Dear Champaign Unit 4 families, students, and staff:

I believe that the most important thing that occurs each day in our schools is the interaction that takes place between our faculty, staff, and students. With twenty-five years of experience in the Champaign Unit #4 Schools, I have witnessed first-hand the great things that take place in our district. I work with some of the best in the profession and am proud to be a member of this district and community.

Our community expects and deserves the best from its schools, and I will work hard to earn your trust and to inspire a high level of confidence. There must be a strong partnership between the schools and the community. I want to stay informed of the perceptions the public has of the schools and respond when necessary to questions and concerns. As I begin to serve as Superintendent for the Champaign Unit #4 Schools, I welcome constructive feedback on how we can continue to improve the education of our students.

It is truly an honor and privilege to serve the students and families in Champaign, and I am committed to providing this community schools that provide the very best for its students.

Dr. Judy Wiegand
Superintendent
wieganju@champaignschools.org
217.351.3838

Contact Information Mellon Administrative Center 703 South New Street Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 351-3800 Fax: (217) 351-3871 Map of Unit 4 School Campuses

Safe and Orderly Learning Environments
All campuses practice consistent discipline management by using a research-based plan with specific baseline consequences for each level of offense. The Student Code of Conduct contributes to safe and orderly learning environments, and the District's focus on character education k-12 guides students in becoming citizens of character. A strategy in the District Strategic Plan is devoted to character development, and each campus is in the process of implementing curriculum that teaches aspects of character.

Quality Two-Way Communication
Hundreds of volunteers work with Unit 4 students each year as mentors, tutors, and guest speakers, as well as providing classroom support. ad hoc committees allow parents and community members to provide input into district-wide programs in areas like attendance and discipline. Each campus has a building Council that includes parent representation, and strong PTA/PTSA groups offer support for students and staff.  A Key Communicator Network (KCN) provides community members the opportunity for direct dialogue with the Superintendent about issues of interest. To receive notices of KCN meetings, e-mail  KCN@champaignschools.org or contact the Human Resources Department at 217.351.3701.

Quality Teachers and Staff
In order to recruit and retain high quality teachers and staff members, Champaign Unit 4 offers highly competitive salaries and benefits including district-paid state TRS contributions. Over 55 percent of the staff hold Masters degrees and continue to pursue advanced degrees. the District offers stipends to National Board Certified  teachers, and Champaign teachers are regular recipients of the Those Who Excel awards presented by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Quality of Life in Champaign
Champaign residents enjoy all of the entertainment and intellectual activity of a large city, while enjoying the leisurely pace of a smaller town. The University of Illinois provides the excitement of Big 10 sporting events and world-class entertainment for the Performing Arts at the Krannert Center. Champaign is characterized by award-winning neighborhood parks, and shares many museums, galleries and home and theatres with the adjacent city of Urbana.

Hometown Schools...World-Class Students
In order to prepare students for success in higher education or in the workplace, all Unit 4 schools offer an aligned, rigorous and relevant curriculum. Classrooms are positive, student-centered environments. A recent audit by the Phi Delta Kappan Curriculum Management Audit team provided guidance for staff to begin enhancing curriculum to meet an ambitious national standard. Champaign Unit 4 offers numerous special programs, including gifted education, foreign language at an elementary magnet school, and art programs on all campuses. A School Choice Program at the elementary level offers parents several options to meet their child's unique needs. For information about registering your child in the school choice program, contact the Family Information Center at 217.351.3701.

High Academic Performance
Champaign Unit School District #4 juniors post scores above the state and national averages on the ACT. Individual Campus Test Scores demonstrate the District's commitment to provide excellence for all students. All District scores on the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) exceed state averages, and the District is aggressively implementing strategies to raise the achievement of all student groups to these high standards. An ambitious District Strategic Plan guides efforts in this area, as well as in ensuring quality programs for character development.