BLOOMINGTON -- Updating the Bloomington Junior High and Bloomington High School improvement plans is a never-ending process said District 87 officials Wednesday night.

"We update our school improvement plan on two-year cycles for each school," said Teresa Hill, the district's superintendent of curriculum.

"We set goals specifically for achievement and improved test scores," she said. "But we also look to improve school climate, parental involvement and things like that. "

Feedback from parents, teachers, school officials and students help determine the course of action, she said.

BHS Principal Tim Moore said improvement plans at the high school often revolve around what he identified as "the freshman experience."

"It is a tough transition from 8th grade to being a freshman in high school because freshmen come in and think they know everything and they don't," Moore said. "We are considering the implementation of a 9th grade academy where students have a resource to help with that transition."

Moore said officials are also considering implementing a "home room" at the high school where students would meet at least once per day.

At the junior high, math courses are expected to be added so that all students have an option to enter high school at a higher academic level and will have the option to successfully complete algebra and geometry by the end of their sophomore year.

BJHS Principal Susan Silvey said the implementation of previous strategies has improved test scores for BJHS students, forcing the additional of new math classes at the high school.

"The things we do at the junior high school level affects what happens at the high school level down the road," Hill said. "The goal is to slowly improve and raise our student test scores with each five-year period. There will be some years where the scores may drop a little bit, and others will it will rise. In the end, the goal is for those scores to increase overall."