‘Deadlocked’ Champaign school board turns to regional superintendent again to fill open seat

From left: Joe Abrisz, Q'Keomi Clemmons and Kelly Ransom interview for a spot on the Champaign Unit 4 school board on February 3, 2025.


CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education is once again turning to a regional official to fill a vacancy.

At its meeting Monday, the group could not come to an agreement to appoint someone to an open seat.

The seat is vacant because the previous member resigned citing unproductive work dynamics.

After the board debated for an hour behind closed doors, Board President Gianina Baker announced that the members were too divided.

“While there was a candidate that stood out, the board is deadlocked on a vote, did not reach agreement, and cannot move forward,” Baker said.

She said the board would now ask the Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education to take over the process.

While the move is typically a last resort, the regional office had to fill vacancies before in Champaign in May 2024.


Who are the candidates?

Three candidates showed up Monday ready to fill the vacancy in Champaign, even though they would only be in the role until the election in April.

Former teacher Kelly Ransom said she had three priorities for what she could do in that time. Those included following the recommendations from a recent audit of services for students with disabilities and planning in case Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived at school.

“Immediately creating and implementing a proactive safety plan for students, families and staff who may be vulnerable to ICE enforcement or the political shifts is very important and is immediately impactful,” Ransom said.

Parent Q’Keomi Clemmons saw the vacancy on TV and decided to volunteer.

“I applied for the board because there was a vacancy or a call of duty, and I know if there no one in that seat, nothing can get done in regards to procedures,” Clemmons said.

Joe Abrisz previously served on school and library boards in Iowa but had to leave his post early due to a job change.

“I’ve always felt like I like I shortchanged my community, and this I saw as an opportunity to finish a charge and to finish a duty,” Abrisz said.

Some board members had previously said they were looking for someone with school board experience to take over quickly during the short term.

Emily Hays

Emily Hays started at WILL in October 2021 after three-plus years in local newsrooms in Virginia and Connecticut. She has won state awards for her housing coverage at Charlottesville Tomorrow and her education reporting at the New Haven Independent. Emily graduated from Yale University where she majored in History and South Asian Studies.