Big crowd at school forum largely silent

hater1234 5 months ago

I do not like big crowds so I chose not to speak, but I did tell Dr. Mitchell I was in favor of 1 new high school. I have 4 children currently enrolled in JCPS but when I moved here, I thought 150 in a graduating class was too many students let alone 500 because that is not what I was accustomed to but took the chance anyway. It was the best decision as our kids are thriving in this district. Some say a new single HS integrating freshman would be too many students. What number is too many? Just because some are accustomed to a particular school size (as I was) doesn't mean a larger size is detrimental. As long as the new HS is able to expand if there is a growing need is what matters. Just because the school population would be different than the size some think it should be doesn't mean it's bad or wrong. It's just different. A change. From what I observed, the group that wants 2 high schools doesn't even have any children that CURRENTLY attend any of the Jefferson City Public Schools. That in itself speaks volumes.

rollnthndr 5 months ago

It doesn't matter if they have children attending schools in the JCPS system. They are taxpayers and will be asked to pay increased taxes to support any proposal put forward by the school board. This will effect the growth in this community for years. You mentioned it "speaks volumes". What do you believe it says about them?

hater1234 5 months ago

It says there was a definite generation gap and the people that may have had kids attend the school many years ago are the ones that were worried about some money. The ones that currently have kids attend the school are the ones that want the best for the kids even if it means a little extra money. I'm sure that older generation thought about what was best for their kids years ago when their kids attended as well.

hater1234 5 months ago

Excuse me, the "it says" in my reply was an error.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Did you offend the moderator like Connor did?

connor 5 months ago

No Lifer he offended me actually and it wasn't even over one of my comments but by deleting a comment another poster made while allowing other comments to stay that were much much worse. Not that the last incident was any where near the first either. I also dislike the pick-n-choose method the so called commenting rules are enforced in a biased manner as well.

mikemojc 5 months ago

I wish I would have been able to attend lat night. The school board stated before that they intended to schedule 'a number' of these forums. Have they scheduled the next one, yet?

I've had 2 children graduate from JCHS, and have a Freshman currently attending. I do think all parties concerned would be better off if the school board would move forward with a 2 high school plan, but am looking forward to animated discussion of the Pro's and Con's of a 2 high school system compared to the boards current mega replacement school plan.

backesmarc 5 months ago

Which "all parties concerned" would you be referring to? The students? The taxpayers? The teachers?

The One School plan is the most cost-effective for the taxpayers, provides the absolute best learning environment of any option on the table, and creates a professional development environment that will benefit the teachers.

So it seems that all parties involved would be best served by voting yes on the current proposal on the table.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Talk to the realtors. They will tell you that people who come to Central Missouri from out of state find out that our town has only one hugh highschool, and then they look to Columbia or the smaller communities around here to live. Realtors will tell you that the one high school is holding down growth and home prices in this town.

backesmarc 5 months ago

Uhh - ok. Considering we have a Realtor on the school board and I've talked with the owners of the #2 Real-Estate company in JC - I think I or the SSSC committee would have heard that loud and clear sometime in the last 3 years. Truth is, we haven't, because it isn't the case.

The reasons people aren't moving to Jefferson City are numerous and complex. To say that because we have one school is the reason is foolish and a gross over-simplification of the issue.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Talk to the people who actually sell houses to clients. The owners don't know what is going on. The realtor on the board is a nice guy, but he is all about "keeping the peace" rather than making the hard decisions and doing the hard work to do what is best for the students and the community. He is another "status quo" leader- just keep things they way they are and let's not rock the boat. Change one megaschool for another one.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

Metro acedemic (STL), Clayton, Lincoln College (KC), Central High(Springfield), Marquette ( Chesterfield), Kirkwood, Park Hill, Lindberg(STL), Rock Bridge(Columbia), and West ( Ballwin). Marc, you know what they have in common, they are smaller than JCHS, I don't care how they were ranked, alot of these schools have been cut in half? I went to West so I do not understand the thought process of making another MEGA school Rob

JEvans 5 months ago

I attended the school board meeting last night and was surprised to hear that the "sale" of the existing buildings to LU and Linn State are actually "lease-purchase" deals in which the JC School District will continue to own the structures until all of the lease payments have been made by the buyers. This was the first time I heard or read anything about the nature of the "sale".

In short, this means the taxpayers will be financing the purchase. It also means that there will be some on-going costs to the taxpayers while the structures are leased. How material those costs are and exactly what they are is unclear at this time. It is also unclear to me the length of the lease period. I asked one of the board members to ensure there is full disclosure of the terms of the deal and what the related costs will be during the leasing period. He indicated he would.

In Dr. Mitchell's letter to the staff on December 3, 2012 there is no mention of a "lease-purchase" arrangement. The deal is characterized simply as sales of the assets.

If the school board wishes to further improve - and maintain - the trust of the taxpayers there must be full transparency.

backesmarc 5 months ago

There is no lack of transparency. The press conference and subsequent news releases specifically stated that the full transfer of the properties was contingent on the bond and levy issue passing and on Lincoln and Linn State fulfilling their financial obligations once that occurred.

That's not a negative, that's actually the most fiscally and prudent financial route to take. You can't sell buildings that aren't up for actual sale yet, and you had better not sell buildings that the other side hasn't or isn't paying for.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

I do not know why we the tax payers are underwriting the improvements that the state should be paying for at Lincoln, or Linn Tech? Our parents and the current tax payers have built and paid for every building over at JCHS, and I feel we, and the kids will be losing on this deal? Jefferson Bank, Mid America Bank, Heimrickes Farm LLP, I am not against people making money, but I feel there is more to this story? Rob

Littleinvestor 5 months ago

Normally with a lease-purchase, a charge for interest is in the cost, paid for by the one that will end up with the property. The seller does act as a lender, but earns the interest. And if there is a default, I think the normal foreclosure process is circumvented and the seller just gets the property back.

