February 27, 2026 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

St. Joseph Middle School announces honor rolls

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019

7th gradeHIGH HONORS Logan Allen Owen Baltzell Payton Carter Maya Chahine Rachel Divan Sadie Ericksen Joseph Frasca Addison Frick Logan...

SJO board approves back to school plan

July 27, 2021

July 27, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden High School has created a plan for the 2021-22 school year. A plan that is subject to change....

Live at SJO school board, Oct. 24, 2022

October 24, 2022

October 24, 2022

It’s the special education department and me here at the school board. They are doing a curriculum review. (I seriously...

National Honor Society inducts new members

April 23, 2019

April 23, 2019

On April 22 the St. Joseph-Ogden High School National Honor Society inducted 20 new members. Those students include: Isabelle Brooks,...

Heritage High School Third Quarter Honor Roll

April 27, 2023

April 27, 2023

High Honors: Freshman: Kierra Dunlap, Anthony Happ, Tyler Ingerson, Faith Latham,Isabelle Lawrence, Ethan Lyons, Lukas Miller, Joshua Stierwalt, Leigha Tatar,...

Live at SJO school board, August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

I am here at school board! Greg Smith has volunteered to drive extracurricular. There’s a super long list of personnel...

SJO 2022-2023 1st Quarter Honor Roll

October 28, 2022

October 28, 2022

FRESHMANAlexander, MatthewBeals, JosiahBlackburn-Kelley, TimBlackburn-Kelley, TimeraBrooks, BellaCoffey, ChristopherDaly, NathanEricksen, KatherineGossett, JeffreyHale, CharlesHayes, CoyHood, BryannaHuckstadt, AmeliaJackson, NickMcKinney, EmmaPreston, GraceRay, GrahamRetz, LanceReynolds, JaxsonSexton,...

SJO seniors earn $2 million in scholarships

June 14, 2019

June 14, 2019

The senior class at St. Joseph-Ogden High School received $2 million in scholarship money. Principal Gary Page told the Board...

School making changes to parking lot availability

July 4, 2024

July 4, 2024

St. Joseph Grade School is making some changes to the availability of its parking lot. The district recently placed letters...

SJO Honors Night Winners- 2022

May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022

National Merit Scholarship (commendation) – Mara Burkhalter and Payton Jacob IPC Scholar Athlete/ IHSA Scholar Athlete award- Ava Knap and...

Live at Heritage High School Board March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

I am here at Heritage School Board. My dog ate my computer charger so I’m on chromebook instead of my...

St. Joseph Grade School updates parents on COVID concerns

August 31, 2021

August 31, 2021

Fifty-five students from St. Joseph Grade School are in quarantine for exposure to COVID-19. Forty-two of those students are related...

Hallett is new SRO in place at St. Joseph, PVO schools

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Hallett has always held the police in high regard. “As a child, I remember having...

Comments
Leave a Reply