May 16, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at SJO School Board

We are live tonight at SJO school board.

It is a full audience today at school board. On the agenda is the tax levy, the risk management plan, social science curriculum review and discussing the property tax relief grant.

It’s 6 p.m. and only four board members are here. Les Hoveln, Jim Rein, Susan Mclain and Mitch Schluter. But that’s a QUORUM!

Here we go.

Kathy McCormick and April Vogelsang are not in attendance. Kevin Taylor isn’t here because he is coaching a game.

Approved October meeting minutes.

Shawn Hallett is approved as a volunteer wrestling coach. He’s the SRO. #multitasking

They are approving the final tax levy.

Risk Management Plan: Annual plan. Approved.

Social Science Curriculum Review. Mr. Schacht and Mr. Beckett.
(I love these reviews.) Plus, it’s two of my favorite teachers here!

Mr. Kieffer is in a meeting for his Alaska trip. He will be here soon.

Schacht has been here his whole teaching career. He went to Cornell.

Kieffer went to the U of I. He is the “guide to the world.”

Fun fact. Beckett student taught for Schacht. He graduated from EIU.

Faculty strengths: Stability, flexibility, committeed to SJO, involvement, energy and deep voices. (This was legit in their presentation. I am not just adding commentary.)

I am so jealous SJO has a world history class. That was not offered at my high school and I desperately wanted to take it.

Schacht’s civics course had 13 students originally and now has 66. Required for seniors with a GPA over 3.25. (If I could take any class at SJO this would be it!)

SJO Grab and Go Thrift Shop- they are taking the home economic room and stocking it with breakfast food and canned goods, Spartan hoodies, jackets for students who need it. Lindsey Aden and others are spearheading it. Student led and student driven. #goSJO

They are proposing a constitutional applications and political science class that would be a second-semester elective, one section class taught by Schacht. It would benefit those wanting to take AP Civics test, We the People, those wanting to go into law.


Property tax relief grant: The state is offering the district again to apply. But the property taxes are so low they probably wouldn’t get it. “It doesn’t hurt to apply. If every district applied we will not get it.”

Principal Gary Page is going over the School Report Card.

You can find it here.

They received the exemplary designation this year. #inshorttheyrock

“We performed in the top 10 percent of the schools, state wide,” Page said.

Closed session time.

Still in closed.

Still in closed. (Not a typo. We are still in closed.)

Out of closed.

Good of the cause: SJO school board president Jim Rein is congradulating the SJO volleyball team that placed third at state in the Class 2A volleyball state tournament. They also congradulated the cross country teams who made it to state.

Adjourned.








in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

Ames and Aden advance to district competition

January 28, 2019

January 28, 2019

Most people dislike public speaking. Not St. Joseph FFA member Mallory Ames. Ames, along with Lindsey Aden and Abby Schlueter...

PVO Junior High 8th grade honor roll

April 27, 2023

April 27, 2023

8th Grade Highest Honors (3.7-4.0)Alec BowlinAnna HammondGarrett LoschenMason RammDennis RinebergJack WearEmerson WilliamsDalton York 8th Grade High Honors (3.4-3.69)Cylas HintonAvrianna LyttleKaden...

‘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. β€œIt doesn’t matter what scene we’re doing...

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 7th grade honor roll

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

7th Grade Honor Roll Bello, Abigail Benoit, Zachary Canamore, Willis Colvin, Jaxson Ditchfield, Nickolas Downs, Justin Ennis, Jameson Gaines, Leah...

SJO fourth quarter high honor roll

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Freshmen Allen, LoganBaltzell, OwenBeetz, SamanthaBurkhalter, ChloeDivan, RachelEricksen, SadieFrick, AddisonGetty, GraceGrant, BriannaHaake, LoganHarper, ChloeHarris, RachelHausman, BrodyHueber, AnnabelleJacob, TannerJolley, KyaJones, HeleneKibler, ToriLannert,...

Heritage marching band modifies season

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

The Heritage Performing Arts department announced that their marching band season has been canceled. Band Director Justin Lee said that...

Talk of the Town with Superintendent Todd Pence

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Every week we ask a village mayor, trustee, school administrator or board of education member three questions. This week is...

SJO Honors Night Winners- 2022

May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022

National Merit Scholarship (commendation) – Mara Burkhalter and Payton Jacob IPC Scholar Athlete/ IHSA Scholar Athlete award- Ava Knap and...

Prairieview-Ogden First Quarter Honor Roll

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

7th Grade Highest Honors: (3.7-4.0) Tyler Bonny Casen Goff Gaby Gomez Royce Loschen Lane McKinney Airin Rash Korinne Travis Evelyn Valentine...

‘Helping them reach their potential is humbling and rewarding at the same time’

January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023

A performance today will culminate one of the most powerful artistic and personal experiences Justin Lee has had in his...

St. Joseph Middle School Announces 7th Grade Honor Roll

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

7TH GRADE HIGH HONORS Logan Allen Owen Baltzell Addisyn Barclay Samantha Beetz Kyler Brown Chloe Burkhalter Rachel Divan Joseph Frasca...

St. Joseph Middle School 5th grade honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Sophia Albrecht Madison Beeler Abigail Bewley Kynleigh Blunier Connor Bowman Naomi Cavanaugh Konlee Christians Henry Cluver...

Live at SJO School Board, Dec.19, 2023

December 19, 2023

December 19, 2023

It’s time for the Ag Curriculum review. These are always really interesting and showcase what strong academic programs SJO has....

‘I love everything about our new space’

February 15, 2023

February 15, 2023

The drama program at St. Joseph-Ogden High School has a new home. β€œIt means a lot to this program and...

Comments
Leave a Reply