Voters hopeful election will rejuvenate Champaign school board
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Voting for the Champaign County general election is coming to a close. Some hope the same can be said for division on the Champaign Unit 4 School District Board.
'It feels more like a reality show than it does a productive team,' Champaign voter and teacher Katie Smith said.
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The board has not been without its fair share of controversy. Three members stepped away last year, and now five seats are up for grabs.
'As a teacher, I think we feel how contentious things are, and I think the community knows it as parents,' Smith said. 'I think people are ready to step up and see changes happen.'
11 candidates are vying for the spots — a turnout that's exciting for some.
'I think it's good, I've definitely seen a lot of elections where there weren't enough candidates and there were vacancies,' voter Todd Hunter said. 'I mean, right now, there are vacancies that they had trouble filling.'
Only a few board members have stuck around throughout the turmoil. One of them is secretary Amy Armstrong, who's hopeful for the future as new faces get a seat at the table.
'I'm really looking forward to a fresh start, one where we can begin healing some of the fractures that have gotten in the way of progress,' Armstrong said in a statement to WCIA.
The people in charge of that fresh start will be decided at the polls on tuesday. Smith is looking forward to the day the board is taken seriously again.
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'My hope is that the board isn't a joke we talk about in the staff lunchroom,' Smith said. 'I want the board to be something we feel proud of, that represents us as teachers and not the latest gossip.'
A former board member who left in December said he thought the board wasn't successful because of 'unproductive dynamics.' Armstrong hopes past drama won't go past the ballot box.
'Serving on the school board isn't about personal agendas; it's about doing what's best for our students, families, and 2000 dedicated employees,' Armstrong said in her statement. 'I'm hopeful we can move forward together, let go of past divisions, and refocus on what really matters: our students.'
Of the 11 people running for a seat, only one is an incumbent. Armstrong's term goes until 2027.
A list of polling locations can be found here. They are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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