Unit 5’s strategic planning initiative is gaining momentum, with a draft expected by March, the school board heard during its meeting on Wednesday.
Superintendent Kristen Weikle shared a slide presentation that touched on data collected so far.
Ultimately, the planning document will outline district goals for the next 3 to 5 years, she said, at the meeting in the Normal West Community High School cafeteria.
About 6,600 Unit 5 teens, staff, and families and community members took the initial survey after the initiative’s kickoff this fall. More than half of the surveys are from students in grades 6 through 12. The questionnaire was available online, and as a handout at two community engagement meetings.
The surveys included questions gauging opinions on topics such as student engagement and potential, curriculum and assessment, class sizes, building safety, and whether programming space is adequate.
Weikle told the board survey participants were asked to list the Top 5 areas Unit 5 should focus on over the next few years.
The topics most respondents listed as higher priority are recruiting and retaining quality employees, providing a safe environment for students and staff, and tackling social and emotional needs of students.
"This definitely also highlights the need for mental health providers in communities, and it's not unique to Bloomington-Normal," she said, adding, "It's all communities across the U.S. There's just not enough mental health support in and out of schools."
Many respondents also expressed a strong interest in ensuring district facilities can handle demographic changes. Weikle noted several upcoming housing developments slated to begin construction within district boundaries. That brings the possibility of Unit 5 welcoming many new students over the next five years, she said.
"We do not have the space in our current facilities. So, we are undergoing a study with Cropper GIS — to look to see, if we made changes, what that would do," the superintendent said.
Weikle told the board next steps include more steering committee meetings, invitations to gather feedback from small focus groups, and releasing a survey with more fine-tuned questions.
After winter break, the steering committee will focus on producing a proposal based on the fall research.
“Our goal is to have a draft of the goals for the district, with hopefully having the board approve them by March,” said Weikle.
Computer science teacher earns national award
Normal West teacher April Schermann has been named Computer Science Teacher of the Year by the nonprofit Project Lead the Way (PLTW).
On Wednesday, the school board recognized Schermann, who has taught for more than two decades at Normal West.
PLTW is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that develops Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum that is made available to U.S. educators.
Schermann’s award comes just months after she took part in the Disney 100 Teachers recognition event in California. In 2016, Women in STEM named her Outstanding STEM Teacher. The National Center for Women & Inspirational Technology Aspirations in Computing has recognized her six times.
Schermann leads several computer science and STEM-related clubs at Normal West; she’s also a softball coach there.
In other business, the board:
- Approved spending $125,000 on a variety of repairs at Normal West.
- OK’d a three-year agreement with Huddle Tickets to offer a district-wide online option for buying tickets to Unit 5 events.
- Approved Normal Marching Band’s trip to London. Students who participate will march in the New Year’s 2025 parade.
- Heard a quarterly update on the district's Equity Action Plan, focusing on the district's Diversity Equity Leadership Team.
- Heard from Ricky King, a district teacher in Unit 5's bilingual program. King asked the board to consider budgeting money for an after-school activity bus, to improve equitable access to the programs.
