January 17, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Get to know Dan Thompson

Dan Thompson is running for St. Joseph Grade School Board.

What motivated you to run for school board?
I was encouraged by current members of the board to run. After hearing their experiences and how rewarding it was to help the school/community I knew it was something I wanted to be apart of.

What are your short term goals for the district?
I hope to learn from the current board members and hope to provide common sense solutions to problems that arise in our schools.

What are your long term goals?
I want to leave our district better off than when I started this journey. As a board member we hold a great responsibility to the schools and the community that makes of the schools. I hope to embody the ideas and values of the people I represent.

What Is one thing you would change about the schools in St. Joseph?
I would like to see more opportunities for students to get involved. More after school programs/activities to engage the students and build well rounded individuals.

What are the most pressing issues facing the district?
The issue most pressing is the TIF district. It could potentially benefit or hurt the schools from a financial standpoint. It could make it more difficult to hire/retain quality staff. The TIF district could also increase our declining student body population.

What is the best thing about the school in St. Joseph?
The best thing about the St. Joseph schools are the people who make them up. We have strong leadership in current board/superintendent/principal, quality teachers, caring/active parents, and kids who represent those values.

Why should people vote for you?
People should vote for me because I am an active member of the community. I have kids who attend the middle and grade schools. I want to continue to provide solutions and ideas that would help better our schools and kids futures.

How will you make sure you work for the public and are accessible to your constituents?
I will provide and email for contact and would be open and willing to meet with any community member who has questions or concerns.

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