Parents and Teacher calling for change in Urbana School District #116

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — Parents, teachers, and students at Urbana Middle School used public comment during Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting to address the violence happening at school every day.

Last week, a student was involved in an incident where his family says he fractured his neck. The family says the district has yet to reach out about this.

"I saw another email that came out that they changed the hallway policy after the teachers did their walkout but that's still not supporting the family. That's not giving the family the support they need and she's a single mother so it's vital especially with a special needs child that she has all the wrap around support that she can get," said Clarissa Nickerson Fourman, cousin of the student.

Urbana Middle School going to e-learning on Monday was the result of a sick-out organized by teachers at the school in protest of the incident that occurred. Teachers have mentioned how they're constantly fighting for change and that they no longer feel safe at school.

"This is such a unique community and environment that I'm incredibly grateful for daily, and it breaks my heart that the violence that has been persisting in our building is taking away from that, and is damaging to all those students who really deserve a better experience," said Co-Chair of the Science Department at Urbana Middle School, Kia Alexander-Hayes.

The district is set to meet again on Tuesday, April 16th.