RCS NEWS for Families 04-22-2025

RCS NEWS for Families April 22, 2025 Board Meeting Highlights – April 17, 2025 The Rantoul City Schools Board of Education met at the new PreK Center. The Board approved standard business items, including bills, personnel changes, and donations. Key approvals included a new transportation contract with First Student through 2028 and roof work for Northview’s gym. A Memorandum of Understanding was approved to compensate certified staff for time spent moving classrooms due to the upcoming school reorganization. The Board also held its organizational meeting, swearing in newly elected members and electing new officers for the 2025–2027 term. Pictured from left to right are three re-elected Board Members: Moto Johnson, Niki Pettit, and Robin Vaughn. Debbra Sweat was newly elected. John Brotherton, standing, administered the oath of office. The Board selected officers: Robin Vaughn, President; Niki Pettit, Vice President; and Katie Johnston, Secretary. The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting is Thursday, May 15 at 6:00 at the regular location, 1 Aviation Center Drive. PreK Center On Thursday, April 17, RCS opened the new PreK Center. Students will begin in August. Pictured from left to right, State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Board Members Diana Mendoza and Katie Johnston, Superintendent Scott Woods, Board Member Robin Vaughn, PreK Director Lori Bednarz, Board President John Brotherton, Board Member Tyler Wilson, Board Members Niki Pettit and Moto Johnson, and Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Frerichs. Schedule Back to School Exams- Promise Healthcare-Rantoul Now is the perfect time to schedule required health exams, shots, and sports physicals. Sports physicals are included in all youth physicals. Where? Promise Healthcare-Rantoul 424 E Wabash, Rantoul, IL When? Medical exams offered M, T, TH, F T Open: Monday–Friday (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) h Call: 217-600-700 or visit promisehealthcare.org/Request-Appointment to request an appointment. i Same-day appointments available! s Save time! Download and complete patient forms in advance: promisehealthcare.org/New-Patient-Forms  Students can visit without a parent if a signed consent form is on file. They can also get school passes for clinic visits. Autism Acceptance Celebration RCS is hosting a free, sensory-friendly event for all RCS families on Thursday, April 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Northview Elementary School. The evening will feature activities for all ages, including bubbles, an inflatable, family resource tables, and a dance party. This is a great opportunity to come together as a school community to celebrate acceptance, connection, and fun. We hope to see you there! Carle Mobile Clinic 🚐 CARLE MOBILE CLINIC Offering School Physicals, Sports Physicals & Vaccinations 📅 Saturday, May 3, 2025 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 📍 Rantoul Township High School 📝 Make an Appointment: 📞 Call: 217-893-5452 📧 Email: dwidener@rcs137.org ✅ Don’t Forget: Please bring your medical card or insurance card with you.

Tuesday, Apr 22 2025

Today-Celebrate the Day of the Child!

All RCS students and their families are invited to join us for a fun-filled Day of the Child celebration on TODAY from 4:00–6:00 PM at Wabash Park. This exciting event  features games, free food for children, DJ Fireproof, inflatables, food trucks, community tables, and much more. Don't miss out on this joyful afternoon of family fun — we hope to see you there!

Friday, Apr 18 2025

Blood Drive, Friday, April 18

RCS Families, Rantoul City Schools #137 and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today! Drive Details: Site: Rantoul City Schools Central Office Address: 1 Aviation Center Dr, Rantoul, IL, 61866 Room Name: Robert D. Little Board Meeting Room Date: Fri Apr 18, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Blood Program Leader Name: Hanna Tieman Blood Program Leader Phone Number: 2178935400 Click here to make an appointment. The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Saturday, Apr 12 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 04-11-2025

