Have something you've been wanting to ask the crowded field who'll be competing for five open seats on the Champaign school board on April 1? You've come to the right place. Continuing a series we kicked off last month, we'll take your questions directly to the candidates in that and other local races. Email questions to [email protected]'S QUESTION
From Savoy village board member and former Unit 4 teacher JAN CARTER NICCUM: Since no additional permanent seats were added to the existing three middle schools in the last referendum, do you have a plan for adding capacity to the middle schools without placing portables on school grounds? Would you be in favor of building a fourth middle school and, if so, where? How would you propose paying for such a facility?
TONY BRUNOCandidate for: Four-year term
"Our schools are monuments to our values. We should be building cathedrals to education. Few investments can make a greater impact on the future health of our community.
"As our community grows, we'll need to build additional capacity. That's a good thing. Some cities don't have that problem, and you can tell when you drive through.
"I am a likely supporter of any properly vetted long-term capital improvement project. We need additional middle school capacity, and we need to fix what's been neglected. Some of our buildings not touched by the 2016 referendum are falling apart. All solutions will cost money, and building a new middle school will almost certainly require the issuance of bonds. The location of any new building must account for where the population lives now and where we expect it to grow.
"Many readers will remember the corrugated sheet metal version of the Champaign Public Library. The community wrestled with what the next version should look like and ultimately chose to build a state-of-the-art facility to last the next hundred years.
"Who among us, now 17 years on, believes that was a mistake? Who goes to the library and thinks, 'We should have done the cheap version?'
"The buildings in which our children spend their childhood should be designed to inspire a sense of awe. Students attending class in trailers is an indictment on our past vision. We should learn from these mistakes and do better for the next generation. We'll need steady leaders for this work."
CHARLES 'JARREL' YOUNGCandidate for: Four-year term
"To effectively address the capacity challenges in the Champaign Unit 4 School District's middle schools, I firmly support the construction of a fourth middle school. As a board member, I would advocate for strategic site selection based on demographic trends and community needs, prioritizing proximity to underserved neighborhoods to enhance equity in educational access.
"I'd look into building a new school around Staley Road -- the northwest region of Champaign -- since there's so much open and unoccupied space out that way.
"In terms of funding, I propose leveraging a multifaceted approach that includes advocating for bond referendums, public-private partnerships and seeking state and federal grants dedicated to school construction. For instance, Impact Aid discretionary construction grants can be explored to fund emergency repairs and modernization, which may alleviate pressures on existing facilities while building a new structure to meet future demands.
"Additionally, I would collaborate with local businesses and community organizations to explore sponsorship opportunities, encouraging a sense of community investment in our educational infrastructure.
"From a social work perspective, ensuring that our middle schools are adequately equipped to serve all students is key for their academic and social-emotional well-being. Facilitating a supportive and engaging environment requires addressing overcrowding and providing ample space for innovative educational practices. Building a fourth middle school is not just a solution for capacity issues but also a commitment to ensuring that all students receive the quality education they deserve.
"Together, we can create a plan that prioritizes the needs of our students and community while ensuring equitable access to quality education."
KARL GEISSLERCandidate for: Four-year term
"The district currently operates three dedicated middle schools -- Edison, Franklin and Jefferson -- alongside two K-8 programs at IPA and Garden Hills. The 2016 referendum represented a missed opportunity to address middle school facilities, particularly concerning Franklin and Jefferson, where no funding was allocated for building upgrades.
"This oversight is especially troubling given that these schools serve predominantly minority and low-income populations. As a potential board member, I believe we must prioritize correcting this inequity once construction sales-tax dollars become available after current bond payments are completed.
"Regarding a fourth middle school, the only available property is located north of I-74, which was previously rejected by the community during the 2015 referendum. Instead of pursuing new construction, I advocate for a fiscally responsible approach focused on upgrading our existing facilities.
"We should explore options for the unused north I-74 parcel to generate funds for renovating our current middle schools. If there are restrictions on selling the property, we could develop it for community benefit while creating revenue streams -- such as installing a solar farm or establishing a shared space with the park district or YMCA.
