Sound Ideas

The students and staff of Normal Community West High School surprised the school principal as they celebrated her win of a leadership excellence award.

Molly Allen, who served about six years as assistant regional superintendent, is now regional superintendent. She takes over for Mark Jontry, who retired in April.

The new R2 — Rivian’s first mass-market vehicle — was the focal point of Thursday’s first-quarter earnings call. R2 production began last week in Normal. They’ll reach customers later this spring.

An experimental music ensemble made up of high schoolers from Normal has dropped a new LP and is preparing for a concert at the McLean County Museum of History.

Gov. JB Pritzker is pushing for statewide zoning changes to spark housing construction. Not everyone is jazzed about the proposal though.

Coordination between McLean County's court system, community health providers and Heartland Community College has made peer support specialists a valued part of the care team in the county's drug court. One participant said drug court was a lifeline she needed to begin addiction recovery.

Dining and grounds workers say the financial squeeze of going weeks without pay is making it tough for them to get by. Union members have been on strike since April 8.

Since the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park was backed by the state about two years ago, quantum technology developers have been looking to grow the sector's workforce. "Quantum Across Illinois" is visiting the state's universities, including Illinois State, to recruit students and promote the initiative.

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.