July 8, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at SJO school board, Oct. 24, 2022

It’s the special education department and me here at the school board. They are doing a curriculum review. (I seriously love curriculum reviews) and I am here because it is my job. (And I like school board.)

MX Electric is sponsoring our live blogs btw. Call them for all your electrical needs.

The Special Education Department consists of Beth Beckett, Jennifer Brooks, Mary Benoit and Nick Wolf. They have four aides: Cindy Acklin, Bree Carter, Chandler Dalton and Dee Ramsay.

They are discussing all the different eligibilities. The majority of students have a specific learning disability. They are explaining how students are referred and how an IEP is created.

They are discussing co-taught classes, aided classes and self-contained classes. They are also discussing the life skills program which is awesome. #coffeeclub

They do need new textbooks. Their books are 21 years old.

The STEP program allows students to work and get class credit. The program receives funding from DHS. and employment support from the RCCSEC. Students can be in an independent job or supported employment.

There are 50 students on a 504 plan.

Discussing construction update. They think the weight room will be done after winter break, auditorium after first of the year. #progress.

Now they are discussing the parking lot. They are discussing adding more parking, ect.

Discussing the alley situation with the village. It was on the agenda for the village a few months ago but it never got formally approved by the village so they are kinda in a holding period.

The village administrator told me that this should be done by the first meeting in November. #fingerscrossed

Non resident waiver for tuition. Basically, if a staff member lives outside the district they can have their kids go to SJO but not pay tuition. The state has to approve a waiver and the school has to have a hearing. Tons of school do this. Including our neighbors to the south, Heritage. They will have a meeting Nov. 21 at 5:50 p.m. to discuss this. #itsreallynotabigdeal #helpsthemattractteachers #whywouldntyouwanttogotoSJO?

School maintenance grant update- they can use it for school security so Brooks wants to use it for the phone system. “That’s one of the big pieces of that for us is it will allow the teacher to make a 9-11 call from any room in the building, it will tag it to that room.” They also may buy some more security cameras.

The County is projecting a 5.9 percent EAV increase for the SJO district.
Discussing health insurance options now for staff.

Risk management plan update: the changes allow them to pay certain portions of salaries out of their tort fund.

No closed session.

Good of the cause: Cross Country sectional in the morning at Dodds Park, football in the afternoon at SJO, fall play in the evening in the Commons on Saturday. #busybusybusy

Discussing soccer’s good season and how well the band did at the U of I band festival. #theygotthirdorfourththeboardsaid

Adjourned

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

SJO HIGH HONOR ROLL SECOND QUARTER

January 11, 2021

January 11, 2021

FreshmenAllen, LoganArmstrong, AdenBaltzell, OwenBeetz, SamanthaBurkhalter, ChloeDivan, RachelEricksen, SadieFrasca, JosephFrick, AddisonGetty, GraceHaake, LoganHarper, ChloeHarris, RachelHausman, BrodyHueber, AnnabelleJacob, TannerJolley, KyaJones, HeleneKibler, ToriLewis,...

Donation could change the face of sports and activities at SJO

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

An anonymous donor has made St. Joseph-Ogden High School an offer they couldn’t refuse. And because of it, SJO athletic...

SJO 2022-2023 1st Quarter Honor Roll

October 28, 2022

October 28, 2022

FRESHMANAlexander, MatthewBeals, JosiahBlackburn-Kelley, TimBlackburn-Kelley, TimeraBrooks, BellaCoffey, ChristopherDaly, NathanEricksen, KatherineGossett, JeffreyHale, CharlesHayes, CoyHood, BryannaHuckstadt, AmeliaJackson, NickMcKinney, EmmaPreston, GraceRay, GrahamRetz, LanceReynolds, JaxsonSexton,...

Closing address by Garren Meeker

May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

I would like to thank everyone for coming to the graduating ceremony of the class of 2021. Whether that be...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th Grade Honor Roll

November 2, 2021

November 2, 2021

Barrowman, Kylie Barrowman, Lexie Blackburn-Kelley, Timera Blackburn-Kelley, Timothy Carlson, Jacob Chaudhary, Rudra Clark, Joshua Ericksen, Katherine Getty, Camden Haley, William...

PVO Jr High Seventh grade honor roll

April 27, 2023

April 27, 2023

7 th Grade Highest Honors (3.7-4.0)Tyler BonnyIsabella FrerichsCasen GoffGaby GomezKellyn IrwinRoyce LoschenLane McKinneyConnor McMahonAtleigh MillerAirin RashKeegan RobertsKorinne TravisEvelyn ValentineLucas WatersAdyn...

‘This role has been an amazing one to take on’

April 1, 2022

April 1, 2022

Wyatt Loghry has loved the Addams Family since he was little. And now, he is playing the patriarch, Gomez Addams....

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...

Sign ‘em up: SJO, Wagners help recognize high school seniors during pandemic

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Jordan Stiverson received a surprise when he looked out his window on Tuesday. SJO Principal...

St. Joseph Middle School 5th grade honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Bigelow Avery Carter Avery Cruz Kolton Dalton Kinley Daly Cameron Damler Tenley Downes Alice England Wesley...

PVO sets return date for full in-person instruction

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

Starting on March 22, all the students in the Prairieview-Ogden School District will return to in-person learning daily. Superintendent Jeff...

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...

PVO Junior High Second quarter honor roll

January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

7th Grade Highest Honors (3.7-4.0)Tyler BonnyIsabella FrerichsCasen GoffGaby GomezGeorge HaleRoyce LoschenLane McKinneyAtleigh MillerAirin RashKeegan RobertsKorinne TravisEvelyn ValentineLucas WatersAdyn Westerfield 7th...

SJO 4th quarter high honor roll

June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

Our Honor Rolls are sponsored by Appl Sanitary. FreshmenAllinger, OliviaBeckett, EJBenoit, AudreyBonny, SarahBrown, LandonClampitt, MadisonDavenport, AerolynDietiker, EllaDitchfield, LukeEnnis, JacksonFranzen, SavannaFunk,...

Comments
Leave a Reply