"These innovative solutions could generate sustainable funding to support necessary renovations at Jefferson and Franklin, ultimately eliminating the need for portable classrooms at these locations.
"This approach would address capacity issues while ensuring all students have access to modern educational facilities. By focusing on improving existing schools rather than building new ones, we can more efficiently utilize our resources while promoting educational equity across the district."
CHRISTY ARNOLDCandidate for: Four-year term
"Overcrowding must be addressed and portables should be phased out. In 2023, Unit 4 commissioned a capacity study to identify underutilized or overburdened schools, showing the three middle schools at 89 to 93 percent utilization. Before considering a new school, we must analyze the findings to guide decisions with accurate data.
"In a January 2023 school board vote, middle school classes were added at Garden Hills, which should help alleviate some of the current capacity pressures at Franklin. The feeders to all three middle schools were also adjusted. Understanding the impact of these changes is essential for effective planning and achieving sustainable solutions.
"That said, new schools will likely be needed in the future. To determine locations, I would request a city growth model to identify projected population trends and compare them with available land. It's essential to approach this with a long-term vision, avoiding short-sighted decisions about such significant investments.
"Once the data is collected, we must engage stakeholders by sharing the findings transparently. This collaborative approach builds trust and makes it easier to gain taxpayer support for funding. I would advocate for a fiscally responsible plan that prioritizes community input.
"As an accountant experienced in evaluating capital expenditure plans, I will scrutinize proposals to identify potential shortcomings and ensure responsible use of resources. Thoughtful planning, transparency and community involvement are key to addressing capacity challenges effectively while earning public confidence. I am committed to ensuring any solution prioritizes student needs, promotes equity, minimizes disruption and reflects fiscal responsibility."
AL MOLINACandidate for: Four-year term
"Understanding capacity issues in middle schools begins with a review of current enrollment figures, projected growth and existing space utilization to pinpoint specific capacity shortfalls and to evaluate whether existing facilities can be renovated or redesigned to create additional classrooms without requiring portables. This could involve reconfiguring spaces like libraries, multipurpose rooms or other underutilized areas.
"One option could be to implement staggered schedules or expanding the use of community facilities for certain programs to alleviate overcrowding in classrooms. A feasibility study will need to be conducted to determine the need for a fourth middle school based on demographic forecasts and enrollment data.
"If a fourth school is needed, one could consider using the 80 acres currently owned by the district near Ashland Park as a possible site. A bilingual immersion elementary school could be created, beginning with an initial phase that includes kindergarten through third grade, followed by a second phase for fourth, fifth and sixth grades, and eventually a middle school. This could be complemented by a small bilingual high school that addresses the needs of our community.
"This site also offers ample space for solar farms, windmills and vegetable gardens that can aid in the school's sustainability efforts.
"One option to explore is proposing a bond initiative to voters, highlighting the necessity of the new facility and its benefits for the community. Such a process would have to occur concurrently with target actions seeking relevant grants.
"We should explore partnerships with organizations in the private sector and individuals that may be interested in contributing to a school fund and in developing a financial plan that assesses the future revenue from new housing developments in our area."
RONALD BAKERCandidate for: Four-year term
"This is an area that I definitely would like to see the data behind current middle school seats, along with the socioeconomic demographics that the middle schools currently serve. I am also not sure if the number of middle school seats have changed to meet the needs of the district.
"It is important to remember that Unit 4 currently has five middle school campuses. Three of the campuses are the traditional middle school buildings in Edison, Franklin and Jefferson. It is also important to remember that IPA and Garden Hills also house middle school students.
"I am not sure what capacity the middle schools currently sit and if capacity is a bigger issue and/or if building renovations at Franklin, Jefferson and Garden Hills might be more of the need. I do not currently believe that a fourth middle school would be the direction that the district needs to go.
"I do believe that the decision of the administration and current board to change the school assignment process for the middle schools was a very positive change for our middle school students as it helped to balance the socioeconomic makeup of students that attend each of the middle schools. Additionally, the last data presentation showed positive movement in both ELA and math for our middle school students. I wonder if the changes made the difference!
