District 87

When Daniel Kern officially founded the nonprofit Kernovate in 2025, he hoped to solve three problems: diverting mattresses from landfills, giving beds to those in need and providing work opportunities.

The current law requires students take at least two years of foreign language classes but that could change if the governor signs a bill the Illinois legislature unanimously passed.

Enrollment is up at District 87’s Bloomington Career Academy [BCA], after opening a new facility last fall.

Buying in bulk has saved countywide governments and school districts money as prices rose across the country.

Summer school at Oakland Elementary School in Bloomington is now an invite-only program. Staff said it makes the program more “intentional” for students who need help the most.

Teachers and staff from Sarah Raymond School, District 87's preschool program, toured their new home as remodeling enters the home stretch.

Students wrote more than 700 positive and encouraging messages for their peers, with seven messages selected for students to paint onto stepping stones.

The Trump administration said Thursday it had launched an investigation in District 87, Ridgeview, and 34 other Illinois school districts to “to determine whether they have included sexual orientation and gender ideology content in any class for grades pre-K-12.”

Superintendent David Mouser said facilities upgrades are underway as coffers fill from the new county school sales tax. But that revenue hasn't had a significant impact on a shortage of mental health professionals working in District 87. An employee said salaries aren't competitive enough to keep school psychologists in the district.

District 87 Superintendent David Mouser said cells phones are the leading cause for disciplinary referrals at Bloomington High School. A new policy rolled out this year bans phones in classrooms.