CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — On Friday, staff at Unit 4 received an email from Superintendent Dr. Shelia Boozer asking for staff to move or transfer to Booker T. Washington Elementary (BTW), which was struggling to fill positions. The email read, in part: 

"One of the challenges we're facing that I believe will be solved with more time is the fact that there are several classroom teaching positions currently being filled by long-term substitutes ... I am writing to ask you to consider accepting a voluntary transfer to BTW for the remainder of the Fall 2024 semester or the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year. This will allow students at BTW to have a consistent presence of a fully licensed, highly effective teacher while allowing Principal Jackie Teague and her team more time to recruit and hire new teachers." 

At the school board meeting, several teachers and parents used the public comment section to express frustration with this request. They said asking  support staff to leave their current roles will just pass the issue along to other locations. 

"I believe it would be detrimental if any of these would transfer from our building," said Phil Dreste, a 4th grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary. "We rely on each of these team members, not just to do their own job, but also, all too frequently, to sub without them every week, dozens of students would be split between other classrooms, not even at the same grade level, without their coaching and interventions."

Dreste added that BTW only has three teachers on their staff, with the remaining spots filled by substitutes or other staff members. He worries staff from other locations will be forced to transfer or staff will get burned out and leave the district. 

According to the Unit 4 website, there are currently 19 openings at BTW. This includes a dean, eight teachers, five special education roles, and a school social worker. 

Another 4th grade teacher at Kenwood, Gina Cervantes, said she's watched many staff members leave the education field in the last few years. She begged the board to take the situation seriously and consider how these issues are impacting students. 

"Students who are in dire need of support services are not receiving them for a variety of reasons," said Cervantes. "These reasons include a lack of support staff, who are often quitting because they're being cussed out and hit by students who are not receiving the support because of the lack of support staff." 

Board Member Sam Banks said he's spent time at BTW recently and had his eyes opened to the struggles staff are facing there. He said the board should plan a specific time to hear from the staff there and see what they can do. 

"I think it would be be good to spend some time at a meeting, just hearing more about what's going on there and the vision for the future," said Banks. "The things that are taking place, to support staff there, and things along those lines, and to kind of just lay that out for for us and all to hear, and respond to in whatever ways we can."

WAND News reached out to Unit 4 for information on how the district hopes to handle these staffing issues. It replied with this statement: 

"While our goal is to fill every open position in our District with highly qualified individuals, we are very focused in our recruitment efforts to fill teaching positions at Booker T. Washington Academy and other campuses. In the meantime, we have qualified substitute educators and district administrators supporting the school building.   

"We are grateful for our families and staff who choose Booker T. Washington Academy and are working with us towards thoughtful solutions to these challenges. If anyone is interested in being part of the solution, they are welcome to apply at https://www.champaignschools.org/page/human-resources." 

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