CHAMPAIGN (Illinois) NEWS-GAZETTE

July 15, 2008

Rantoul to expand summer migrant-education program

By Tim Mitchell

RANTOUL – With more migrant families than ever spending the summer living, working and going to school in Rantoul, Rantoul Township High School has needed to expand its summer migrant-education program.

The high school board voted 7-0 on Monday to create four additional instructors (two teachers and two teacher's aides) to handle all the students who have enrolled in the Rantoul migrant school.

The bilingual classes for migrant children began at the high school on July 7.

Earlier this year, the school board hired eight teachers, eight teacher's aides, two principals, two recruiters, one secretary and one family liaison for the program, but Superintendent David Requa said that a huge influx of migrant families working in the fields around northern Champaign County made enrollment larger than ever before.

Many of the additional families who have come to town are living in old military housing on the former Chanute Air Force Base. Others are staying with Rantoul families.

Last year, the summer migrant school hosted a record 100 students.

Requa told the school board that this year, the school has 174 students, comprising 84 in elementary grades and 90 in middle school and high school grades.

"We had more growth in the middle school and high school program than we anticipated," Requa said. "Our staff has had its hands full because we have been shorthanded."

Requa said the program focuses on improving reading, math and English skills.

"Our goal is to provide additional learning opportunities for children whose families move around a lot," Requa said. "Some of the kids don't get a lot of time in the classroom before they come here."

Younger children attend the classes during the day while their parents are laboring for the local seed companies. Requa said that the older children attend classes at night after working all day in the fields.

School board member Janet Brotherton suggested that the interpreters on staff for the summer program assist with the registration of migrant children who may be staying for the fall into the various elementary feeder school districts. The federally funded program moved to Rantoul in 2007 after the Champaign district decided to discontinue its program.