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Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

The Unit 5 Board of Education approved $1.8-2.2 million in cuts at a special board meeting on Jan. 31. The cuts, the district said, may be reversed with the approval of the tax referendum on the April 4 ballot.

Board of Education approves cuts in face of $12 million deficit

Inkspot Staff
Feb 10, 2023

Facing a $12 million deficit, the Unit 5 Board of Education unanimously approved a series of budget cuts for the 2023-2024 school year at a special board meeting on January 31. The cuts may be reversed if the property tax referendum passes in April. The cuts, which total approximately $2 million,...

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The Midterm elections are often overlooked, yet their impact and importance cannot be overstated.

Why the Midterms matter; Turning point in politics

Avani Rai, Editor-in-Chief
Oct 18, 2022

America’s Midterm elections are the younger sibling of U.S. politics -- forgotten, neglected, underappreciated, and overlooked.   The Midterms exist without any highly publicized conventions, clickbait-worthy debates, no elaborate merchandise lines--from beanies to flyswatters-- to capture the...

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School mask mandate lifted after new CDC guidelines

School mask mandate lifted after new CDC guidelines

Victoria Wilson, Senior Staff Reporter
Mar 7, 2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommend universal indoor mask-wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in low or medium COVID-19 Community Level areas, announcing the shift in COVID guidelines Friday, Feb. 25. As of Thursday, March 3, McLean County is one of...

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Governor Pritzker’s high school mental health legislation goes into effect in January - Community students and staff share their thoughts and reactions.

Students, staff react to new mental health law

Abby Ruebush, Editor-in-Chief
Nov 16, 2021

Illinois students may take five excused “mental health days” under a law effective in January, prompting conflicting reactions at Community. In August, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1577, allowing students ages seven to 17 to “make up any school work missed” during their five mental-...

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With its student made ornaments and decorations, the Technology department expects its tree to stand out at the Festival of Trees --  We have wooded trees... We made a whole bunch of homemade gifts that were going to fill  two crates [with]. Theres well over 250 items that are on the tree, Mr. Don Whitman said.

Technology department collaborates on community service project

Over 300 students from 17 classes worked to design, construct decorations for a Christmas tree to be auctioned off at the Baby Fold's Festival of Trees

The Technology department collaborated on a one-of-a-kind holiday display for auction at the Baby Fold's 28th annual Festival of Trees. Supported by a $5000 grant, over 300 Technology students designed ornaments to decorate a "rustic-theme[d]" Christmas tree to help support the local children's agency....

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Bringing disc golf to Community has been a passion of Mr. Marcus Manns for years. Construction of the Flying Iron Disc Golf Course will make that dream a reality.

Community gives disc golf a ‘shot’; Permanent course to be installed on school’s west side

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Nov 2, 2021

Cancelations. Postponements. Rescheduling.  Disc golf was one of only a few activities immune to COVID-19 restrictions. The sport experienced a 33% increase in games played from 2019 to 2020, according to UDisc data, a disc golf scoring app.   The number of disc golf courses increased as well,...

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From Cavaliers to Cougars: Kingsley changes mascot

From Cavaliers to Cougars: Kingsley changes mascot

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Aug 26, 2021

Kingsley Junior High School students were greeted with a new mascot to start the 2021 school year -- the Cougar -- after announcing the decision to replace the Cavalier mascot in May. The change was motivated by the school’s value of community. The Mid-April edition of the Kingsley Connection, the...

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Volunteers fill boxes of food at Midwest Food Bank in Normal. Increased unemployment caused by COVID-19 meant that the packing and distribution of food was essential.

Midwest Food Bank responds to increased need

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Jan 8, 2021

Rising unemployment rates and a record-breaking hurricane season increased food insecurity nationally in 2020, with more people relying on food pantry donations than in recent years.  Midwest Food Bank, which distributes over $23 million of food each monthly, has found the increased demand for food...

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The Fiesta Ranchera location on College Ave. is one of the Fiesta locations run by the Canchola family.

Local business restrictions impact NCHS students

With Illinois reverting to Phase 3 of the ‘Restore Illinois Resurgence Mitigation Plan’ on Friday, Nov. 20 for the unforeseeable future, small businesses face another round of mitigation requirements. The requirements, coming as a new wave of COVID-19 surged statewide, “aims to limit gatherings...

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The graphic encouraged people to support the fight against SBG by attending the Unit 5 Board meeting.

NCHS students, staff speak out against standards-based grading

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Dec 11, 2020

“As a teacher it feels like I’m drowning and instead of throwing me a life preserver the district is throwing me lead weights,” Mr. Patrick Lawler, a social studies teacher at NCHS, said at the Unit 5 board meeting on December 9. Lawler was joined by Normal Community seniors Conner McClelland...

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Unit 5 returns to remote learning

Unit 5 returns to remote learning

Eli Schneider, Senior Staff Reporter
Nov 15, 2020

Unit 5 Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle announced Friday, Nov. 13, that the district would return to remote learning effective Wednesday, Nov. 18. Students will not be in attendance Wednesday to allow teachers and staff time to prepare for change. The “adaptive pause” to hybrid learning is tentatively...

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The Unit 5 District Office was closed Monday, August 31 for a deep cleaning before reopening on Tuesday.

Unit 5 Executive Cabinet member tests positive for COVID-19; District officials quarantined

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle and members of her Executive Cabinet working remotely through Sept. 10
Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Sep 1, 2020

A member of the Unit 5 Superintendent's Executive Cabinet tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, August 29, according to Director of Communications and Community Relations Dayna Brown. In response to the positive test, multiple Unit 5 Cabinet members -- including Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle...

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Four-year Lady Iron soccer player Courtney Dage (20)  plays during the 2018-2019 campaign.

IHSA cancels spring tournaments

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 21, 2020

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors announced its decision Tuesday, April 21 to “cancel all IHSA spring state tournaments” in a statement released at noon. Though the IHSA has made efforts to keep the slim possibility of a spring season alive, Governor J.B. Pritzker’s...

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IHSA remains hopeful for return of spring sports seasons

IHSA remains hopeful for return of spring sports seasons

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 6, 2020

In response to Governor JB Pritzker extending the ‘shelter in place’ order until April 30, the IHSA has announced that they are hopeful a shortened spring sports season will remain possible.  “We continue to support the possibility of our member schools completing both regular and postseason...

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The limited selection of fresh meat products available at Walmart served as an inconvenience for many customers.

Coronavirus impacts grocers shelves [photo gallery]

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Mar 20, 2020

On Thursday, March 19, McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight reported the county's first case of COVID-19. The man, in his 70s, is in good condition and being treated in isolation at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal. Before this report, the impact of Coronavirus could...

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