URBANA— Monday was the first day of school in Urbana District 116.
It also marked the beginning of Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum’s last year in charge. She announced last week that she is planning to retire to focus on her family and health.
Sadie Hilson is the grandmother and adoptive mother of a third grader at Dr. Preston Williams Elementary School. She said Ivory-Tatum has been efficient and helpful.
“You can go talk to her any time of the day,” Hilson said. “Her door is always open. She’s a wonderful person.”
Hilson’s son, Mycai Davis, said he had a good first day. He had fun, went to lunch and played outside.
Dr. Williams Elementary fourth grader Myla Harris said getting back to school was an adjustment.
“Everyone was running and screaming,” she said.
But, she loves music class and already memorized some of the song they learned in class.
Her mother, Maleyia Williams, said other students in class are sometimes mean to Myla, which leaves her sad at the end of the school day and not wanting to return. Williams said she doesn’t know Ivory-Tatum, but she would like the next superintendent to hire more counselors or social workers, so children like Myla have someone to talk to about these situations.
Mother Kiamani Dillard said her son has high-functioning autism and that his previous school in Champaign seemed to struggle in understanding him. When the family moved to Urbana last year, Dillard emailed the superintendent about him to explain his education plan and the problems she had experienced to that point.
“I guess she took it to ear and I haven’t had any issues,” Dillard said.
She hopes the next superintendent will treat students with the “same hospitality” Ivory-Tatum gave her son.
Students in Champaign, Danville and Decatur public schools all returned to school last week.