From the News-Gazette earlier this week:

UI installing pioneering geothermal system at new Hydrosystems Lab
...
Instead of drilling separate holes for a system of geothermal pipes bringing up water heated or cooled under the earth, the project will embed geothermal heat exchanger loops in the foundation of a new "smart" pedestrian bridge that will connect the Hydrosystems Laboratory addition to the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory across West Main Street.

By using the 50-foot-deep shafts already being drilled for the foundation, the project will reduce overall geothermal installation costs and provide for on-site research, officials said. It will also heat and cool the new instructional geotechnical laboratory in the building for Tugce Baser, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.

The new installation approach, which costs about $240,000, is 30 to 40 percent cheaper than drilling holes for a more traditional geothermal "field" system, said Mohamed Attalla, director of UI Facilities and Services.

More details and explanations here. In a related infrastructure and planning note, the UIUC athletics division says it is "within range of a yes" to a hockey team that could make use of the arena at the center of  the proposed "The Yards" project in Champaign. From Tom Kacich's article on the topic last Sunday:

Illinois doesn't appear to have a single donor with Pegula's financial heft to build a similar arena. But UI Athletic Director Josh Whitman said last month on WDWS that he remains confident he can round up the resources to build a hockey program.

"It still is an awful lot of money," the athletic director said. "I think if we are able to bring this to fruition, it will be perhaps the most rewarding project that I'll ever undertake, just because of the number of different people and the variety of the organizations that have had to come around the table to make it possible. This will be a true community undertaking."

Full article here. To me "within range of a yes" still sounds far more comfortably in range of a no, but I suppose that makes me a "glass half-empty" sort.

First Violence Response Forum

Tomorrow the Champaign Community Coalition will be having one of its first Violence Response Forums in response to the recent shooting death of 14 year old Elijah Booker in the Garden Hills neighborhood of Champaign.

The pilot program, which is still being established has been in the works for quite some time in response to the rising amounts of gun violence locally and community input form both law enforcement and residents on how to interrupt and prevent more harm. From the News-Gazette coverage of the last Community Coalition meeting:

Champaign Community Coalition fighting gun violence with forums
After months of preparation, the Champaign Community Coalition announced Wednesday it will start a pilot program to hold neighborhood forums no more than 36 hours after a shooting.

Coalition facilitator Tracy Parsons told a packed house at the Champaign Public Library that they should "not allow a takeover" of the Countrybrook apartment complex where police said a shooting took place early Saturday morning. Police Chief Anthony Cobb called the shooting "very concerning," as the multiple bullet shells found at the scene were the result of a "gun battle."

Coalition members in the community violence response team are currently looking for partners to host the forum in specific locations after a violent event.

After an incident of gun violence, said response team leader Karen Simms, neighbors and community members want to know they are safe, that there is information available and that they can quickly find resources.

"One of the things we know can reduce the impact of gun-violence events is if we get in early," Simms said. "People are less likely to have mental-health complications if that's the case, and they'll be able to have spaces to come together..."

The coalition hopes to create a core group of volunteers to engage in the forums and help out, but Kristin Walters, team member and reporter with Illinois Public Media, said it's of the utmost importance to get the message out to have mass involvement...

Anyone interested in hosting forums no more than 36 hours after an incident of violence is asked to attend an informational meeting set for 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. May 20 at the Champaign Public Library.

More at the full article here. Other topics covered by the meeting in a previous Cheat Sheet post here. WCIA had additional information on the shooting, interviews with parents and classmates and additional events after yesterday's Walk as One event. Smile politely had a brief overview of the Violence Response Forum information with links and contact information for those wanting to attend or become involved in future forums here. Excerpt:

It's a bit past the 36 hour mark, but it's on the calendar and happening this Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Jericho Missionary Baptist church, 1601 W. Bloomington Road...

Any community members or organizations that want to become a part of this effort can contact Karen Simms at CUNeighborhoodChampions@gmail.com. You can read more about her work towards creating a trauma-informed community here.

There will be a priority given to the voices and needs of those directly affected in the neighborhood and ensuring a safe environment to address those needs in the midst of trauma and tragedy. A public event will almost certainly bring a variety of views and concerns from around the community, but the focus will likely be to ensure those directly effected are reached and heard. This is considered critical to avoid compounding the damage that violence and trauma can have on the well being of individuals and a community. This is especially true when dealing with children and trauma, as is the case here.

Unit 4 Spending Concerns and Data Links

The last few weeks have had a number of stories about Unit 4 spending issues from referendum projects costing more than expected to an spending card program lacking a controlling policy.

Last month the Unit 4 school board approved bid overages on referendum projects. From the News-Gazette last month:

Referendum work at Central to continue despite overages
Major construction work at Central High School won't be halted this summer after the school board voted Tuesday evening to move forward despite bid overages that added $9.213 million to the project's original $87.1 million budget.