RCS NEWS for Families April 11, 2025 Ribbon Cutting for New PreK Building – April 17 We are excited to invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our brand-new PreK Center, located adjacent to Pleasant Acres Elementary, on Thursday, April 17, at 5:30 PM. This special event will celebrate our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education in a modern, welcoming space for our youngest learners. Following the ceremony, the regular Board of Education meeting will take place at the PreK Center at 6:00 PM. We encourage families and community members to join us for this milestone event and see the new facility firsthand. We look forward to celebrating with you! Celebrate the Day of the Child! BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) invites all RCS students and their families to join us for a fun-filled Day of the Child celebration on April 18th from 4:00–6:00 PM at Wabash Park! This exciting event will feature games, free food for children, DJ Fireproof, inflatables, food trucks, community tables, and much more. Don't miss out on this joyful afternoon of family fun — we hope to see you there! April 18 Blood Drive Rantoul City Schools #137 and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today! Drive Details: Site: Rantoul City Schools Central Office Address: 1 Aviation Center Dr, Rantoul, IL, 61866 Room Name: Robert D. Little Board Meeting Room Date: Fri Apr 18, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Blood Program Leader Name: Hanna Tieman Blood Program Leader Phone Number: 2178935400 Click here to make an appointment Autism Acceptance Celebration RCS is hosting a free, sensory-friendly event for all RCS families on Thursday, April 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Northview Elementary School. The evening will feature activities for all ages, including bubbles, an inflatable, family resource tables, and a dance party. This is a great opportunity to come together as a school community to celebrate acceptance, connection, and fun. We hope to see you there! RCS Launches New Website We have launched our new and improved website, and we are committed to having accurate and up-to-date information for our families and community. In addition to dedicated staff members who will monitor and update content, we would like to hear from you. If you see something that needs to be corrected, is out-of-date, or you just have a suggestion, please take advantage of our new Contact Us feature or email info@rcs137.org. The new website is still a work in progress. Thank you for your support! Carle Mobile Clinic 🚐 CARLE MOBILE CLINIC Offering School Physicals, Sports Physicals & Vaccinations 📅 Saturday, May 3, 2025 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 📍 Rantoul Township High School 📝 Make an Appointment: 📞 Call: 217-893-5452 📧 Email: dwidener@rcs137.org ✅ Don’t Forget: Please bring your medical card or insurance card with you.

Friday, Apr 11 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 04-03-2025

RCS NEWS for Families April 3, 2025 April 4, Wear Blue For National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM), the RCS community is encouraged to wear blue on Friday, April 4. Ribbon Cutting for New PreK Building – April 17 We are excited to invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our brand-new PreK Center, located adjacent to Pleasant Acres Elementary, on Thursday, April 17, at 5:30 PM. This special event will celebrate our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education in a modern, welcoming space for our youngest learners. Following the ceremony, the regular Board of Education meeting will take place at the PreK Center at 6:00 PM. We encourage families and community members to join us for this milestone event and see the new facility firsthand. We look forward to celebrating with you! Kindergarten Registration 📚 Rantoul City Schools Kindergarten Registration 2025–2026 School Year 📅 Dates: April 7–11, 2025 🕘 Times: 9:00–11:00 a.m. 1:00–3:00 p.m. Evening Hours: 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Thursday only 📍 Location: Your child’s home school 👧 Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025 What to Bring: Photo ID of parent/guardian (Driver’s license, State ID, or Passport) Two proofs of residency (e.g., current lease/mortgage AND a current Village utility bill) Child’s birth certificate 📞 Registration is by appointment only! Please contact your child’s school to schedule. ⚠️ Note: This registration is for new students only. If your child is currently enrolled in our Pre-K program, you will complete returning student online registration beginning in late May. Beyond the Boardroom: Rantoul Pleasant Acres Elementary's Samie Sebestik Shout out to Pleasant Acres's Mrs. Sebestik for being featured recently in the News-Gazette's Beyond the Boardroom. Check out the full article here. Eastlawn's Entrepreneur Eastlawn has its very own young entrepreneur, Ms. Hazel. Last week she made a special delivery for the staff at RISE Academy and our district office. "Hazel's Bagels" was a special a bright spot in the day! K-5 Boundary Changes Approved for 2025-2026 As RCS transitions to Companion Schools, the district is making revisions to existing school boundaries. At the March 13 Board meeting, the changes were approved. Please check the map linked below to see if your family is impacted. Families that are directly impacted by the boundary changes will be notified directly by the district soon. Students enrolled in the bilingual program will not be impacted by the proposed boundary changes as that program is continuing at the PA/EL companion schools. Approved 2025-2026 Boundaries Linked here is the current boundary map. April 18 Blood Drive Rantoul City Schools #137 and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today! Drive Details: Site: Rantoul City Schools Central Office Address: 1 Aviation Center Dr, Rantoul, IL, 61866 Room Name: Robert D. Little Board Meeting Room Date: Fri Apr 18, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Blood Program Leader Name: Hanna Tieman Blood Program Leader Phone Number: 2178935400 Click here to make an appointment Celebrate the Day of the Child! BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) invites all RCS students and their families to join us for a fun-filled Day of the Child celebration on April 18th from 4:00–6:00 PM at Wabash Park! This exciting event will feature games, free food for children, DJ Fireproof, inflatables, food trucks, community tables, and much more. Don't miss out on this joyful afternoon of family fun — we hope to see you there! Carle Mobile Clinic 🚐 CARLE MOBILE CLINIC Offering School Physicals, Sports Physicals & Vaccinations 📅 Saturday, May 3, 2025 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 📍 Rantoul Township High School 📝 Make an Appointment: 📞 Call: 217-893-5452 📧 Email: dwidener@rcs137.org ✅ Don’t Forget: Please bring your medical card or insurance card with you. Parent Education Opportunity Do you want to learn more about schools and how to support your child’s learning at home? We are looking for families of elementary-aged students to participate in our program. Families participating in our project will attend five in-person sessions held weekly. Families will learn about school systems, including how to support learning at home and build relationships with professionals, as well as complete short surveys before and after session meetings. If interested, please complete the online registration and pre-survey at https://redcap.link/RCS If you want to enroll or have any questions, contact Amanda Johnston at amanda.n.johnston@vanderbilt.edu or 815-450-9306.

