District 87 Opens Willie G. & Gloria Brown Education Center
The former State Farm building now houses Bloomington Career Academy and the Sarah Raymond School of Early Education.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Secondary Education
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District 87 has opened the Willie G. & Gloria Brown Education Center in Bloomington, a repurposed former State Farm building the district bought in February 2024. The center houses Bloomington Career Academy and the Sarah Raymond School of Early Education, and its early education side has eliminated a pre-K waiting list of 50 to 70 children.
Why it matters
The academy had been constrained by space, limiting students, industry partners and programming. Tripling its available space gives the district room to expand career education while adding early education capacity for three and four year olds in Bloomington.
The academy's available space tripled after the move, and the former pre-K waiting list of 50 to 70 children has been eliminated. No dollar figures for the building purchase or the eighteen-month renovation were reported.
The players
District 87
District 87 is the public school district serving Bloomington, Illinois, which operates the Willie G. & Gloria Brown Education Center and oversees both the academy and the early education school.
State Farm
State Farm is a major insurance company headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, which previously occupied the building and used it for adult education.
The details
District 87 bought the former OAB building from State Farm in February 2024 and spent eighteen months converting it. Internal doors are locked during the day to keep preschool and career education students separate, and the career side needed only light remodeling since State Farm had used it for adult education. The early education side was rebuilt to fit three and four year olds.
Timeline
February 2024: District 87 purchases the former OAB building from State Farm.
Eighteen months later: renovation into the education center is completed.
This school year (2026-27): Bloomington Career Academy begins its second year in the new space.
Season Trajectory
The move marks a shift for Bloomington Career Academy from a space-limited program to one with room to grow its industry partnerships. Pairing career education with early childhood education under one roof reflects a local model for using a single repurposed building to meet two districtwide needs.
Families in Bloomington with children aged three and four may find more early education seats available than the former waiting list suggested. Students interested in career programs can now access expanded space at Bloomington Career Academy this school year.
The takeaway
Repurposing an existing commercial building can quickly expand both career and early education capacity without new construction. Families seeking pre-K or career programs in Bloomington should check current enrollment with District 87 directly.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education to see how Bloomington schools are expanding career programs.
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