Header artwork by Adrian.

Dear Unit 4 Community,

This has been an extraordinary week for Champaign Unit 4 Schools.

On Tuesday, our community voted to approve the $192 million Building Better Schools referendum, making an important investment in the future of our students and schools.

I want to begin with two simple words: Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn about the proposal, tour our facilities, ask thoughtful questions, participate in community conversations and cast a ballot.

The outcome of this election represents more than an investment in buildings. It represents a significant responsibility for our District.

Because Building Better Schools is about much more than bricks and mortar.

It's about creating learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed. That means strong academic instruction, meaningful social-emotional support, clear and consistent expectations for student behavior, and the resources and relationships students need to learn, grow and thrive.

New and improved facilities are an important part of that work, but buildings alone don't create great schools. The people, programs, systems and supports inside them matter just as much.

I have said since arriving in Champaign that trust is not something we can simply ask for. Trust must be earned through our actions.

You have entrusted us with the resources to improve our schools. Now, it is our responsibility to deliver—not only on the construction projects, but on our commitment to providing an excellent educational experience for every Unit 4 student.

With the referendum approved, we begin moving from planning to implementation.

The projects include rebuilding Franklin STEAM Academy, renovating Jefferson Middle School, constructing a fourth traditional middle school, building an addition at International Prep Academy, and addressing important special education and health and life safety needs.

These improvements will take time, thoughtful planning and careful oversight.

Our next steps include:

But as we begin that work, I want to be clear about something: Our commitment to Building Better Schools extends well beyond construction.

We must also continue strengthening what happens inside our classrooms and throughout our schools.

That means ensuring students receive high-quality, challenging academic instruction and the interventions they need when they struggle. It means supporting students' social-emotional development and sense of belonging. It means establishing clear, consistent approaches to student behavior and discipline that promote safe, supportive learning environments. And it means making sure our students with disabilities, multilingual learners and other students who need additional support have access to the services and opportunities they deserve.

We cannot measure our success simply by whether buildings are completed on time and on budget, although those are important responsibilities.

Our ultimate measure of success must be whether students are learning more, feeling supported and leaving Unit 4 prepared for what comes next.

I also want to recognize the members of our Facilities Committee, who dedicated countless hours to studying our buildings, reviewing options and helping shape the proposal.

Their service helped bring us to this point, and I hope they will continue to be involved as we move these projects forward.

The referendum vote was an important milestone, but it wasn't the finish line. It was the starting line.

We will work to earn your continued confidence every step of the way.

Another important milestone took place last week when we held our first Superintendent's Family Advisory Council meeting.

What a great beginning!

Parents and caregivers representing schools across Unit 4 came together to share perspectives, ask questions and begin building relationships with District leadership.

I was encouraged by the thoughtful conversations, the willingness to share different experiences and the common commitment to helping our students succeed.

One thing I've heard repeatedly during my Listen & Learn conversations is that families want to be genuine partners in their children's education.

The Family Advisory Council is one way we're making that happen.

These meetings are not intended to be presentations where District leaders do all the talking. They are opportunities for us to listen, learn, discuss challenges and work together on solutions.

I want to thank every member who has committed their time and voice to this important work.

Your perspectives matter, and I'm looking forward to what we can accomplish together.

Next week, we'll hold the first meeting of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee, bringing together students in grades 6–12 from across our District.

This is something I've been especially looking forward to.

We make decisions every day that affect students, but how often do we invite them directly into the conversation?

Our students have valuable perspectives about what is working in their schools, what challenges they face and what would make their educational experiences better.

I want to hear about their classrooms, their relationships with adults, their sense of belonging and their ideas for improving Unit 4.

And I want them to know their voices can help shape the decisions we make.

If we're serious about putting students first, we have to make sure students have a seat at the table.

I can't wait to get started.

This morning, our community came together for the Clothes for Kids event, helping ensure children have access to clothing and other essentials they need.

Sometimes, supporting student success begins with meeting basic needs.

When children have clothing that fits, keeps them comfortable and helps them feel confident, they can focus more fully on learning and enjoying school.

Events like this remind me that education is truly a community effort.

