31-05-2025
Champaign School Board president responds after tense meeting outing superintendent
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A contentious Champaign School Board meeting is still making waves almost 24 hours later. The meeting saw an approval to move on from Superintendent Dr. Sheila Boozer — a fiery public comment period — and even a near fight.
'We conducted some tough business last night,' said Champaign School Board President Tony Bruno.
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Bruno was steadfast — saying they did what the voters wanted. He realizes this wasn't a decision agreed upon by 100% of people — but still thinks it's the right thing to do.
'The election was 60 days ago,' Bruno said.
And it's been busy ever since for Bruno and the newly elected board members. The Champaign School Board had their third special board meeting on Thursday to decide the future of Superintendent Boozer. The board voted 5-2, approving a separation agreement with Boozer. Bruno said this decision was made by people at the polls.
'They decided who would serve in these roles,' Bruno said. 'And there were candidates who wanted to do exactly what we did last night. And there were candidates who took the opposite position, and the voters spoke, and we delivered.'
It brought immediate blowback. People questioned the board's decision during the public comment portion of the meeting. Bruno said that part of the meeting was designed to let everyone speak. But he also people in the crowd continued interrupting.
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'It's bad for our community to have a circus play out at a meeting of a governmental body,' Bruno said. 'Every person who wanted to speak was given an opportunity during the public comment period. But then there becomes a time when it's the board's turn to speak.'
And he said that's unacceptable. Bruno also had a man walk aggressively towards him who had to be stopped by security. He said the security staff will be assessing how to balance keeping the meetings open and accessible while still being safe for board members.
'We have to leave the bad examples of the last board in the past and we have to move on, and we have to act like adults,' Bruno said. 'And you may not agree with the business that's being conducted or the votes that are being taken, but this is a democracy and we're operating as a functioning unit of government.'
Bruno said he hopes the board can move forward and work together on other issues coming in the future.
WCIA reached out to Justin Michael Hendrix and Grace Kang — the two board members who voted against the separation agreement. WCIA didn't hear back from Hendrix — and Kang declined to comment on Friday.
WCIA also reached out to the board's former president, Gianina Baker, who was in attendance Thursday night, but didn't hear back from her.
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