Parents/Guardians,
This morning, Knoxville Junior High initiated a brief soft lockdown due to a medical emergency, ensuring student safety, privacy, and uninterrupted EMS access. All students are safe, the incident was contained, and normal operations resumed shortly after the temporary soft lockdown.
Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you have a wonderful weekend.
This morning, Knoxville Junior High initiated a brief soft lockdown due to a medical emergency, ensuring student safety, privacy, and uninterrupted EMS access. All students are safe, the incident was contained, and normal operations resumed shortly after the temporary soft lockdown.
Thank you for your understanding, and we hope you have a wonderful weekend.
The KJHS breakfast menu for Monday, April 27th has been changed to Bacon Scramble Breakfast Pizza.
Just a Friendly Reminder
Please join us in celebrating the KJHS 8th grade class for promotion on Thursday, May 28th at 7pm in the KHS auditorium.
Feeling lucky? See any KJHS StuCo member or Mrs. McGuire for a chance to win either a $200, $100, or $50 Visa Gift Card.
The KJHS breakfast menu for tomorrow - Thursday, April 23rd - has been changed to Assorted Muffins.
The KJHS Track and Field teams head to Orion this afternoon. The meet begins at 4:00 pm and will be held at Orion High School, 1100 13th St, Orion, IL 61273. Good luck and Go Big Blue!!
We are so proud of our KJHS Student Council!
Eighteen members attended the Illinois Association of Jr. High Student Councils State Convention in Springfield, IL, on April 17–18, where they represented our district with excellence.
Our students donated an incredible 210 pounds of pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House, showing their commitment to service and making a difference. Throughout the convention, they attended general sessions, a formal dinner, district meetings, and break-out sessions with schools from across the state to grow as leaders and learn new ways to serve others.
A special congratulations goes to Brynlee Bowker, who ran for Midwest District Representative. With the support of her campaign manager, Tinley Van Winkle, who did an outstanding job delivering her introduction speech, Brynlee shone. She delivered her speech and answered both informal and formal questions with impressive poise, determination, and energy.
We are thrilled to share that Brynlee was elected! She will begin serving in this role this summer at the association’s Summer Leadership Camp and continue until the State Convention in April of 2027.
Congratulations, Brynlee! We are all so proud of you—and of every student who represented KJHS so well!
Eighteen members attended the Illinois Association of Jr. High Student Councils State Convention in Springfield, IL, on April 17–18, where they represented our district with excellence.
Our students donated an incredible 210 pounds of pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House, showing their commitment to service and making a difference. Throughout the convention, they attended general sessions, a formal dinner, district meetings, and break-out sessions with schools from across the state to grow as leaders and learn new ways to serve others.
A special congratulations goes to Brynlee Bowker, who ran for Midwest District Representative. With the support of her campaign manager, Tinley Van Winkle, who did an outstanding job delivering her introduction speech, Brynlee shone. She delivered her speech and answered both informal and formal questions with impressive poise, determination, and energy.
We are thrilled to share that Brynlee was elected! She will begin serving in this role this summer at the association’s Summer Leadership Camp and continue until the State Convention in April of 2027.
Congratulations, Brynlee! We are all so proud of you—and of every student who represented KJHS so well!
Please join us to celebrate and be inspired by the 8th-grade Pay it Forward projects on Tuesday, April 28, from 5:00 - 5:30 pm. Thank you.
Here is this week's KJHS Newsletter - https://app.smore.com/n/t69fk. Please note the two music concerts next week. If you are free Tuesday or Wednesday evening, head out to KHS and hear our students perform. Have a great weekend!
The KJHS Track and Field teams head to the Wildcat Invite in East Peoria this afternoon. Field events begin at 4:00 pm and running events begin at 4:45 pm. The meet will be held at the Eastside Center, 1 Eastside Drive, East Peoria, IL 61611. Please note - the home bleachers are currently under construction, so spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Run fast, jump high, throw far - Go Bullets!!
Message from the Superintendent - Part 4
Illinois has historically lacked consistent funding systems to make school building maintenance and replacement as manageable as it should be. While neighboring states like Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana have long had more proactive approaches in place, Illinois has only recently begun to offer alternative funding opportunities.
The Knoxville High School, which opened in 2012, is an example of how multiple funding sources can come together to make a project possible. A state construction grant originally applied for in 1998 rose to the top of the list in 2010 and provided critical funding for the project. That grant contributed approximately $19 million, or about 58% of the total construction cost. Although detailed records are limited, the current junior high building was likely constructed through a similar program in the 1970s. That construction grant program is no longer funded, but it played a significant role in helping districts modernize their school buildings.
Around the same time the new high school was constructed, voters across Knox County approved a 1% sales tax on retail purchases. This tax is collected locally and distributed to school districts based on student enrollment. The Knoxville School District currently receives approximately $80,000 per month from this source. These funds are restricted to facility-related expenses and cannot be used for staffing or curriculum. Since implementation, the district has annually applied approximately $700,000 of these funds toward bond payments, significantly reducing the burden on property taxpayers.
Like most Illinois communities, Knoxville relies heavily on property taxes to fund its schools. At the same time, current taxpayers have carried relatively little of the original construction costs for the district’s existing buildings due to the prior grants and 1% sales tax funds.
So, what does this new construction project mean for Knoxville property taxpayers?
The district has taken several steps to minimize the impact on taxpayers:
Utilizing facility sales tax revenue: The Board remains committed to using these funds to offset what must be levied through property taxes. Currently, about $700,000 of the projected $1.375 million annual payment is covered this way, though that amount may fluctuate year to year.
