August 29, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Live at SJO school board, Dec. 17, 2024

Now I am here.

They were apparently in closed for a while. #idkwhattheywerediscussing #itsalllegal

They are discussing facility project updates now.


Here’s what I am here for. TIF!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s Superintendent Brian Brooks’ take.

Brooks asked for a plan. To see what the village is going to do with it so the board can fully support it.
They gave him a letter discussing residential and commercial development. Brooks is saying they didn’t have a hard copy of plan at that time. #stilldont.

“I think residential development would be very positive for any of our three towns,” Brooks said.

“As far as the percentages go, neither side has signed off yet,” Brooks said. “I think it’s fair.”

Brooks said new commercial he asked for 10 percent, but the village countered with one.

“I think the new residential percentage is very fair,” Brooks said. “25 percent is the most common high.”

Brooks saying the communication this time has been 100 percent better than the last time they attempted the TIF.


Crider is saying public support is split at best. Brian agreeing and saying that having the schools on board would be in the village’s best interest. Brian saying he appreciates the village including the schools in the conversation.

Board members discussing how they feel the new commercial percentage is low and the new residential won’t be enough to pay for new students that could possibly come.

Brooks discussing what money from the TIF could be spent on. “If we add 50 to 75 kids we aren’t looking to expand the building. We may need more teachers.” TIF could basically only be spent on building things, not teachers. They would have to move money around, ect.

Les Hoveln brought up that the district wouldn’t want to have to raise taxes on residents because of the TIF.

Brooks saying they were told by the TIF administrator that no one would develop here without a TIF. Monticello and Mahomet aren’t doing TIFs. I can speak on Monticello #piattcountyjournal.

They don’t do a TIF. They have an amazing economic developer that works with FOR the city and they do a grant program for businesses in their downtown. But Monticello isn’t paying developers to build houses there.

Les Hoveln got drafted to serve on a TIF committee between the taxing districts.

Spanish department update: Three different paths in terms of options. 1. We had a promising interview today. If that works out we would have a Spanish teacher. Option 2. Go virtual online. They are discussing what online would look like.

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

Longview Bank helps area schools

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

Longview Bank is helping local schools. The bank donated $2,500 to eight school districts. Shiloh, Villa Grove, Unity, Heritage, St....

SJO expected to vote to issue bonds for facility upgrades

June 9, 2021

June 9, 2021

Tonight at 6 p.m., the St. Joseph-Ogden Board of Education will meet to discuss issuing Taxable General Obligation School Bonds...

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...

Senior Homecoming Court Spotlight… Bailey Dowling

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Bailey Dowling is honored to be on the Homecoming Court. “It’s pretty cool being on homecoming court...

‘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...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade honor roll

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

8th Grade Honor Roll Barrowman, Kylie Bartlett, Guinevere Blackburn-Kelley, Timera Blackburn-Kelley, Timothy Campbell, Shelby Coffey, Christopher Daly, Nathan Dwyer, Caleb...

SJO 4th quarter honor roll

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

FRESHMENAden, CarolineAtwood, McKenzieBell, AdalynClark, WadeCoffey, ChristopherCrozier, CadeDaly, NathanDwyer, CalebFitch, ParkerFranklin, WilliamGoodwin, BrandonHale, CharlesHardimon, EricaHollingsworth, BraydenHood, BryannaHouchens, BrysonJackson, NickJohnson, JordanKates, MalachyMcComas,...

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...

SJO second quarter honor roll

January 13, 2022

January 13, 2022

FreshmenAllinger, OliviaAltenbaumer, JaredBirt, EliBirt, MilesBowlin, ChazButts, LandenChatterton, SarahCoffey, HaydenFisher, JackFrerichs, LylaGriebat, JoeHarms, BrodieJohnson, SethJones, DylanKrall, AidenLacey, AbigailLackey, LoganMarschke, AudraPalmer, ChayseReifsteck,...

SJO first quarter honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

Freshman Acosta-Reyes, YadielAlbrecht, SamuelCastro Gutierrez, BrendaEnnis, JamesonGaines, LeahGarrett, ElijahGeorge, GunnarHuls, MorganHundley, AidenIkemire, BrynnJackson, FaithJones, WaylonLewis, JaydonLyttle, AvriannaPalmer, TrippWarns, ShelbyWright, CameronWright,...

Maxey named to SJO Board of Education

June 23, 2020

June 23, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden School Board has a new member. The Board of Educated voted to fill a vacant position with...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th Grade High Honor Roll

November 2, 2021

November 2, 2021

Ames, Trevor Beyers, Kaitlyn Bird, Emily Brooks, Addison Bytnar, Sara Campbell, Shelby Carlson, William Childers, Adelyn Coffey, Christopher Evans, Callie...

Wentzloff brings Lurch to life in Addams Family

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Lili Wentzloff knows how to portray a character with few words. She is portraying Lurch, the butler of the creepy...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade honor rolls

January 19, 2022

January 19, 2022

ST. JOSEPH MIDDLE SCHOOL —  2nd Quarter, 2021 8th Grade High Honor Roll Ames, Trevor Barrowman, Kylie Barrowman, Lexie Beyers,...

Comments
Leave a Reply