Thursday, Apr 03 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 03-28-2025

RCS NEWS for Families March 28, 2025 Ribbon Cutting for New PreK Building – April 17 We are excited to invite you to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our brand-new PreK Center, located adjacent to Pleasant Acres Elementary, on Thursday, April 17, at 5:30 PM. This special event will celebrate our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education in a modern, welcoming space for our youngest learners. Following the ceremony, the regular Board of Education meeting will take place at the PreK Center at 6:00 PM. We encourage families and community members to join us for this milestone event and see the new facility firsthand. We look forward to celebrating with you! Kindergarten Registration 📚 Rantoul City Schools Kindergarten Registration 2025–2026 School Year 📅 Dates: April 7–11, 2025 🕘 Times: 9:00–11:00 a.m. 1:00–3:00 p.m. Evening Hours: 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Thursday only 📍 Location: Your child’s home school 👧 Children must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025 What to Bring: Photo ID of parent/guardian (Driver’s license, State ID, or Passport) Two proofs of residency (e.g., current lease/mortgage AND a current Village utility bill) Child’s birth certificate 📞 Registration is by appointment only! Please contact your child’s school to schedule. ⚠️ Note: This registration is for new students only. If your child is currently enrolled in our Pre-K program, you will complete returning student online registration beginning in late May. K-5 Boundary Changes Approved for 2025-2026 As RCS transitions to Companion Schools, the district is making revisions to existing school boundaries. At the March 13 Board meeting, the changes were approved. Please check the map linked below to see if your family is impacted. Families that are directly impacted by the boundary changes will be notified directly by the district soon. Students enrolled in the bilingual program will not be impacted by the proposed boundary changes as that program is continuing at the PA/EL companion schools. Approved 2025-2026 Boundaries Linked here is the current boundary map. Board of Education Meeting Summary--March 13, 2025 The RCS Board of Education met on March 13 to address several key topics impacting the district. The Board approved the amended fiscal year 2025 budget, which reflects updated revenues and expenditures, including new grant awards: $285,970 in School Improvement Grant funds, a $267,802 Stronger Connections Grant, and a $5,847 STEAM Grant. Adjustments were also made to Title I, Title III, and Teacher Vacancy Grant allocations. Boundary changes for K-5 students were approved for the 2025-2026 school year to better balance enrollment across the district’s companion schools. Currently, 51 students (5.9% of K–4 enrollment) will be reassigned. Of the 109 certified K–5 staff positions, currently 82 will remain unchanged, 23 staff members will move buildings but keep their roles, and four will stay in the same building but shift positions. The Board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the teachers' association to continue offering a $1,000 sign-on bonus for newly hired certified staff through the Teacher Vacancy Grant. Other actions included the adoption of personnel recommendations, approval of a new Facilities Manager job description, and acceptance of grants for STEAM and library materials. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 17 at the new PreK facility. April 18 Blood Drive Rantoul City Schools #137 and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today! Drive Details: Site: Rantoul City Schools Central Office Address: 1 Aviation Center Dr, Rantoul, IL, 61866 Room Name: Robert D. Little Board Meeting Room Date: Fri Apr 18, 2025 Time: 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM Blood Program Leader Name: Hanna Tieman Blood Program Leader Phone Number: 2178935400 Click here to make an appointment Celebrate the Day of the Child! BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) invites all RCS students and their families to join us for a fun-filled Day of the Child celebration on April 18th from 4:00–6:00 PM at Wabash Park! This exciting event will feature games, free food for children, DJ Fireproof, inflatables, food trucks, community tables, and much more. Don't miss out on this joyful afternoon of family fun — we hope to see you there! Carle Mobile Clinic 🚐 CARLE MOBILE CLINIC Offering School Physicals, Sports Physicals & Vaccinations 📅 Saturday, May 3, 2025 🕘 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 📍 Rantoul Township High School 📝 Make an Appointment: 📞 Call: 217-893-5452 📧 Email: dwidener@rcs137.org ✅ Don’t Forget: Please bring your medical card or insurance card with you. Parent Education Opportunity Do you want to learn more about schools and how to support your child’s learning at home? We are looking for families of elementary-aged students to participate in our program. Families participating in our project will attend five in-person sessions held weekly. Families will learn about school systems, including how to support learning at home and build relationships with professionals, as well as complete short surveys before and after session meetings. If interested, please complete the online registration and pre-survey at https://redcap.link/RCS If you want to enroll or have any questions, contact Amanda Johnston at amanda.n.johnston@vanderbilt.edu or 815-450-9306. Parent Support Group Offers Connection and Care Crisis Nursery is offering a free Parent Support Group for moms who are pregnant or parents with children under age two. This group will meet every Friday from March 7 through April 11, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County in Rantoul. The group is designed to support families during the perinatal and postpartum stages, which can be both joyful and challenging. Participants will enjoy an hour of self-care activities, conversations with other parents, and a relaxing environment. Attendees will also be entered for a chance to win a self-care gift basket. This is a great opportunity for parents to recharge, build connections, and learn valuable strategies for taking care of themselves and their families. The Community Service Center is located at 520 E Wabash Ave in Rantoul. For more information, call the Crisis Nursery at 217-337-2730 and ask for Hannah.

