Our Voice: Students Speak Out on Dean Controversy

As the situation surrounding the dean positions continues to unfold, we decided to reach out to the student body of Urbana High School to gauge their opinion regarding the matter.

After running a poll from our official Twitter account (@UHS_Echo) we found that 71% of respondents said they disagreed with the school board’s proposal to eliminate the six dean positions between the middle school and high school. Curious as to why people felt the way that they did, we emailed every student at UHS to get their takes on the issue. The following responses, organized alphabetically, are directly from our student body, largely as they were originally written by those who gave them.

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When it comes right down to it, without the deans there is a massive disconnect between student, staff, and administration. Teachers can help students that have trouble within a class, but deans help students find solutions to problems they have outside of the classroom as well, and that’s a vital lifeline for many UHS students. —Andrehyu Allen, senior

I believe the bigger problem we have is the people that they plan on bringing into the school next year. Don Owen made a point of saying that black kids are [much less likely] to succeed than white kids at this school, and that statistic is due to the discipline black kids recieve. The people they plan on bringing into Urbana High School need to be minorities that have worked with minorities, NOT people who have simply worked with minorities. I don’t believe that the discipline of the deans is the problem. I don’t believe that the discipline is the problem; I believe there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible (and we know what it is), otherwise this new structure isn’t going to work either. —Jaida Barbee, senior

I think deans are highly important and they have great relationships with their students. The deans aren’t the problem, the teachers are. —Marshawn Bingham, freshman

Honestly, I never truly appreciated how much the deans really do for the students at UHS. Before this change was announced, I went on with my life not truly understanding what the purpose of a dean even was. However, Now that has been brought to my attention I realize that deans do so much for students. Their entire careers are about us, and keeping us safe, working hard with other administrative personnel to ensure the safest, healthiest learning environment for UHS students, as well as building strong trusting relationships with students promoting personal growth as well. I understand that now but, what I don’t understand is why our school board has decided it is best to replace the deans with other personnel who maybe aren’t as qualified as our deans are now…

Another issue I have with the debate is when do the students get a voice? When will our opinion matter? The whole entire scenario has been treated with a secrecy and confidentiality, when in reality it will possibly affect the students more than others in the district. They are our deans after all, and this is our education, and for the school board and administration to keep something this big a secret from the students, quite frankly, isn’t fair.—Ella Burrus, sophomore

I think that deans are absolutely necessary at this school. They really put me in my place at the beginning of this year and I am afraid that with no deans, the number of fights and conflicts will rise quickly. And these deans have a closer relationship with the students than those of other schools. But for some reason the superintendent doesn’t feel that way. —Diego Carrillo, freshman

I think we [should] just get rid of them and come up with a new system and give them new positions because I feel like they abuse their power and they don’t give out fair punishments. I also see race issues, because when a student of color does something, he or she is more likely to get the more harsh punishment then a kid who is not of color. Basically, I think the system with deans isn’t working so it’s time to try something else.—Tyshawn Chaney, sophomore

There should be an understanding for all students, not just representatives of the homeroom classes. Others may see things differently than it was meant to be presented and received. Everyone needs a bold clarification and understanding.—Darnell Chatman, freshman

I agree that the current deans should not be replaced, but reformed. Measures such as education/training combined with restricting/restructuring of power is necessary to ensure fair treatment of students. —Ethan Chow, junior

I am very confused by the situation. When the Homeroom Congress asked Dr. Owen about the administrative changes and the motivation for said changes, he went off on a tangent about racial inequalities at the school, and did not connect the vague “plan” to the issues at hand. It’s difficult to take a stance on something that has not been fully explained. If reassignment of deans will fix racial inequalities, by all means, do it. I don’t think that it will. I’m frustrated by how the administration and school board has gone about this plan. I think they should have waited to present it until their ideas were solidified (they are clearly not).—Ellie D’Andria, senior

In my opinion, it’s a very bad idea to get rid of the deans. Think of how many people have gotten close to them, and how many people feel as if they can turn to only the deans. This may be false, but there might not be as much control. Here’s why: you have three deans who have gotten students to be comfortable with them unlike anyone else, you get rid of them, and then replace them with six totally new people who might not understand things like they (the deans) do. We won’t have those people to turn to in times of need (at least those who we trust). They have been great, and that’s coming from someone who hasn’t even been here for a full school year yet.—Stephanie Kozlowski, freshman

Overall I think the deans are unnecessary because if students need advice they have counselors. I think there should be more counselors to help students with their issues and no deans. Deans also get a bad rep because their main concerns are discipline and punishments. I think there are better ways to handle a lot of situations without having a designated person for it. I think if there are more counselors then they would be able to help more students on an individual basis.—Hailey Lynch, graduate.

It is important for the school to get and use student and staff input in decisions of this scale. While I understand the urgency regarding referral/suspension discrepancies by race, it is also important to take our time and solve these problems constructively and carefully. Deans are extremely important to the student body and their relationships with students are not something that should be ignored. A better solution would be to take an extra year to implement a plan, involve the staff and students from the start of the decision making, and maybe implement something that involves giving the deans new training and having them be part of the new solution. —Aaron Lyubansky, sophomore

We don’t need new deans. We need new morals and self-control. —Patsy Matejka, freshman

I think we need to keep the deans but they need to make some changes. Starting with taking things seriously and different discipline methods. These “circles” don’t seem to work. I’ve noticed that they seem to make things worse and the conversation is more one-sided. —Abrianna Norris, freshman

I do not agree because I don’t really understand why they don’t want deans. If we have no deans, who will give discipline to the students? —Syntiche Ngonde, freshman

I think we should keep the deans because we work better with them and they help us solve problems.—Sasha Stevenson, freshman

Deans are an important part of the school structure. As time goes on the deans get to know many of the students, so they know how they get along with other students, as well as why they break school rules. Deans are equipped with this knowledge of who the students are so that they can better understand and deal with them. —Oliver Walsh-Hendricks, sophomore

If high school will be less stressful without deans, maybe it would be a good idea [to get rid of them]. —Jastina Washington, junior

I don’t believe that the deans should be fired, but that the school board should adjust and restructure how they punish students. Instead of giving out harsh punishments, our deans should form a bond with the students, so that we won’t be afraid to come to them with a conflict or fear of getting into trouble. —Makenzie Wilkins, freshman

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Joey Wright

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