"I would be more in favor of attempting to balance our resources, focus on teacher recruitment/retention and making current processes more efficient.
"Lastly, I do believe that specific schools did not get the resources that they might have needed with the last referendum. So, I would rather focus efforts to have Jefferson, Franklin and Garden Hills renovated before building a new middle school campus."
ROSELLE BHOSALECandidate for: Two-year term
"This question is complex to address, requiring district reports and information from ongoing study sessions that don't seem to be readily available to the public. The latest report I was able to access for Unit 4 middle schools is the facilities committee final report from 2016, but a lot has changed since then. Transparent, up-to-date information is essential in making informed decisions that impact our community.
"Do we need to evaluate and upgrade the current buildings that we have or do we need a fourth building after the addition of IPA and Garden Hills, which are now K-8 schools? To answer this question, I would first focus on current data from recent study sessions. I would like to review the capacity at each school and then evaluate if we are using these facilities to the best of our ability with the programming needs of our middle school students.
"I would also like to see information compiled from teachers and the community regarding capacity and programming. Once we can understand the district's current needs and projected needs, with real data that is available for all, we can then begin taking steps to expand current facilities or build a fourth, taking into account an optimal location.
"Above all, our priority must be ensuring the best educational environment for our children. The sooner we have accessible, reliable data to evaluate, the faster we can work together as a community to develop and implement a solution."
FATIMA AHMEDCandidate for: Two-year term
"As a parent of a middle schooler in Unit 4, I've seen how packed our schools are. Student sports teams and after-school clubs play an intricate game of Tetris to schedule events. Only the dedication and creativity of our teachers and administrators allow students to thrive, despite the challenges of limited space.
"In addition to the three middle schools, both IPA and Garden Hills house middle school grades. IPA's middle school is currently housed in an older building awaiting renovation. Students at both IPA and GH originally did not have their own teams, and instead had to combine with the other middle schools, increasing competition and load for all schools.
"Population projections predict our local population to remain steady, or increase very slightly by 2030. Building another school would require a referendum and considerable efforts in fundraising. Unless it is absolutely needed, I would prioritize using available funds to enhance and optimize existing middle school spaces, including those at IPA and GH.
"However, if predictions prove incorrect and portable classrooms become a long-term necessity due to overcrowding, I will reevaluate the situation. Our students deserve supportive and well-equipped learning environments, and I am committed to working collaboratively to make that happen."
JUSTIN MICHAEL HENDRIXCandidate for: Two-year term
"As a board member, I would approach this issue by prioritizing a thorough, data-driven analysis. This would include conducting a new demographic study.
"Middle schools play a critical role in academic learning, social-emotional development and preparing students for high school, so it is essential to assess whether the new programs at IPA and Garden Hills are effectively meeting these goals. This data would guide us in determining if extending IPA and Garden Hills through eighth grade is a sustainable solution or if a standalone middle school is necessary longer term.
"Portables are not a long-term solution for addressing capacity challenges. While a new standalone middle school may be the right decision, this would require extensive community discussion and support from taxpayers. Determining the location would depend on careful analysis of where population growth has occurred and how students can be bussed efficiently within our existing transportation systems.
"Any solution must balance the needs of our students, families and taxpayers with thoughtful planning and community input to ensure a sustainable path forward."
GRACE KANGCandidate for: Four-year term
"Currently, Unit 4 has five middle school options: Jefferson Middle School, Edison Middle School, Franklin Middle School, IPA 6-8 and Garden Hills 6-8. At this point, I would not be in favor of adding another middle school. I believe with these five schools, there are enough seats for all of our middle school population.
"If we were to build another middle school, I think we would have to pass another referendum and I do not believe this is what taxpayers would be in favor of. Instead, if necessary, I think we should renovate and add to the current middle schools that we have.
"Both Jefferson and Franklin middle schools are older buildings and have yet to be renovated. I would be in favor of adding to and renovating these two middle schools if more seats were needed.
"Additionally, with the recent changes in the elementary schools that attend each middle school, it would be beneficial to have stability and not change middle school assignments again."
NOTE: An 11th Champaign school board candidate, Mark Holm, did not respond to News-Gazette requests.