Friday, Mar 28 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 03-07-2025

​ ​ RCS NEWS for Families March 7, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Family-Teacher Conferences ​ Family-Teacher Conferences will be held on the evening of Thursday, March 13. All families are encouraged to participate. If you have not already made an appointment for your student, please contact your school as soon as possible. ​ ​ ​ ​ African American Heritage Celebration ​ Thank you to the many families, students and community members who celebrated our African American Heritage last Friday at JW Eater. We had a great turnout. Thank you also to our staff and families who helped plan this great event: Melina Thompson, Delores Lloyd, Kayla Daugherty, Tracy Williams, Karen Lampert, Luisa Stone, Alanee Farias, Beth Coleman, DeAndre Henderson, Eboni Button, Heather VanMeter, Janet Aguiar, Tonya Carter, Maryann Perkins, Nilda Smith, Natajia Stampley, Kia Alexander-Hays, Shirl Perkins, Jaime Roundtree, Alexis Taylor, Andre Taylor, Mallory Anning, Mathias Bouilett, Tierra Norwod, and Precious Bradshaw. Many more people volunteered the evening of the event! Pictured below, students from Pleasant Acres performing a self-written and self-directed skit. Families in the lobby at JW Eater socializing just after the student performances. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Parent Education Opportunity ​ Do you want to learn more about schools and how to support your child’s learning at home? We are looking for families of elementary-aged students to participate in our program. Families participating in our project will attend five in-person sessions held weekly. Families will learn about school systems, including how to support learning at home and build relationships with professionals, as well as complete short surveys before and after session meetings. If interested, please complete the online registration and pre-survey at https://redcap.link/RCS If you want to enroll or have any questions, contact Amanda Johnston at amanda.n.johnston@vanderbilt.edu or 815-450-9306. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Proposed K-5 Boundary Changes ​ As RCS transitions to Companion Schools, the district is making revisions to existing school boundaries. Possible approval of the proposed boundary changes will be on the agenda for the March 13 school board meeting. The goal of the proposed boundary changes is to more evenly balance total enrollment at the four elementary schools without significantly increasing transportation costs. Students enrolled in the bilingual program will not be impacted by the proposed boundary changes as that program is continuing at the PA/EL companion schools. Linked here is the current boundary map. Linked here is the proposed boundary map. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Board and District Admin Office Hours ​ Our next Office Hours event will be Thursday, March 13. Interested in talking informally with members of the School Board or the superintendent? Feel free to stop in before the next school board meeting to ask questions, share ideas, or just chat. Cookies will be served! Office Hours: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM, Thursday, March 13 at 1 Aviation Center Drive. This is just prior to the regular school board meeting. Members of the public are always welcome to make on-the-record, public comments during the regular meeting scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Two paid UIUC Research Opportunities for Families ​ The Math Learning Project – (Second graders). The Center for Parent-Child Studies at the University of Illinois is seeking parents and their second-grade children for a one-hour, online Zoom study. As a thank you, families will receive $30 Amazon e-code upon completing the session. To learn more, check eligibility, and schedule a session, simply scan the QR code below or click https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJsKjiVO7hp9RnE. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Project Coordinator, Jiawen Wu, at jiawenw5@illinois.edu, or visit our study site at https://pomerantzlab.web.illinois.edu/want-to-participate/. We hope you’ll join us! TEAM Project (6th-8th grade girls). To sign up and learn more, go to: https://www.devmindsonline.org/ and create a profile for yourself and your daughter. Look for “The TEAM (Teens and Mothers) Project”. We are inviting teenage girls and their moms across the country to be a part of the TEAM Project! We want to understand teen girls' experiences with other kids and how moms are involved. Mothers and daughters will complete everything online over a three-month period. Families can earn up to $70 for the study. If you have any questions about this study, feel free to contact the research team at teens-and-mothers@illinois.edu. ​ ​

