District 87 closed due to COVID-19; Unit 5 closed due to weather on Friday

Posted on January 6, 2022
All District 87 schools are closed on Friday due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the twin cities, all District 87 schools are closed on Friday.

District 87 Superintendent Dr. Barry Reilly said the emergency day would move the last day of student attendance to Thursday, May 26.

Across town, Unit 5 is moving classroom learning to an online format on Friday due to forecasted temperatures and wind chills.

Any Unit 5 student who would like to pick up a sack lunch can do so from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Normal West high School, located at 501 N. Parkside Rd.

Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Unit 5 Superintendent Dr. Kristin Weikle said COVID-19 remains an issue for her district, but there are no plans to go to remote learning.

“We certainly are seeing, you know, more individuals whether they be staff or students who have tested positive or a number who have been a close contact to someone. So obviously, you know all of that; most of that happened before winter break was over.”

On Thursday, McLean County Health Department officials reported 584 new cases of COVID-19.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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