Collinsville School District 10

The Collinsville Kahoks, Granite City Warriors and Freeburg Midgets are some of the Metro East schools that could be required to change if the bills pass.

Currently, Collinsville High School students may use devices in the classroom for educational purposes with teacher permission, during passing periods, before school and at lunch.

The rally on Sunday was hosted by three of the affected districts: the Collinsville Kahoks, Mascoutah Indians and Granite City Warriors.

The proposed legislation passed in the Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday. The Mascoutah Indians, Collinsville Kahoks, Cahokia High School Comanches and Whiteside Junior High’s Warriors could all be required to change.

The annual contest runs Friday and Saturday at the Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.

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.

In April, Collinsville Unit School District #10 announced it’s considering closing the school due to declining enrollment and would hold three hearings to receive public input.

Program organizers said it solves two problems — it gives students a chance to enter the workforce and provides employers the opportunity to find badly-needed help.

One of the biggest issues facing the local education system is the growing number of teachers needed — especially special education and bilingual teachers, as well as paraprofessionals.

The latest Illinois Report Card provides information about schools across southwestern Illinois. Here’s how metro-east high schools fared in the 2022-23 report.