February 14, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

SJO School Board Candidate David McDermott Q and A

There are five candidates running for four open seats on the SJO School Board.

Why are you running for school board?
I am running for re-election because I want to continue to see the successes from the last four years continue. The last four years our district has seen great academic, instructional, and facilities improvements and there is more to do for the students in our district.

What is the biggest challenge facing school districts?
The biggest challenge our district is facing is reduced enrollment. As enrollment drops so will our state funding and this will lead tough decisions on how to continue to offer the same programs with less money. Saint Joseph is such a great place to live but we need growth so that new young families can move into our district and allow their children to have the same advantages that the previous class was offered.

What is SJO’s greatest strength?
The biggest strength of our district is the academic opportunities we offer are as good as districts twice our size. Also, our extra curricular programs are the best in the area and provides our students for opportunities they won’t get in a large school district.

What do you think your biggest strength is regarding serving on school board?
My biggest strength as a board member is that I make decisions only after I look at all sides of the issue and seek input from others. I listen to those in the community and use their input in my decision process as well as I am not afraid to ask tough questions. In the last 4 years I have never missed a meeting.

Tell me about your family.
My wife Lori and I chose to move our family from Danville to Saint Joseph in 2012 because we wanted more for our kids. We have three kids, Tony (graduated from DHS), Andrew who recently graduated from SJO and our daughter Katie who will be a freshman at SJO this year. My wife is a teacher and I am a chemical sales engineer and adjunct professor at Illinois State University. I come from a family of educators so it has been a great pleasure to be a part of the SJO High School Board.

For information on where to vote click here.

Banner
Related Posts

Get to know Greg Smith

March 22, 2025

March 22, 2025

Greg Smith is running for St. Joseph Township Trustee. Biographical information My name is Greg Smith, I am a current...

Richards hopes to make difference as Homer mayor

April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

Jeremy Richards has plans for Homer.  That is why he is running for mayor in the April 6 election.  “I...

SJO School Board Candidate Les Hoveln Q and A

March 30, 2019

March 30, 2019

There are five candidates running for four open seats on the SJO School Board. Why are you running for school...

SJO School Board Candidate Kathy McCormick Q and A

March 30, 2019

March 30, 2019

There are five candidates running for four open seats on the SJO School Board. Why are you running for school...

Cunningham wants to help Homer grow

April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

Ray Cunningham feels he has unfinished business.  Cunningham is running for reelection as Homer’s mayor on April 6.  “I am...

Server issue resolved in Champaign County

November 5, 2024

November 5, 2024

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons says a system failure that led to voting machines at polling places not working has...

Election Results April 2, 2019

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

Village Trustee VILLAGE OF BROADLANDS Vote for three Logan Jeffers 31 Mary Garrett 29 Pamela Propst 26 Village Trustee VILLAGE...

Early voting information for Champaign County

October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

In Champaign County you can vote early at a variety of locations. All Early Voting sites are Vote Centers and...

Get to know Dan Thompson

March 21, 2025

March 21, 2025

Dan Thompson is running for St. Joseph Grade School Board. What motivated you to run for school board? I was...

5 Questions with Republican caucus candidate Matt Walsh

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? I’m a lifelong resident of Saint Joseph and at the end of the...

Get to know Emily Harms.

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emily is running for Multi-Township Tax Assessor. 1. Can you provide us a little biographical information? My name is Emily...

Get to know Holly Clingan

March 25, 2025

March 25, 2025

Can you please provide some biographical information? I am Holly Clingan, and I’ve been a homeowner in St. Joseph for...

Get to know Todd Hitt

March 12, 2025

March 12, 2025

Todd Hitt is running for ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR as a Republican. Can you please provide some biographical information?Lifelong resident...

Get to know Scott Perkins

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Scott is running for the St. Joseph Grade School Board. What motivated you to run for school board? I’ve been...

Vickers looks to the future of Ogden

April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

Sonja Vickers considers Ogden her forever home.  “I just want to see good done for the village for now and...

Comments
Leave a Reply