Friday, Mar 07 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 02-27-2025

​ ​ RCS NEWS for Families February 27, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Parent Education Opportunity ​ Do you want to learn more about schools and how to support your child’s learning at home? We are looking for families of elementary-aged students to participate in our program. Families participating in our project will attend five in-person sessions held weekly. Families will learn about school systems, including how to support learning at home and build relationships with professionals, as well as complete short surveys before and after session meetings. If interested, please complete the online registration and pre-survey at https://redcap.link/RCS If you want to enroll or have any questions, contact Amanda Johnston at amanda.n.johnston@vanderbilt.edu or 815-450-9306. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Calendar ​ Attached is the academic calendar of the 2025-2026 school year. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 6 Village of Rantoul Candidate Forum-League of Women Voters ​ Rantoul voters will have the opportunity to hear from the two candidates running for Village Mayor on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Rantoul City Schools Administrative Center, 1 Aviation Center Drive. (For those using GPS, follow directions to Rise Academy.) The participating candidates are incumbent Mayor Charles Smith and Village Trustee Sam Hall. The Candidate Forum is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Champaign County and co-sponsored by the NAACP Champaign County Branch. A moderator will ask prepared questions of each candidate. Voters are encouraged to email questions in advance to Candidateforums.LWVCC@gmail.com by March 3, 2025. Note “Rantoul Candidate Forum” in the subject line. Audience questions will also be taken as time allows. “Forums such as this offer community members the opportunity to learn the candidates’ views on important issues,” shares League President Jane Santogrossi. “They also provide candidates the opportunity to hear directly from their constituents. We encourage those who are eligible to vote for the Village of Rantoul Mayor to attend.” A recording of the session will be available after the event on the League of Women Voters YouTube channel found at www.lwvchampaigncounty.org. All League programs are free and open to the public. Voters are also encouraged to access the nonpartisan Champaign County Candidate Guide to learn more about the candidates. The guide is updated frequently so check it often.   The Consolidated Municipal Election is April 1. In-person early voting begins March 12 at the Brookens Center and opens at county-wide locations on March 24. The Champaign County Clerk’s Office will begin mailing ballots to those who have registered to receive mail ballots on March 12. For more information go to the Champaign County Clerk’s website.     Contact: Trisha Crowley Email: tcrowley9491@gmail.com Mobile: 217-649-3500 The League of Women Voters is a national, nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Board and District Admin Office Hours ​ Our next Office Hours event will be Thursday, March 13. Interested in talking informally with members of the School Board or the superintendent? Feel free to stop in before the next school board meeting to ask questions, share ideas, or just chat. Cookies will be served! Office Hours: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM, Thursday, March 13 at 1 Aviation Center Drive. This is just prior to the regular school board meeting. Members of the public are always welcome to make on-the-record, public comments during the regular meeting scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. ​ ​ ​

