Unit 4 superintendent willing to consider ‘drastic’ measures to address ongoing bus driver shortage

Unit 4 superintendent willing to consider ‘drastic’ measures to address ongoing bus driver shortage

Champaign schools faced another semester of transportation issues impacting local students and families. Stacey Moore, the chief communications officer of Champaign Unit 4, said the district is still struggling to hire enough school bus drivers. “Providing safe transportation continues to be a top priority for our district,” Moore said in an email. “But like many…

Kimberlie Kranich reflects on her influential role in educational and community programming at Illinois Public Media
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Kimberlie Kranich reflects on her influential role in educational and community programming at Illinois Public Media

For nearly 26 years, Kimberlie Kranich has worked to foster a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment during her career with Illinois Public Media.

Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now? 
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Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now? 

Alana Banks made history two years ago, becoming the first Black and transgender woman elected to a school board in the country. Still, she has found balancing the demands of the communities she represents challenging.

School buses are safe, and seat belts make them safer. But it’s not cheap to upgrade
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School buses are safe, and seat belts make them safer. But it’s not cheap to upgrade

School buses are among the safest forms of transportation for children, and seat belts and other safety features can make buses even safer, according to the National Safety Council. But very few states currently have laws requiring seat belts on large school buses.  Only eight states – Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and…

More than 100 UIUC students remain in temporary housing, awaiting a permanent living space

More than 100 UIUC students remain in temporary housing, awaiting a permanent living space

  More than 250 students were placed into temporary housing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this fall due to a shortage of permanent living spaces on campus.  While many have since transitioned to permanent living spaces, more than half are still waiting for reassignment, according to the University Housing Director Mari Anne Brocker Curry. This is part…