Securing grant funding: The district has obtained two federal grants totaling $1 million to help reduce the overall cost of the project.
Locking in favorable financing: The district was able to secure a strong interest rate, lowering the total cost of borrowing over time.
For property taxpayers, the combined impact of new borrowing and refinancing existing debt is estimated to result in approximately a $0.50 increase to the tax rate.
It is also important to note that without this project, the district would need to invest approximately $15 million to bring the existing Mable Woolsey School building up to code. In either scenario, the district would incur significant costs and take on additional debt. This project not only modernizes district facilities, but it is also expected to generate long-term savings through improved energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.
Illinois has historically lacked consistent funding systems to make school building maintenance and replacement as manageable as it should be. While neighboring states like Missouri, Iowa, and Indiana have long had more proactive approaches in place, Illinois has only recently begun to offer alternative funding opportunities.
The Knoxville High School, which opened in 2012, is an example of how multiple funding sources can come together to make a project possible. A state construction grant originally applied for in 1998 rose to the top of the list in 2010 and provided critical funding for the project. That grant contributed approximately $19 million, or about 58% of the total construction cost. Although detailed records are limited, the current junior high building was likely constructed through a similar program in the 1970s. That construction grant program is no longer funded, but it played a significant role in helping districts modernize their school buildings.
Around the same time the new high school was constructed, voters across Knox County approved a 1% sales tax on retail purchases. This tax is collected locally and distributed to school districts based on student enrollment. The Knoxville School District currently receives approximately $80,000 per month from this source. These funds are restricted to facility-related expenses and cannot be used for staffing or curriculum. Since implementation, the district has annually applied approximately $700,000 of these funds toward bond payments, significantly reducing the burden on property taxpayers.
Like most Illinois communities, Knoxville relies heavily on property taxes to fund its schools. At the same time, current taxpayers have carried relatively little of the original construction costs for the district’s existing buildings due to the prior grants and 1% sales tax funds.
So, what does this new construction project mean for Knoxville property taxpayers?
The district has taken several steps to minimize the impact on taxpayers:
Utilizing facility sales tax revenue: The Board remains committed to using these funds to offset what must be levied through property taxes. Currently, about $700,000 of the projected $1.375 million annual payment is covered this way, though that amount may fluctuate year to year.
Securing grant funding: The district has obtained two federal grants totaling $1 million to help reduce the overall cost of the project.
Locking in favorable financing: The district was able to secure a strong interest rate, lowering the total cost of borrowing over time.
For property taxpayers, the combined impact of new borrowing and refinancing existing debt is estimated to result in approximately a $0.50 increase to the tax rate.
It is also important to note that without this project, the district would need to invest approximately $15 million to bring the existing Mable Woolsey School building up to code. In either scenario, the district would incur significant costs and take on additional debt. This project not only modernizes district facilities, but it is also expected to generate long-term savings through improved energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs.
The KJHS Student Council is excited to attend the 67th IAJHSC State Convention this Friday and Saturday!
For many years, this organization has supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of Illinois by collecting Pop Tabs at the convention. Last year, KJHS brought in the most Pop Tabs of any junior high in Illinois—and we’re hoping to defend that title again this year!
Please send in your Pop Tabs by Wednesday. The winning advisory will be announced the following day.
Current standings:
🥇 McGuire – 1st Place
🥈 Lester – 2nd Place
🥉 Myers – 3rd Place
Let’s finish strong and bring home the title again! 💪
Here is this week's KJHS Newsletter - https://app.smore.com/n/t69fk. Please note that although the deadline to order yearbooks has officially passed, we will have extras that we will sell on a first come, first served basis. Thanks for taking a few minutes to check out the newsletter and have a great weekend!
The KJHS Track and Field teams head to Sherrard today for a meet with Monmouth-Roseville, ROWVA, and the host Tigers. The meet begins at 4:00 pm and will be held at Sherrard Jr/Sr High School, 4701 176th Ave, Sherrard, IL 61264. Run fast, jump high, throw far - Go Bullets!
The 21st CCLC after school program offered by the Regional Office of Education has been CANCELLED for today, April 7 due to the family event this evening at KHS. Any KJHS students planning to attend the after school program will need to make other arrangements. Thank you!
KJHS Yearbook orders are due by tomorrow, April 8, 2026. Yearbooks are $25 and can be paid via cash or check.
Due to the chilly forecasted temperatures for this afternoon/evening, today's JH track meet at Bushnell-Prairie City has been canceled. There will be NO practice tonight as well. Thanks and stay warm!
Come check out a free movie tomorrow evening, Tuesday, April 7 at KHS!
KJHS would like to congratulate the following coaches for some recent accomplishments/recognition/awards:
Amy Hopper, KJHS Cheerleading Coach, was selected as the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association Coach of the Year for 2026.
Jen Bowker, KJHS 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach, was nominated as a Coach of the Year for our area through the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
Brad Hambsch, KJHS 8th Grade Girls and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, was selected to coach a team at the All-State Classic JH Boys Basketball showcase, an invite-only event for 8th grade basketball players from all around the state of Illinois.
Congratulations to all three, keep up the great work, and best of luck next year!!
Amy Hopper, KJHS Cheerleading Coach, was selected as the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association Coach of the Year for 2026.
Jen Bowker, KJHS 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach, was nominated as a Coach of the Year for our area through the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
Brad Hambsch, KJHS 8th Grade Girls and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, was selected to coach a team at the All-State Classic JH Boys Basketball showcase, an invite-only event for 8th grade basketball players from all around the state of Illinois.
Congratulations to all three, keep up the great work, and best of luck next year!!