I want to thank the volunteers, organizers, donors and community partners who make opportunities like Clothes for Kids possible.

Your generosity makes a real difference for children and families.

When we take care of one another, we strengthen our entire community.

Great schools need great people, and some of the best people to serve our students are already right here in Champaign.

This Sunday, November 8, from 12:30–2 p.m., we're bringing our hiring efforts into the community at The Church of the Living God, 312 E. Bradley Avenue, for our Unit 4 Day in the Community hiring event.

We're looking for substitute teachers, teacher assistants, certified staff and administrators who want to make a difference.

Come meet our team, ask questions, apply on-site and visit with me and members of our Cabinet.

Substitute teacher applicants must have a bachelor's degree, and teacher assistant applicants must have an associate's degree.

Whether you're an experienced educator or exploring a new opportunity, we'd love to meet you.

Come be part of something bigger!

We've talked a lot about trust, transparency and listening. Now, I want to ask for your help in measuring how well we're doing.

Our Districtwide Communications Survey is an opportunity for families, staff, students and community members to tell us what they think about communication in Unit 4.

Are you getting the information you need? Do you feel informed about what's happening in our schools? Are we communicating in ways that work for you? Where do we need to improve?

We want to hear the good and the not-so-good.

Your responses will help us identify strengths, address gaps and establish a baseline against which we can measure our progress.

The survey is anonymous and takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

Your feedback is our future.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to participate and encourage others to share their perspectives, too.

Listening is important. What we do with what we hear matters even more.

Last week, Stratton Academy of the Arts hosted a special celebration honoring the intersection of art, history and community.

The event featured the unveiling of new murals by artists Langston Allston and Oscar Joyo, a new Champaign County African American Heritage Trail marker honoring Kenneth O. Stratton, and The Black Gaze: Portraits of Community through an African American Lens, an exhibition celebrating African American experiences and perspectives.

Kenneth Stratton, the school's namesake, dedicated more than 33 years to Unit 4 as an educator and administrator. He was also a civil rights leader and became the first African American elected to the Champaign City Council in 1961.

What a meaningful opportunity to celebrate his legacy while inspiring a new generation of students through art and storytelling.

I want to thank Stratton Academy of the Arts, the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail, Experience Champaign-Urbana Foundation, the artists and community partners who made this celebration possible.

Building Better Schools also means creating places where students see their history, culture and community reflected—and know they belong.

This celebration is a wonderful example of that commitment.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to see another remarkable example of our community in action as volunteers came together to build the new playground at Kenwood Elementary.

After the fire that destroyed the previous playground this summer, our community didn't simply wait for someone else to solve the problem.

People showed up.

They brought their time, energy, tools and determination to help create something special for our children.

By donating labor, our volunteers helped us direct more of the available insurance funds into the playground itself, including accessibility improvements, a poured rubber surface, a ramped play structure, shade and musical elements.

What an incredible example of turning a challenge into an opportunity.

To everyone who volunteered, donated, organized or supported this effort: Thank you.

You helped build more than a playground. You helped build something that reflects the very best of Unit 4.

As I reflect on this week, I see a common thread connecting everything we've accomplished.

Our community voted to invest in the future of our schools.

Families are stepping forward to help guide our decisions.

Students are preparing to share their voices.

Volunteers are helping meet the needs of children.

And community members are exploring opportunities to join our team.

These are all examples of what happens when people believe in the power of public education and take an active role in making it better.

The referendum's passage is a tremendous opportunity, but it also comes with tremendous responsibility.

And I want to leave you with this thought:

Building Better Schools isn't just about the buildings we construct. It's about the futures we help build.

It's about making sure every student has access to excellent instruction, feels safe and supported, experiences a sense of belonging, and develops the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed.

We must be just as committed to improving academic achievement, strengthening student supports and creating positive school cultures as we are to delivering our construction projects.

That's how we will turn your trust into meaningful action and measurable results for students.

That is my commitment to you.

Thank you for believing in our students, supporting our schools and helping us build a stronger future for Unit 4.

Challenge Accepted.

Dr. Geovanny Ponce
Superintendent
Champaign Unit 4 Schools

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