NORMAL - The Unit 5 school board will mark its 60th birthday with a plan to establish its first charter school. The Normal-based district will hold a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday to consider YouthBuild McLean County's proposal to become a charter school. After the hearing, the board will vote whether to approve the proposal.

The nearest Illinois charter schools are in Decatur and Springfield; most are in the Chicago area. In May, the district applied to the state for permission to establish the charter school.

YouthBuild McLean County gives 17- to 21-year-olds a chance to get a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma as they learn life skills and building trades experience.

Under a charter, Unit 5 would collect per-pupil state aid and assign it to YouthBuild. A charter school also is eligible for other grants.

Charter schools, in exchange for strict accountability to maintain high standards, receive freedom from many regulations that apply to other public schools.

"Every charter school is different, thus the charters," said Dayna Brown, assistant to Superintendent Gary Niehaus.

The current YouthBuild high school, 502 S. Morris Ave., Bloomington, has space for 45 students from McLean County. After the chartering process is complete, it could serve another 20 students who have dropped out of Unit 5 schools.

For its first 15 years, YouthBuild McLean County offered GEDs. In 2007, the school also started offering high school diplomas. It eventually plans to move within Unit 5 district boundaries.

Happy birthday!

The district will pay tribute to its beginnings with a birthday reception and cake.

Unit 5 started July 1, 1948, with an enrollment of about 1,900 students. By December, the district covered roughly 150 square miles, had 37 elementary districts and was one of 350 unit districts in the state.

"It's nice to have a little celebration," said Gail Ann Briggs, who joined the school board in 1976.

The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. at the district offices, 1809 West Hovey Ave.

During its business meeting, the board will name a new principal for Parkside Junior High School and a director of secondary education.

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Unit 5 reception, hearing

What: Unit 5 school board reception, hearing and meeting

Who: Public reception for the district's 60th birthday, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; public hearing to consider YouthBuild McLean County's proposal to become a charter school of Unit 5, 7:15 p.m.; business meeting, includes filling two administrative positions.

Where: District office, 1809 W. Hovey Ave. Normal

Happy birthday

• The Normal-based district formed May 8, 1948, and the first school board meeting was July 1, 1948.

• In 1948, annual salaries for 23 high school teachers varied from $2,500 to $4,532.

• Superintendent L.E. Starke was the first superintendent and served eight years. Current Superintendent Gary Niehaus is the district's 11th leader.

• In 1948, the district had about 1,900 students and 89 teachers. Current enrollment is about 12,400 students and more than 900 teachers.

SOURCES: Unit 5; district newsletter from Dec. 13, 1948