Champaign schools promotes three administrators

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign School District hired three new school administrators at a special board meeting on Wednesday, all of which have experience in the district.

Jamal Maatuka was hired as the new Assistant Principal and Summer School Principal at Stratton Academy of the Arts after spending a year at Centennial High School as the Dean of Students. He also worked as a business teacher at Central High School for 13 years and worked various entrepreneurial jobs in the Champaign area.

Sean Smith is the new Edison Middle School Associate Principal and Summer School Principal. Last year, Smith worked as the Athletic Director/Dean of Students for the middle school. He has been with the district since January 2017 as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Jefferson Middle School and an ED Resource Teacher at Edison.

Taylor Foltz was appointed as the Athletic Director and Dean of Students for Jefferson Middle School. This is Foltz’s first administrative role after working as a special education teacher, instructional coach and teacher for K-3rd grades in both the Champaign and the Freeport District since 2009. Foltz has also coached volleyball for high school and college and led volleyball and basketball camps.

All three appointments are effective as of Thursday.

Columbia Center construction ‘nearly complete’

Also at the special meeting, the board approved a change order to the construction contract of the Columbia Center.

The renovations for the district’s building at the intersection of Neil and Bradley Streets is being funded with federal ARPA funds. The contractor asked to update the base of the parking lot under asphalt to add rock under the lot to strengthen the additional support, as the previous lot did not have a base.

Some staff members have slowly moved back into the building, officials said.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed by May. The Columbia Center should be ready at the start of the school year.

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