On October 30, 2025, local business, civic, and education leaders gathered for the 2025 State of Public Schools, an annual event highlighting the successes, challenges, and future goals of K–12 public education across McLean County.
Mark DeKeersgieter, Executive Director of CIRBN, LLC opened the program by welcoming attendees and introducing Shelly Purchis, Manager of Workforce Development & Foundation of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce who gave a brief overview on the importance of starting workforce development at an early age.
Mark Jontry, Regional Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education, served as panel facilitator, guiding a discussion with three district leaders: Bryce Hansen, Director of Bloomington Career Academy; Dr. David Mouser, Superintendent of District 87; and Dr. Kristen Kendrick-Weikle, Superintendent of Unit 5. Together, they provided an update on the state of K–12 education in McLean County, highlighting student success, district innovations, and the critical role businesses play in supporting educational and workforce development initiatives.
Panelists shared encouraging data showing that McLean County continues to outperform statewide averages in several key academic and engagement areas:
| Indicator | State of Illinois | McLean County |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 88% | 92.62% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | 26% | 17% |
| ELA Proficiency | 52.4% | 57.73% |
| Math Proficiency | 38.4% | 42.3% |
| CTE (Career & Technical Education) Participation | 48.3% | 70.7% |
These outcomes demonstrate that McLean County schools are not only ensuring strong academic achievement but also investing heavily in career and technical education (CTE), connecting students directly to future career paths and local workforce opportunities.
“We have to break the model. Our students need real-world opportunities, they need apprenticeships, they need internships, they need CO-OP opportunities to experience the business community,” said Dr. David Mouser.
A Call to Partnership
One of the strongest messages from the event was a call for continued and expanded business–education collaboration. “We need our business partners to continue to send employees to our career fairs and speak in classrooms, it really does have an impact on our students,” said Dr. Kristen Weikle. “I want our students to see there is a place for them in McLean County to have a happy life and a job they’re passionate about.”
With the recent opening of the new location of the Bloomington Career Academy, students are now getting more opportunities to explore and gain skills in the areas of health sciences, automotive technology, culinary arts, computer technology, and more. Students who go through this program are getting both technical training and the information to choose their best path to continue their education or go directly into the workforce.
“Our business and community partners are essential to the Bloomington Career Academy because they allow our students to have an opportunity to explore different career paths, as well as, understand the day-to-day business operations,” said Bryce Hansen. “We are always looking for new programs and opportunities to expand our current offerings, and we need partners to do this.”
The State of Public Schools event closed on a note of optimism and unity. Superintendents and business leaders alike expressed pride in what’s been achieved and commitment to what’s still ahead. By working together, they reaffirmed, the community can ensure that every McLean County student is equipped with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive in McLean County.
