April 11, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Talk of the Town with Superintendent Todd Pence

Every week we ask a village mayor, trustee, school administrator or board of education member three questions. This week is St. Joseph Grade School Superintendent Todd Pence.

This post is sponsored by St. Joseph Siding and Window.

What is the biggest challenge facing your district?
Biggest challenge – Since the growth in our community has stopped we have been faced with the financial challenge of trying to do more with less.  It’s been a constant battle for the last 7 – 8 years just to try and break even.

What was your biggest accomplishment this school year?
I believe my biggest accomplishment this year has been putting a new principal in place at the grade school that has changed the whole atmosphere within the the building.  

What projects is your district going to tackle next school year?
Academically the biggest change will be implementing a new science curriculum that we researched and recently adopted.   As far as building projects we are constantly dealing with HVAC issues, but we also have worked with a company to help us develop a five year plan to address all our roofs.  This summer our plan is to address the two worst sections of the grade school roof.  We are also looking at trying to do something with the parking lots here at the grade school.     

Banner
Related Posts

St. Joseph Middle School 7th grade honor rolls

January 19, 2022

January 19, 2022

7th Grade High Honor Roll Ahart, Lillian Albrecht, Samuel Bello, Abigail Benoit, Zachary Burnett, Colin Clark, Elizabeth Crider, Abigail Dahl,...

Kids Say….

May 2, 2019

May 2, 2019

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

‘I always have a blast putting the show together’

April 2, 2022

April 2, 2022

Mallory Wagner’s favorite part of a drama production may shock people. It’s rehearsing. “It doesn’t matter what scene we’re doing...

Full STEM ahead for Powers

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

Katie Powers wants students to be engaged and excited about STEM topics. The Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient created a...

10 things you don’t know about me… Tracie Trotter

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

We asked the owner of Wyldewood Cellars to tell us 10 things about herself. Here are her responses. 1. What...

Kids Say

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

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

SJO first quarter high honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

Freshmen Ahart, LillianBarbee, ZhouBenoit, ZacharyBowlin, AlecBurnett, ColinClark, ElizabethCrider, AbigailDahl, HaydenDavis, IrisDitchfield, NickDowns, JustinFarber, MadisonFarney, NathanielFranzen, NolanGraham, SkylerHammond, AnnaHarbourt, MarkHarris, NicholasHess,...

‘I’m so thankful and grateful for this opportunity’

February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022

Amy Gibbons is celebrating a birthday. Salon 192 opened two years ago today. “The past two years have definitely been...

10 things you don’t know about me… The Gary Olson Family

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

The GARY OLSON FAMILY is being inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Gary and Nancy Olson and their...

Kids Say… What does a farmer do?

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

We asked students what they think a farmer does all day. Here are their answers. Brady: I think a farmer...

Giving back: Short wins St. Joseph Chamber Citizen of the Year

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

Tim Short loves St. Joseph. He and his wife, Amy, moved to St. Joseph in 1992 and never thought of...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade high honor roll

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

ST. JOSEPH MIDDLE SCHOOL —  3rd Quarter, 2021-2022 8th Grade High Honor Roll Ames, Trevor Barrowman, Lexie Beyers, Kaitlyn Bird,...

Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every month we will pose a question to Dr. Jeanelle Murphy of Christie Clinic in St. Joseph. This month we...

St. Joseph middle school 8th grade high honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Ahart Lillian Benoit Zachary Burnett Colin Clark Elizabeth Crider Abigail Dahl Hayden Davis Iris Downs Justin...

St. Joseph Grade School to stay on hybrid schedule through end of school year

March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021

St. Joseph Grade School Superintendent Todd Pence said he is recommending the grade school and middle school keep their hybrid...

Comments
Leave a Reply