Unit 5

New report card data released Thursday show more Bloomington-Normal public schools are flagged for certain underperforming student groups and fewer schools are in the Top 10% statewide, even as local students joined their statewide peers in showing academic gains.

The forum hosted by Unit 5 and Cropper GIS laid out the criteria, process and timeline for the enrollment planning study, including a website, unit5enrollmentplanning.com, where interested parties can see progress and submit feedback.

Unit 5 will host a public meeting on Monday night to share information about an enrollment planning study underway that could lead to school boundary adjustments.

At least eight community members spoke in support of Matt Chapman, a Normal Community High School civics teacher and girls soccer coach.

Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle provided updates about the Normal-based school district during an interview on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Superintendent Kristen Weikle told the board she intends to retire at the end of the 2029-30 school year. That would take her to the end of the five-year contract the board approved in August.

District 87 changed its policy for Bloomington High School that bans cell phones throughout the school day. Unit 5 refreshed its policy to keep student phones away during class in all but a few circumstances.

Chief Financial Officer Marty Hickman presented an outline of the budget for the 2026 fiscal year during Wednesday's school board meeting.

Unit 5 families and employees are mourning the death of an eighth-grade teacher, Shawn Anderson, just as the new school year begins.

A senior at Normal Community High School learned about federal policymaking at Girls Nation this month.