July 14, 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

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