May 18, 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

C and C Pretties

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

Tell me about your business. I sell is Hairbows,Dish scrubbies,  badge reels  scrunches, and beaded pens and soon will offer...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

Jim Wagner is not here. Jeff Van Buskirk’s seat isn’t filled yet. They approved the minutes, bills, treasuer’s report. An...

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Vendor profile: Katie Creates

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

Tell me about your business. I am an acrylic pour artist, meaning that I create art by pouring acrylic paint....

Ogden to keep water system

March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026

Ogden will not be selling their water system. Thursday night, the a motion was not made to vote on approving...

A letter to the residents of St. Joseph from Jim Page

April 9, 2025

April 9, 2025

There has been a lot of discussion over kitchen tables and online about the Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). A...

‘I am proud of all of us’ by Kristen Costa

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

To the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Class of 2020, when I began writing this speech, I didn’t even know where...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Nov. 18, 2025

November 18, 2025

November 18, 2025

I am here. Only thing on the agenda is consideration of the ordinance approving the solicitation of qualifications and confidential...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, April 22 2025

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Consent agenda approved as presented.Approving the recommendation to go to bid for streets and sidewalk repairs. These are sidewalks and...

Kicking it off: SJO football starts another season with lofty expectations

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

The playoff streak is at six seasons. Nowhere near close to the record-setting 26 straight seasons with a postseason appearance...

“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....

5 questions with Republican Caucus candidate Andrea Schultheis Childers

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? We’ve lived in St. Joe for the past almost 19 years and it’s...

5 questions with Brian Brooks

December 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?My favorite childhood holiday memories started each year at Thanksgiving. My mom had...

Comments
Leave a Reply