Officials had hoped a second round of bid releases for work at Centennial High School would ease the situation and allow for creative financing, but Elizabeth Stegmaier, the district's director of capital projects and planning, said those bids also came in over estimates...

Tuesday's unanimous vote puts the total amount of board-approved budget increases for work on referendum projects at just over $23 million.

Repeated bid overages have been attributed to a large amount of ongoing construction work in the area, among other factors.

More information at the full article here, including an earlier data table breaking down costs of various projects at the time. There was a related article about summer activities at Central and Centennial being affected by referendum work here.

Last week more cost overages were approved and the News-Gazette explained the new costs and issued a new cost data table:

Centennial renovation budget gets $8 million increase
The price tag for improvements at Centennial High School has gone up by more than $8 million.

Following an hourlong discussion during a special meeting Monday night, the Champaign school board voted 7-0 to increase the budget for the Centennial project by $8.193 million.

A referendum approved by district voters in November 2016 set the budget for work at Centennial at $63.3 million. In the wake of Monday's vote, it has been raised to $71.493 million...

For example, the district anticipated spending $991,056 for flooring. The bids came in at more than $1.6 million. Unit 4 thought it would spend $7.7 million for mechanical work; those bids totaled more than $10.3 million. The district anticipated spending $5.58 million for electrical work; those bids came in at more than $8.98 million.

Full article and chart information here. Then this week, there was more news about the referendum project work at McKinley Field coming in over budget as well:

McKinley Field referendum work moving forward despite budget overages
Just like with Central High School a few weeks ago, referendum work on the Champaign school district's McKinley Field project will proceed on schedule despite some overage costs.

A unanimous board vote Monday set the summer's work in motion — and in awarding contracts, added an additional $266,000 to the project's budget.

It's not the first time that's happened with this project: To keep field lighting, board members voted last year on a $400,000 increase to its original $6.2 million budget

More information at the full article here, including an overview of the most recent Unit 4 school board meeting. The referendum project costs were an issue prior to the most recent school board elections as well. More information on this in a previous Cheat Sheet article in March with links to some of the criticism then.

The News-Gazette also highlighted a lack of a spending policy for "P-Cards" last week:

Unit 4: Lack of policy, but no lack of spending
...
A News-Gazette Media examination of 19 months of purchasing card expense data for 81 people obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that Unit 4 staffers have charged scores of catered meals, working lunches and snacks, a $200 retirement print from the Larry Kanfer Gallery, flowers for funerals, and thousands of dollars in gift cards for student and staff "incentives" on purchasing cards issued in their names.

Superintendent Susan Zola, now concluding her second year at the helm of the county's third-largest employer, said no written policy exists to guide or govern the use of the district credit cards (or "P-cards"), which predate her hiring as superintendent by three years.

She said she plans to have a policy for the school board to approve no later than July 1, even though she acknowledged that concerns about P-card abuse were brought to her attention almost a year ago.

The controversial spending practices are the subject of a criminal investigation by the Illinois State Police that will be referred to the Illinois State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Office for potential charges.

More information at the original article here. The News-Gazette editorial board complained about this and referendum overages in an editorial a couple days later and there have been a few letters to the editor criticizing and defending the P-Card spending.


In other data related items for Unit 4, Tom's Mailbag had a question about administrative cost information in the district. He had an explanation of what data is or is not available and administrative salaries here. Excerpt:

Finally, the Illinois School Report Cards address administrative costs but in what likely is an unsatisfying way. They only track average administrative salaries — Champaign's is $89,939 compared with the state average of $107,279 — and "general administration" as a percentage of all expenditures.

In Champaign general administration is recorded as 1.9 percent of all expenditures versus the statewide average of 3.1 percent.

In Urbana the average administrator salary was $101,981. General administration was 3 percent of expenditures.

There was also a letter to the editor demanding movement on addressing racial disparities in Unit 4 discipline here. It cites a News-Gazette article from last year flagging local districts for racial disparities. More local data on racial disparities in education discipline on the Cheat Sheet here and related local racial disparity data here. There was also some increased enrollment data a couple weeks ago (available on the eEdition with digital subscription here). Excerpt:

Continuing a five-year trend, enrollment is up in the Champaign school district, with current counts projecting at least 10,240 students enrolled next year.

That number is an increase of 226 students from the 2017-18 school year’s count. The district has hovered around 10,000 students since 2016-17, when it had 10,060.

In preparation for the district’s large number of kindergartners — 882 — Superintendent Susan Zola said Unit 4 has “added an additional two first grades at some campuses to help mitigate that large grade level.”

Full blurb available here in the eEdition.