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Urbana board approves naming committee for sixth-grade center after heated exchange
Summary
After a tense discussion in which one board member accused the administration of unilaterally changing a building name, Urbana SD 116 approved an amended charge to form a public naming committee (facilitator: Immani Carr) to study whether and how to name the sixth-grade center; the motion passed by roll call.
The Urbana School District 116 board on Sept. 16 voted to form a naming committee to consider the official name for the building currently housing sixth-grade students, approving an amended charge after a prolonged and emotional exchange about process and community trust.
Board member Jennifer said she had "a problem with the charge," alleging administration had already changed the building's name administratively and that the committee had been weighted toward district staff rather than independent community representation. She said the handling had created distrust in the WY community and asked for more community members and clearer language acknowledging the building's current status.
Others, including the board president and Dr. Avery Tatum, responded that the building had been closed and reclassified through prior public hearings and administrative steps, and emphasized the need to move forward. The superintendent acknowledged the timing and formation of the committee could have been handled earlier and accepted responsibility for the delay in convening a naming group.
The board clarified the committee's intended makeup: it will be chaired by the sixth-grade center principal, Immani Carr (the agreed facilitator), and include parents, a teacher representative, community members who petitioned earlier, at least one union/UEA representative, an IT staff member (as an expert to advise on data/records implications), and two board members (Lindsay and Ben). The charge language was edited to refer repeatedly to "the building currently called the Urbana Sixth Grade Center" to avoid implying an established new name.
Why it matters: The dispute centers on community trust, historical connection to the former Flossy Wy School name, and practical concerns (student-reporting codes, Skyward data and state reporting). Board members said the committee will publicly notice meetings at the sixth-grade center and report back with recommendations; two to three meetings were estimated as a minimum, but the timeline may expand.
What happened next: A motion to approve the amended charge and panel the committee passed by roll call with all members voting 'yes.' The board asked that the committee present its recommendation publicly so trustees can act on it once the committee reaches consensus.
The board directed administration to rewrite the charge with the agreed edits and work with Immani Carr and Lori (board recording) to schedule the committee's first meetings.
