July 14, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Safety concern prompts letter to parents

The system worked how it is supposed to.


That is what St. Joseph-Ogden Superintendent Brian Brooks stressed in a letter he sent to parents on Saturday.


The letter told parents about an incident the district was dealing with regarding student safety.


“Last night we received an anonymous report through our online incident report regarding some comments made by a student on Friday at school that alarmed the person who initiated this report,” the letter stated.


The school then contacted the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and they began investigating the report.


“The investigation is ongoing, but it has been determined by the Sheriff’s Office that at this point the comments made had no ill intent and there is no more reason for student or safety concerns than there would be on any other day,” the letter stated.


Brooks said the district is very proud of the student who let them know about the situation.


“ We are not able to act on information unless we know about it,” he said.   “Our students are typically our best eyes and ears so we tell them that if they hear or see anything that draws any concern at all to them, or even just doesn’t seem right in general, please report it to someone or fill out an incident report form so that the appropriate people can address and handle the situation.”


Brooks said the student that filled out the incident report was alarmed by what they heard and acted appropriately.


“We are very appreciative of that,” he said.


Brooks said that he sent the letter to parents on Saturday because he believes very strongly in transparency with any information that the district can legally share.


“I want our parents, guardians and students to know what is going on at the school and with their children,” he said. “Our parents, guardians and students deserve that, and at the end of the day we are all in this together as a school and community in the best interest of our students.”


Brooks said the district takes any comment made that may affect student or staff safety very seriously.


“Whether a person is determined through proper investigation to have ill intentions or not behind their comments, it will be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly,” he said. “Student and staff safety is of the utmost importance at SJO, as I’m sure it is at other school districts as well.”


Brooks said keeping students and staff safe is a team effort that includes not only those at the school but the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.


“We greatly appreciate it when people step forward to provide us with information that we may not be aware of so that we can act appropriately on that information,” he said. “We work side by side with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office on student safety matters, and they have been outstanding over the years in their efforts in assisting SJO to keep our students and staff safe.”

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

Masks not optional in St. Joseph schools; PVO allows masks to be optional

February 7, 2022

February 7, 2022

St. Joseph-Ogden High School Superintendent Brian Brooks is asking the community for patience.In an email sent to parents Sunday, the...

How I get it done: St. Joseph-Ogden Principal GARY PAGE

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

We ask local leaders to discuss their views on leadership, how they set goals and what a typical day is...

‘I have absolutely loved portraying her’

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Sophia McDade loves everything about the Addams Family production. The senior, who is acting in her second show with the...

SJO announces academic letter winners for the 2020-21 school year

October 12, 2021

October 12, 2021

Thanks to Appl Sanitary for sponsoring our honor rolls and academic awards posts. St. Joseph-Ogden High School hosted an Academic...

A familiar face to lead PVO

February 25, 2019

February 25, 2019

Jeffrey Isenhower will start a new job on July 1, 2020. He will take over the Prairieview-Ogden superintendent for Vic...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade honor roll

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

8th Grade Honor Roll Barrowman, Kylie Bartlett, Guinevere Blackburn-Kelley, Timera Blackburn-Kelley, Timothy Campbell, Shelby Coffey, Christopher Daly, Nathan Dwyer, Caleb...

Maxey named to SJO Board of Education

June 23, 2020

June 23, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden School Board has a new member. The Board of Educated voted to fill a vacant position with...

Graduation main address by Flannery McCorkle

May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

Good afternoon, Spartans As I look out at my classmates, I feel truly blessed to have been a part of this...

St. Joseph Grade School to keep hybrid schedule for now

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

While families with students at St. Joseph Grade School and Middle School may want their students back in school more...

PVO Junior High 8th grade honor roll

November 8, 2023

November 8, 2023

8th Grade Highest HonorsTyler BonnyGaby ChimalIsabella FrerichsCasen GoffGeorge HaleKellyn IrwinRoyce LoschenLane McKinneyConnor McMahonAtleigh MillerLeah PruittAirin RashKeegan RobertsKorinne TravisEvelyn ValentineLucas Waters...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th Grade High Honor Roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

8th grade Ava Alexander Ava Bronowski Liam Carter Patrick Clark Carly Coffey Tessa Cox Avarie Dietiker Hunter Dilley Ainsley Dirksmeyer...

More than a coach: SJO to honor Duval with field dedication ceremony Friday night

August 19, 2021

August 19, 2021

An educator. A coach. A friend. A husband. A father. A community icon. On Friday night the community and high...

SJO 4th quarter honor roll

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

FRESHMENAden, CarolineAtwood, McKenzieBell, AdalynClark, WadeCoffey, ChristopherCrozier, CadeDaly, NathanDwyer, CalebFitch, ParkerFranklin, WilliamGoodwin, BrandonHale, CharlesHardimon, EricaHollingsworth, BraydenHood, BryannaHouchens, BrysonJackson, NickJohnson, JordanKates, MalachyMcComas,...

Kids Say….

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

Live at SJO School Board, Nov. 22

November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021

I am here along with the business department for the school board meeting. Consent agenda- approval. Going over bills. SJO...

Comments
Leave a Reply