Panther Families,
It’s the Final Countdown for the 2025-26 school year!
Our Student Achievement
Senior Honors
Summa Cum Laude students achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher through seven semesters of high school
Laila Carr, Jordan Cox, Alyssa Davis, Kenly Downey, Sam Edmundson, Morgan Fleming, Sofia Hernandez-Estrada, Robin McKnight, Kinzie Moreland, Isaiah Schertz, Molly Scheuer
Magna Cum Laude students achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.8 to 3.99 through seven semesters of high school
Jaelyn Brumfield, Addison Creech, Laila Hornke, Henry Thayn, Isabel Vance, Emma Wiechman
Students earning a Degree with Distinction achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher through seven semesters of high school and completed at least four of the qualifying Degree with Distinction courses, which include advanced academic courses, college dual credit, and BCA courses.
Jaelyn Brumfield, Laila Carr, Alyssa Davis, Kenly Downey, Sam Edmundson, Morgan Fleming, Laila Hornke, Robin McKnight, Kinzie Moreland, Molly Scheuer
Senior Scholarship Ceremony - $145,000 in local scholarships awarded!
Bloomington Career Academy (BCA) Honors
Bryn Hubrich - Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Student of the Year
Sawyer Ingram - Robotics & Engineering Student of the Year
Meghan Lightfoot - Esthetics Student of the Year
Laila Carr - CNA “All Star” Award
Mattie Cooper - Cosmetology “Future Salon Owner” Award
High School Softball Team continues to dominate as Heart of Illinois Conference outright champions and a current 32-0 record!
Junior High Track & Field State Qualifiers
Campbell Tubbs 200m and 100m Hurdles
Evan Haskett 400m
Asher Reid 400m
Addi Cooley 400m
Tyler Underhill Discus
Fiona Smith 400m
Landon King 110m Hurdles
4x200 Relay - Addi Cooley, Fiona Smith, Kelley Runyon, Campbell Tubbs
4x200 Relay - Jed Graves, Evan Haskett, Owen Koerner, Asher Reid
4x400 Relay - Evan Haskett, Owen Koerner, Evan Conn, Asher Reid
Our Community Relations
Congratulations and THANK YOU to our retiring teachers! Together these four retirees provided 138 years of service to our students. Each leaves a legacy behind that helped shape thousands of students’ lives.
Lisa Wiggins - Elementary Reading Recovery and Interventionist, 34 years of service
Don Becker - Junior High PE Teacher, 33 years of service
Angie Arteman - Junior High Social Studies Teacher, 33 years of service
Kim Myers - Elementary Teacher and Junior High Paraprofessional 38 years of service
Our Facilities
May - Weight Room Renovations
May 26 - June 10 - Elementary Flooring Asbestos Abatement
May 26 - June 8 - Dud Berry Gym Closed for sanding, painting, and resealing
June 10 - July 31 - Elementary Flooring Installation
July 1 - 21 - RVS Gym Closed for Painting
Our Finance
Fiscal Year 2026 - Overall revenue is at 60% of the budgeted amount, and expenses are at 85%. Both figures are currently on track with historical trends and expectations for this point in the year. We are 85% through the fiscal year, and will receive the remaining 40% of our revenue with our June tax payment.
State Funding Challenges - Illinois state funding for mandated transportation and specific special education services have been prorated to 60-65% and are expected to be prorated to 55-65% in FY27.
Local Impact - When reimbursements for mandated transportation and special education services are not paid by the state, the gap has to be filled by our local funds. To date, we have only received 50% of our transportation reimbursement from the state.
County School Facility Tax - We have received the first eight payments (July-February) of CSFT money, equaling $623,752 — ahead of Department of Revenue Projections.
This revenue allows us to lower the property tax rate for fiscal year 2027, complete the full scope of our elementary flooring project, reduce the burden on our operations and maintenance funds for additional projects, and cover the full cost for our Director of Safety & Security and school counselors.
Have a great summer!
Go Panthers!
Jeff Baughman
Superintendent