[2] Its territory is the largest in Illinois, covering 377 square miles (980 km2) over parts of five counties.
[2] Lawsuits challenging the district's creation and bond issue continued until December 23, 1969.
Because of the lawsuits that could possibly make the district vanish, banks refused to fund the new district with tax anticipation warrants and the schools were in danger of closing by April 1968, but the state Superintendent of Public Instruction worked to get state and federal funds early to the district, and the schools stayed open.
By investing the money, the district earned another $472,000 in interest, which was added to the original $4,000,000 of bonds and an additional $530,900 in regular funds, to build the high school.
[4] In Tazewell County, the district includes Minier, Armington, and Hopedale.