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

Live at SJO School Board, Feb. 24, 2025

Principal Gary Page saying some kids really like the online Spanish class. Some do not.  Page saying it obviously doesn’t compare to having a teacher in the classroom. “They seem to be settling in moving forward.” 

Discussing IMEC event and a hotel snafu. Superintendent Brian Brooks said they are working with the credit card coming to contest the charges for hotel rooms that were not up to standards.

Informational items and dates: Spring Break- March 17-21.

Facility items:
Justin Franzen is here. Discussing the scoreboard. The sponsors pay $10,000. They have eight. Now they want 12. Franzen saying they have four different renderings. All the renderings show that there will be a 15 foot by 24 foot LED scoreboard. “We can do a lot of great things for kids on there.”


Franzen asking if they want the sponsorship electronic or just stagnant like they are now. They are discussing the in and outs of the new scoreboard.

Discussing a softball concession stand and bathroom.

Brooks thinks they should go out to bid and see what they get. “If we are going to do this, it is probably not going to get cheaper. Maybe we will get a lot of interest.” Brooks saying the district isn’t in a time crunch to get this done.

TIF update: “My vibe is they fully plan to do this,” Brooks said.

Brooks saying they haven’t signed off on an agreement yet. “I think, it’s in our best interest, if we are happy with it to sign it.”

“It doesn’t mean we support it,” Brooks said. “It would just be protecting our district.”

Brooks saying the residential part of the TIF is what concerns him. (Basically, bringing in kids and having no money to educate them.)

Discussing time and length of TIF. Also discussing what it means financially for the district.

“It could go through and it would be fine,” Brooks said. “There are a lot of unknowns.”

New business:
Environmental Club Activity Account- the club wants an activity account. The school board said ok.

School calendar: All three districts have met. Agreed that this is the calendar they want. “It’s basically the calendar we are on this year.”

If they don’t take emergency days they will be out before Memorial Day.
Two weeks at Christmas.

Kitchen: asking board to consider this. Rhonda Lee is retiring at the end of the next year. She goes above and beyond, Brooks said. Brooks discussing hiring someone a year ahead or half a year ahead to learn from her.

Closed session.

Out of closed.

Talking about SJO FFA banquet, wrestling and post season, girls basketball post season and the dance team.

The football was the number one academic team in 3A apparently. #smarties.

Meeting is concluded.
















Banner
Related Posts

Smith’s last-second field goal lifts SJO football to upset playoff win

November 6, 2025

November 6, 2025

Before the St. Joseph-Ogden football team traveled to Benton for a Class 3A first-round playoffgame this past Saturday, Spartans coach...

How does a TIF work?

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

How does TIF work?A geographic area is designated as a TIF district. 


 Property owners in the district pay the same...

“Performing in front of people can be very fun”

August 6, 2024

August 6, 2024

The Weldon Homecoming is going to be rocking n rolling. Owen Knap will be performing from 2 to 4 p.m....

10 things you don’t know about me… DEE EVANS

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

DEE EVANS will be inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Dee Evans is a 1960 graduate of St....

SJO fourth quarter high honor roll

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

High Honor RollFreshmenAllen, Addison Altenbaumer, Tyler Anderson, Kailyn Armstrong, Ella Atwood, Madison Behrens, Abigail Beyers, Andrew Bowln, Brandie Burkhalter, Mara...

Q and A with SJO Hall of Fame inductee Bobbi Busboom

October 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

1. How does it feel to be inducted into the hall of fame? To be honest, I thought it was...

Saturday’s SJO sports roundup: Franzen fares well in Peoria

September 16, 2024

September 16, 2024

Detweiller Park in Peoria is where every high school cross-country runner in Illinois wants to endits season at. It’s the...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Sept. 9, 2025

September 9, 2025

September 9, 2025

I am here. So much interesting stuff is on the agenda for tonight. Jack Flash is here asking for the...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

We are live so you don’t have to be. Thanks to MX Electric for sponsoring our live blogs. No public...

Vendor profile: Janeration

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

Tell me about your business and what inspired you to go into business? What started as making hair bows for my...

St. Joseph Village Board- Live

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Tonight is the night where they vote on the dispensary. They are talking money. CDs and the like. And interest...

McKinney shines, SJO football stays unbeaten

September 16, 2024

September 16, 2024

Kodey McKinney made his third start as the St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback this past Fridaynight. Hard to tell with how well...

Q and A with SJO Hall of Fame inductee Bianca Truitt Green

October 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

1. How does it feel to be inducted into the hall of fame? I am ecstatic to be recognized in...

Heritage Junior High Honor Roll

November 9, 2020

November 9, 2020

Thanks to Appl Sanitary for sponsoring our honor rolls! Heritage Junior High has released the list of honor roll students...

Comments
Leave a Reply