Unit 5 hosts community meeting to discuss solutions for district’s financial challenges

Posted on April 25, 2022

NORMAL – Parents, students and more came together at Normal West High School Saturday to learn about the latest updates within the Unit 5 school district.

The district hosted a ‘Community Engagement’ session where administration members talked about recent successes and challenges.

Superintendent Kristen Weikle touched on challenges the district faces, including the two million dollar cuts in teaching jobs, educational programs and the $11 million deficit.

The first community meeting is part of a four-phase process that creates a final plan to resolve issues in the district and they’re starting with community feedback for solutions.

“We’ve been responsive to the mandates, we’ve been responsive to the needs of our students,” Weikle said. “We’re at a point though where our education fund deficit can’t be ignored anymore,” Weikle added.

The group also discussed a possibility of a referendum to help reduce the school district’s massive deficit.

The next two community engagement meetings are April 25 at Kingsley Junior High School from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and a virtual meeting Tuesday, and people can register at Webinar Registration – Zoom.

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