Belleville District 201

East St. Louis 189 Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Brumback watches children do math exercises at Avant Elementary School in Washington Park, Ill., on Oct. 8, 2024.

Education

Illinois’ school funding formula changed in 2017. Is your local district getting its share?

Kelly Smits

State funding for many school districts in the Metro East have been increasing since Illinois revamped how it funds education under former GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner.

This rendering shows what the front of the future Collinsville Area Vocational Center will look like. Construction will begin in early 2025, and administrators hope to have the new building ready for the fall 2026 semester.

Education

Here’s what a new $21.5 million career and tech ed building in Collinsville will look like

Kelly Smits

The 46,000-square-foot facility will be an expansion of the Collinsville Area Vocational Center, which was opened in 1971 and currently provides students from 10 area high schools with dual-credit career training and skill development.

Yasmin Joseph, 8, middle, tries to grab the flag off of Amyjia Robinson’s, 84, left, during the flag football game on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at Belleville West High School in Belleville.

Sports

First season of girls flag football proves popular at Belleville high schools

Will Bauer

Belleville East and West players, coaches and parents are hoping the first season catches on in the area and more schools in the Metro East add programs in the next couple of years.

This drone photograph shows the campus of Belleville East High School in Belleville, Ill., on June 17, 2024.

Education

Belleville school district eyes potential expansion, renovations

Kelly Smits

Two factors are driving the district's plans: enrollment at the Metro East high school is increasing, and the district had added programs that require dividing space and creating new classrooms.