Threat of violence cancels Cahokia school board meeting amid tense union talks
The Cahokia Federation of Teachers Local 1272 took to social media to condemn violence after its leadership was told Monday evening’s school board meeting was canceled due to an unspecified threat.
According to the statement Cahokia Federation of Teachers Local 1272 posted on Facebook, the superintendent’s secretary notified union President Wendy Lochmann roughly an hour before the meeting’s start time that it was canceled “due to a reported threat of violence.”
The school board’s finance committee meeting was scheduled to start at 6 p.m., with the regular board meeting to follow. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the district’s website showed the meetings were canceled, but did not state why.
Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. did not respond to the Belleville News-Democrat’s inquiries.
The threat and resulting cancellation comes amid contentious, months-long contract negotiations and the union making serious allegations against the district. These claims include that the district paid people despite no evidence they actually worked and that it paid an administrator more than $400,000 above their actual salary in fiscal year 2024.
“The Cahokia Federation of Teachers Local 1272 unequivocally condemns violence or threats of violence in any form, against anyone, under any circumstances. There is no place for violence — real, implied or joking — in our schools, workplaces or community,” the union’s Monday evening statement reads.
It later continues, “Denouncing violence does not conflict with advocating for workers’ rights, lawful collective bargaining, collective action or speaking out against unfair, unlawful or corrupt conduct. We can — and must — do both: uphold safety while continuing to demand transparency, accountability and respect for educators.”
The union’s statement urges McCall to report the threat to law enforcement.
Cahokia Heights Police Chief Thomas Trice said district security personnel informed him Monday of some threats that mentioned hurting McCall and people at the meeting. He said he did not have any specifics and the investigation is ongoing.
Last month, McCall told the Belleville News-Democrat that contract negotiations had grown tense. McCall also told the BND then that a recently retired individual who was part of the union during their employment had made a death threat against him. A police report on this instance was filed, McCall said.
Trice said the department has been investigating multiple threats made against McCall and his father, who is the mayor of Cahokia Heights, over the past few months. One of the threats made specifically toward McCall was related to the union negotiations and included racial innuendos, Trice said. He added this is currently under investigation.
Trice said charges can be brought against individuals if threats are determined to be credible. He urged people to remember that violence will not solve contract negotiation issues.
“It’s not focusing on the real issue, which is the best interest of the students,” Trice said.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 5:15 AM.