Debbra Sweat

First Elected/Appointed: 2025

Term Expires: 2029

Trainings: OMA, PDLT

Email: dsweat@rcs137.org

Phone: 217-649-5262

Professional and Educational Experience: I am a product of the Rantoul City School (RCS) District, attending Eastlawn, Myna Thompson, and JW Eater.  I graduated from Rantoul Township High School (RTHS) and attended Parkland College.

I am retired from the University of Illinois.  As a former administrative support staff, I worked with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators in various colleges/departments.  I very much enjoyed interacting and serving students/faculty/staff from around Illinois, the United States and the world. 

After retirement, I mentored through TALKS Mentoring (founded by Rev. Harold and Dr. Ollie Watts Davis) at Northview School under Carolyn Hinton, Principal.  I have also mentored and advocated for parents and children in the district as well as community members.  I served as a member, community advocate, and on the Board of the Concerned Citizens of Rantoul for many years.

Relationship to RCS: I am a former student, community member, supporter, advocate, and taxpayer.

Personal Statement: My family has lived here for 54 years, coming to Rantoul as part of the Air Force.  I have lived in Champaign, IL (born), Scott AFB in IL; Dover, DE; Washington DC; Seville, Spain; and Topeka, KS, then back to Rantoul, IL.

I have one adult child and two grandchildren.  My adult child also attended RCS and graduated from RTHS.

My goal is to help reinforce the commitment and obligation of a collaborative and transparent board; a board that honors the duties and responsibilities instilled by the community to provide leadership, transparency, accountability, fiduciary competence, and confidence which are germane to the mission and success of our district.

Our schools reflect the stability, growth, and trajectory of Rantoul.  My goal is to help reestablish community confidence and respect, become knowledgeable of the process and protocol of the day-to-day operations of the district and schools, help navigate and implement governance, ensure objectivity, and advocate for the youth, parents, and community. 

As a part of a united and collaborative board, I aim to assist in overseeing and evaluating the Superintendent. This is the responsibility of a school board and will help to ensure accountability for student success and school performance.  One of my goals is to help, along with other board members, direct and guide the Superintendent in setting district policies, goals, and fiscal budgets.

I aspire to do my best to be a liaison between the community and the school district.  I hope to continue my advocacy ensuring all children have a safe, trauma- free, fair, and productive learning environment.  With this, we will have the tools and teachers willing to prepare each child to succeed in the future.

We need to strengthen our outreach with parents and community, keeping them connected and involved.  In addition, we should further develop collaborative and communication strategies with village leadership and others for the betterment of the district.

I look forward to serving the kids, families, and people of Rantoul free of special interest and influence.

I am one voice, one vote and hoping for a shared vision, cohesiveness, openness, and a collaborative environment with other school board members, the school administration, and the community.