NORMAL – Members of Normal-based Unit 5 School Board unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with area law enforcement agencies and the office of the McLean County States Attorney to share information concerning criminal offenses. The agreement was approved at the Board’s July 10 meeting at district headquarters.

As a result of the agreement, reciprocal reporting of information concerning criminal offenses will now be able to be shared by the district with the Office of the McLean County States Attorney; McLean County Sheriff’s Office; Blue Ridge School District 18; El Paso Gridley School District 11; Eureka Community Unit School District 140; Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community School District 5; Heyworth Community School District 4; LeRoy Community School District 2; Lexington Community School District 7; Olympia Community School District 16; Prairie Central Community School District 8; Ridgeview Community School District 19; Tri-Valley Community School District 3; Regional Office of Education serving McLean and DeWitt Counties; Bloomington School District #87; Town of Normal; City of Bloomington; and Illinois State University.

Because it is a lab school operated by ISU, University High School in Normal will be able to participate in this agreement.

In explaining the agreement to Board members, Curt Richardson, attorney for the school district, said, “Everybody can be on the same page to keep our students safer.”

Board Member Meta Mickens-Baker asked Richardson if private schools in the area are participating in the agreement. Richardson explained that, no, currently they were not, but he added, “that could come in the future.”

“I fully support this,” Board Member Gail Ann Briggs told Richardson.

“I truly appreciate the hard work to this this many entities to sign this agreement,” Board President John Puzauskas told Richardson.

The need for an agreement grew out of an incident on Sept. 7 when, according to media reports, a 14-year-old boy was taken into custody after the incident during which he allegedly took a handgun from his backpack toward the end of a first-period Health class. Criminal charges against the boy, however, indicate he had a small cache of weapons, including a hatchet, two knives, and two handguns. He is accused of firing one of the guns multiple times into the ceiling of the classroom after having removed it from the bag. The boy has already been to trial and sentenced.

Board Approves Agreement With Economic Development Council: Board members also unanimously approved an agreement with the Economic Development Council regarding a trio of new incentive programs EDC is planning on rolling out in the near future. The programs would aid new and existing businesses with available incentives, including new-hire incentives and limited, discretionary abatements of property taxes on improvements made.

Richardson told Board members that although they were approving the agreement, the district is not “locked into any specific incentive that would require a Board vote.”

Board OKs Five-Year Extension With YouthBuild: Among the items approved on the Board’s omnibus agenda, Board members unanimously approved a five-year extension with YouthBuild McLean County Charter School. YouthBuild was founded in 2008 and is located at 360 Wylie Dr. in Normal. YouthBuild’s purpose is to provide a combination of classroom instruction and vocational training for youths who come mainly from low-income families. Some of these students have either been expelled, had difficulties, or dropped out when they were enrolled at other schools.

Next Board Meeting Scheduled For Aug. 14: There will be no second meeting in July for Board members. The next scheduled meeting is slated for Wednesday, Aug. 14 at district headquarters, 1809 W. Hovey Ave., beginning at 7p.m.

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