Friday, Feb 28 2025

RCS NEWS for Families 02-21-2025

​ ​ RCS NEWS for Families February 21, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ School Board Approves K-5 Companion Schools Model for 2025-2026 ​ At last night’s meeting, the Board of Education officially approved a new organizational structure for K-5 schools beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The Companion Schools model, recommended by district administration after careful review of feedback from families and staff, is designed to provide a more balanced learning environment while addressing concerns about past proposals. Under the Companion Schools model, students will be assigned to schools as follows: Eastlawn and Pleasant Acres: Students in grades K-2 will attend Pleasant Acres, while students in grades 3-5 will attend Eastlawn. Broadmeadow and Northview: Students in grades K-2 will attend Northview, while students in grades 3-5 will attend Broadmeadow. This structure offers many of the same benefits as the previously considered Grade Level Schools while improving transportation logistics and reducing school to school transitions. Why This Change? The district explored multiple scenarios to improve school organization, including maintaining the current structure with and without boundary changes, Grade Level Schools, and Companion Schools. The Companion Schools model offers: More balanced class sizes Improved collaboration among teachers at the same grade level Greater equity in student learning experiences. Key Details About the Transition Boundary Adjustments: A proposal will be brought to the Board in March to shift school boundaries for some students. Approximately 50 families currently assigned to Eastlawn or Pleasant Acres may be reassigned to the Broadmeadow/Northview area. Transportation: Students who live 1.5 miles or more from their assigned school will be provided transportation. The district will continue to share updates on implementation in the coming months. Families with questions are encouraged to reach out to their school principals or contact the district office at 217-893-5400. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Black History Month Door Contest ​ Throughout RCS, teachers and their students show their creativity and knowledge of Black History Month by decorating classroom doors. Classes decide on a theme and collaboratively decorate and design. Check out your school's Facebook page and vote for your favorites by "liking" the images. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Leadership Change at Eastlawn ​ Mrs. Wiegel (right) will take over as Eastlawn's principal on March 1, and Mrs. Ramey (left) will continue as the assistant principal. Mrs. Wiegel is in her 24th year in education and has been part of the Eastlawn Elementary community for the past three years as the assistant principal. With an extensive background in early elementary education, she is passionate about early literacy, student engagement, and incorporating movement and activity into learning. As she transitions from Assistant Principal to Principal, Mrs. Wiegel looks forward to continuing to foster a dynamic and supportive learning environment for all students. Mrs. Bajer, Eastlawn's current principal, is continuing to work in education, but she will be moving to a new role as assistant superintendent of the Regional Office of Education! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Board Meeting Update ​ The Board of Education met on Thursday, February 20, 2025, to discuss key district matters, approve action items, and hear updates on various initiatives. Below are some of the meeting’s highlights: K-5 Organization. The Board approved the new Companion Schools model for K-5 students, which will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. Under this plan: District Improvement Plan – Priority Area 5. The Board authorized working with a consulting group to assist the district with evaluating curricular and extracurricular opportunities across all grade levels. Annual Discipline Improvement Plan. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to student safety and behavior expectations by approving the Annual Discipline Improvement Plan. The Board approved the 2025-2026 academic calendar. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Calendar ​ Attached is the academic calendar of the 2025-2026 school year. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Grant Award ​ Congratulations to Mrs. Estoque, second grade teacher at Eastlawn, on receiving a $1000 Schools and Community Outreach by Educators grant through the Illinois Education Association to provide “Pediatric Care Kits” to children at Carle Hospital! She says her goal is to “provide them with comfort, happiness, and relaxation during their stay”. Way to go Mrs. Estoque! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Update your contact information now. ​ We are in the process of verifying student contact information in Skyward. Please take a few minutes to check your contact information in Skyward, including the people you have listed as emergency contacts for your students. If updates are needed, contact the school office, and office staff can make the changes with you. ​ ​ ​

Friday, Feb 21 2025

Promise Healthcare Closure 2-18-25

Promise Healthcare-Rantoul clinic will be closed Tuesday February 18 due to problems with the building's heating system.  Staff will reach out to reschedule appointments. Medical and counseling patients may be offered telehealth appointments. Patients may also call 217-600-7000 to reschedule. 

Tuesday, Feb 18 2025