Freeburg, Illinois

Participants at Freeburg Community Consolidated School District 70’s meeting on Monday night include Superintendent Melanie Brink, third from left, Financial Officer Mark Janssen, fourth from right, and school board members, clockwise from left, Amber Trout, Jamie Smith, President Michelle Foppe, Ed Scheibel, Jayson Baker and Bill May. David Stein was absent.

Education

Freeburg school board seeks to remove a second member, alleging violent threats

Teri Maddox

The Metro East board's action follows a similar move three months ago when it also voted to censure and remove for undisclosed reasons.

Weeds engulf an antique cannon at George E. Hilgard American Legion Post 58 in Freeburg, also known as the Freedom Farm. The property has badly deteriorated in recent years.

Metro East's Freedom Farm plagued by squatting, neglect, crime and controversy

Teri Maddox

The past few years haven’t been kind to the 104-acre property in rural Freeburg. The Metro East American Legion post used to be one of the largest in southern Illinois — and the only one that operated a recreation area. But that's all changed.

The sign outside of Freeburg Elementary School in Freeburg, Ill., is pictured on an August evening.

Education

An Illinois school board moves to have one of its members censured and removed

Kelly Smits

The actions at Monday's board meeting follow several teachers speaking out against Freeberg board member Jayson Baker. In his defense, Baker said he is "proud to stand alone, even if it comes at a great personal cost."

The Collinsville School District Unit 10 Administration Building, Collinsville High School, Kreitner Elementary School, the Collinsville water tower, Collinsville City Hall and the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, photographed on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Collinsville, Ill.

Education

How did Metro East high schools perform in the latest Illinois Report Card?

Meredith Howard

The latest Illinois Report Card provides information about schools across southwestern Illinois. Here’s how metro-east high schools fared in the 2022-23 report.

The front doors of the Freeburg elementary school and a sign to the right.

Education

Freeburg's superintendent tried to resign, but the school board rejected it. Here's what we know

Mike Koziatek

This comes just months after the elementary school principal opted to leave the school district. The principal cited “unfounded attacks, bullying, and professional accusations” lodged against Freeburg School District 70 administrators.