JC Schools talking with Lincoln, Linn State Tech about high school complex

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Jefferson City Public Schools Superintendent Brian Mitchell said today the district has been talking with officials from Lincoln and Linn State Technical College about developing a "a higher education corridor in the Lafayette Street/Stadium Boulevard area."

A news release said a "major component of the corridor would include the sale of Jefferson City High School and its extended campus — including the Nichols Career Center building and the stadium facilities" — to LU and Linn State.

The news release noted the "conversations regarding the properties and facilities are still in the initial stages."

No final decisions have been made.  And, for any transaction to be completed, Jefferson City District voters first would have to okay a bond issue approving the purchase of around 100 acres of land and the construction of a new high school complex for grades 9-12, but designed around the concept of "academies" that would, in essence, be smaller high school groups within the larger complex.

The new campus would include athletic facilities for all sports, and would be directly adjacent to the new school.

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JCLifer 1 year ago

About time!

gofish 1 year ago

A "concept of "academies" that would, in essence, be smaller high school groups within the larger complex.", sounds very quaint and innocent. What it could mean in reality is socio-economic and academic cliques enforced by the elites. I think it's good to not allow miscreants to disrupt the education of those that want to apply themselves. But there has to be adequate checks and balences to assure that there are equal opportunities without discriminating by ability. Any change can can be good and I look forward to it. But with a watchful eye towards equal access and social equality.

rollnthndr 1 year ago

It seems to me we need 2 high schools. Why do we want to have a school with 2500-3000 kids. Why not two schools serving roughly half the number of students? Provide more opportunites both academically and through extra-curricular activities. Transformation was a much discussed topic a few months ago, and this is another piece of the puzzle. More academic opportunities. If we want this area to grow economically shouldn't we provide more than one option for a public high school? Lets raise the expectations for our youth by providing the resources they need to compete. I'm glad to hear the district is talking with Linn State. Technical education is a piece of the puzzle many in academia do not support. Not every kid is four year college material, but they all need skills to survive economically.

linoge 1 year ago

Question: What were they burning at the Laidlaw landfill (the one by Troop F) this morning? A bunch of people I know who work at Scholastic's Algoa facility were talking about this today. It got so bad that Scholastic started handing out breathing masks to employees who were geting sick on the job. (Scholastic cares about their employees of course but not enough to send them home). The information I am posting here is second-hand info. I was wondering if anyone sould shed light on this. Thank You.

online_editor 1 year ago

I'll pass this along for a reporter to check on.

dontpullmychain 1 year ago

Im afraid they will not allow a second public high school in Jefferson City no matter how badly it is needed IMO they will not let this happen as it will take revenue away from the current high school and the all mighty athletic dept. I fear for my fourth son getting ready to hit the high school as non of my other 3 boys made it out with a diploma. My third son in fact told us after the fact that each day he showed up to school and asked for help from teachers that on a dailey basis more than one teacher told him to drop out of school when he turned 16 as he wouldnt make it and they didnt have time to hold his hand. I understand the teachers have a very hard job and have lots of students to deal with and try to help but I feel they could of went about that situation differently MUCH differently. IMO there are too many students per teacher and our kids are not going to get all the opportunties they need in this kind of environment this city needs a SECOND high school and thats just plain and simple. These are just my opinions but I am absolutely sure I am not the only who feels this way.

usmc007 1 year ago

Having the misforetune in attending Linn state as a service connected African American Marine veteran who was in a hostile learning envirnment of racism daily, only to have Linn State as well as my Va counselor to turn into the Harrasser's due to me reporting the incidents as well as to Strip me of my Chp 31 benefits...& isnt kent brown on the board of curators as well as the representing attorney for Linn State...& the Naacp President is a attorney for the state ...go figure...NICE LITTLE SET~UP...but this is what happens to Adults who has patience & report it~ imagine a teen who doesnt... so NEGATIVE ~BAD~ BAD~ IDEA

johndorsey 1 year ago

There is one high school now. They want to build a new one and sell the old one. All in the name of keeping one high school. How big will this city have to before we relent and simply build a second high school? 60,000? 80,000? 100,000? What is the driving force? Is it sports? Is it band? Is it science? Is it the arts? And how will they account for continued growth of the school population? Keep/refurbish the present school and build a new one. That would get rid of the overcrowding that is sure to take place at the new one. My guess is within five years.

JCLifer 1 year ago

All the research says the optimum, most efficient high school has class sizes of 250-350.

Sell the old hs or knock it down and build two new ones like we did with the middle schools.

wow 1 year ago

Will somebody finally help USMc007? There has got to be something which can be done to help this person resolve their issues with Linn Tech, the NAACP and whomever else is involved in that mess. Please do something!!!!!!

Also....the current JCHS buildings are in shambles. LU would be crazy to purchase these structures in such shape...unless they can get a really good deal...like for free. Also, Linn State has even less use to make such a deal. They've got plenty of land out in Linn to exapnd on...so why waste money on the JCHS/Nichols Career Center site?

I say...build a new high school out on the west side.. Get it up and running then close Simmenson and then send the east side 9th graders to the old high school and the west side 9th graders to the new high school. After the city has attracted more business's and generated more revenue....demolish the old JCHS and build another new HS on the east side of the city...ohhh and don't for get to have side walks leading to and from these new campus sites...but that's a whole other issue.

Gotigers 1 year ago

Thats fine except....all of my family attends school in Holts Summit. So why should they have to attend the 'old' high school while the west end kids get the new. Build it in Holts Summit where it should be--that is a growing area.

online_editor 1 year ago

I removed a post that for some odd reason reacted to something that wasn't said. Perhaps misinterpretation. Nobody had posted anything that told another person to shut up; therefore, an accusation that they did would have only served to bait personal bickering. Hope that sheds light on the removal. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune

usmc007 1 year ago

and the cover up continues....thank you Mr. online editor...but all in all Bad idea for Linn State to be involved with anything that has to do with kids period...So build a New School its gonna come down to that @ some point anything outside of that is just a waste of money. usmc & like i said before whos supporting the troops, or are we just placing the Support Our TRoops magnets on Vehicles like refridgerator decals for Decoration purposes? is that better...

muleman 1 year ago

Convert the Mall into a highschool. Every kid in the area loves to hang out there.

Gotigers 1 year ago

This is not a 1 high school town- Helias is 800 kids, Blair Oaks is closer to JC than Hickman is to Rock Bridge and there is the new lutheran school.

What really gets me is why WASTE $7 million on a new stadium and track and then just leave it? If you want a new school use the same stadium. What a waste of tax payer dollars.

JCLifer 1 year ago

Helias is a very nice-sized school where class sizes are large enough to offer opportunities, but small enough to easily manage and get to know students and serve their needs.

JCHS is way too big. Many students are just a number there. The troublemakers and sports jocks get way too much attention, while the majority of studetns are virtually invisible. Their needs are not being served well, and the school is just too big to manage for good learning.

viktorkowski 1 year ago

I have the perfect solution to make sure the sports program will never take second place to academics at JC. We should build a new school for each grade. one for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Then they can all travel to Adkins stadium to play football and won't have to worry about splitting up the sports program. On a side note how many Presidential scholars have come out of JC so far?

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