Credit Michele Steinbacher / WGLT
Bloomington District 87 will direct some of its upcoming federal COVID relief funding to launch a new program melding summer school and summer camp models.
The all-day, three-week program really expands the concept of summer school, and opens it up to any District 87 student, Assistant Superintendent Diane Wolf said during Wednesday’s school board meeting.
“This is a very unique way of looking at a summer enrichment program,” she said, that goes way beyond the previous concept.
Superintendent Barry Reilly called it the most comprehensive summer program ever for the district.
Also at the meeting, held in the district’s downtown administration building, the school board learned Bloomington High School plans an outdoor May graduation ceremony; heard about curriculum changes planned for the 2021-2022 school year; and OK’d a base pay of $17,500 to Ray and Associates search firm as it find s a replacement for Reilly, who retires June
In Salem, Derby Street sees uptick in storefront activity, economic opportunity
Sign up for the Salem Gazette’s newsletter.
Take a look up and down and around Derby Street lately? The historic downtown area has witnessed a welcomed, lively bit of economic revitalization amid a global pandemic.
The activity runs the gamut from new businesses opening and the relocation of existing ones for more space. Folks will find “coming soon” signs plastered on windows, and renovations offering economic opportunity.
“Definition of brave, courageous and resilient: Opening up a new coffee shop during a pandemic,” wrote Mayor Kim Driscoll on Facebook Tuesday. “Love our brave, courageous, resilient entrepreneurs and looking forward to grabbing some java in these two new spaces.”
Sign up for the Salem Gazette’s newsletter.
A Salem resident and restaurant owner has breathed new life into the Derby Street spot that Derby Joe formerly called home.
Owner Diane Wolf opened the Wolf Next Door Coffee, one could say, softly in December, extending the life of 142 Derby St. as a neighborhood coffee shop. The neighborhood is stoked about the coffee shop,” said Wolf as she worked the levers and presses of a fancy espresso machine. “It hasn’t been super duper busy, but I’m gonna blame that on multiple factors: We haven’t had a grand opening and we’re currently in a global pandemic.”
BLOOMINGTONÂ â A five-year, $1.5 million grant received by Bloomington District 87 will not just help provide mental health services for students; it also can help provide a model for other districts, school officials say.
The Illinois Aware grant will enable the district to embed mental health counselors in schools and provide training to teachers and staff in mental health first aid, explained Assistant Superintendent Diane Wolf.
âWe look at this as putting a big hug around a kid,â said Wolf.
District 87 was one of three in the state to receive the grant for the pilot program. The others are the Chicago Public Schools system and Eldorado school district in southern Illinois.
D87 Adopts Tax Levy; Earns Mental Health Grants wglt.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wglt.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.