JEvans 5 months ago

If that is the case, then the Board needs to disclose it. If an interest charge is not included in the lease purchase agreement, then the taxpayers should also know that. Full transparency!

JCLifer 5 months ago

How many times do we tax payers have to pay for that property?

hater1234 5 months ago

I am a taxpayer, and I feel paying a little more taxes is worth it to give children a more innovative school that will give more options to the kids. These options that will be there can't be seen by some now because they can't see past a little extra money. To me, giving children the best up to date and advanced education is PRICELESS.

backesmarc 5 months ago

Uhh...the taxes for the schools haven't been raised since 2003.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

Its not the money, it is the enrollment numbers, and future enrollment! The Simonenson building was built 99 years ago, it sure works today? Boy we sure are dropping the ball on the current JCHS? That current old building must be just plum wore out! Rob

hater1234 5 months ago

Rob as I said in my previous post, WHAT number is too big? I used to think a graduating class over 50 students was too big. The student body now is fine to some, too big for others, and too small for people other than that. We could argue about what the number of students "should" be. And that number is different than others. Now Rob let me ask you again, WHAT STUDENT NUMBER IS "TOO MANY"?

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

800 in my class of 1975, thats to big, The school district cut our enrollment by 1/2 with the addition of a new high school 2 years after I had at graduated at Parkway West. We had an enrollment of 2200, 9-12, if you add in the 9th graders here in JC you have 2472 student? All these academies sound fun for the kids, specializing in this, or that! How many juniors in high school know what they want? How many college freshman know? The oppurtunity to grow in programs Sports, Cheer Leading, Student Goverment, Debate, and Band? I was second and first string in Band, combine 3 JR Highs into one, 3rd string, and called it quits? To many faces competing for to few spots, with not enough time to bloom? I guesss these little acadamies will have all these oppurtunities, or will it stem from one location? 1400 kids in one location is plenty! Just take a look at the top 10 high schools in Missouri, they are not 2500 mega schools. Rob

backesmarc 5 months ago

Wow Rob - what a great argument. Let's want and give the best to Jefferson City students. Let's force them to attend high school in 60 and 100 year old buildings.

Also - you may want to ask the teachers, faculty, and staff at Simonsen whether it "sure works today".

JCLifer 5 months ago

Jefferson City- "Feel the History".. Funny how historical preservation is so important for private realestate owners, but when it is the public money the older buildings are not worth a thing and we have to build brand new.

The current high school and Nichols Career Center would be very nice if it were remodeled and had half as many students that are crammed into it now.
Our parents and grandparents worked hard, paid taxes, and built those buildings. They are no where near ready to be abandoned. They just need some remodeling and maintenance. The biggest problem with them now is that they are way over crowded to teach as we now know how to teach for the 21st century.

You want to throw away the tax dollars our parents paid for them, and then you want us to pay more tax dollars so that Lincoln and Linn can have them, and you want us to pay even more tax dollars to build another pressure cooker megaschool? You think we are crazy?

The megaschool plan to be built on the most expensive land in town is a bad idea. Build a cheaper moderate high school half the size somewhere cheaper, and remodel the existing school for half as many students. That would undoubtably be the lowest cost alternaitive. However, proponents of the megaschool are conveniently forgetting that if we keep the current high school, they will not need several million to build a megaschool. They will need a lot less, and will need half the land. If they buy land for half as much somewhere else, they will save even more money.
The voters are not as dumb as you think they are, They know when smoke is being blown, and it is being blown a lot lately.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks JC and Mike! Rob

mikemojc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Time for a new capital building. Should probably let those folks in Europe know they are WAY past bulldozing time. :)

The point is brick an mortar lasts a really long time. Unless there's evidence of structural problems, there's no reason not to make use of the asset that's already paid for.

JCLifer 5 months ago

300-400 students per class. 1500 students maximum on one campus. Smaller is better.

There are some research/evidenced based numbers.

SPEND THE MONEY AND BUILD TWO NEW HIGHSCHOOLS.

hater1234 5 months ago

I used to think smaller was better as well UNTIL my kids thrived in Jeff City Schools. Just like you think those numbers are a good size. Like I said, we could argue about what student body numbers are good and bad. I appreciate your opinion.

JCLifer 5 months ago

It isn't what I think. It is was education researchers have proven time and time again. Google optimum school size.

backesmarc 5 months ago

JCLifer - go research actual DESE data available to the public and you'll find that there's now correlation to # of kids on a campus and academic performance. As a matter of fact, according to the data - it actually correlates the other way.

You're way off on the main driving factor of academic performance at a school.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Which is it? "no(w) correlation", or "it actually correlates the other way" (whatever that means).

You are speaking out of two sides here, and they both cannot be right, just as you cannot be trusted.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

Just take a look at the top 10 High schools in Missouri, they are not 2500 student mega schools! Rob

hater1234 5 months ago

A lot of newer generation is moving farther away for jobs and other interests. The top 10 high schools in MO when people are closed minded and think everyone should stay HERE. How about the top high schools in the NATION, think outside the box!

backesmarc 5 months ago

Rob - so what? Does the fact that they're smaller in total enrollment mean that they're outperforming us academically? Does it mean that their students are superior to our graduates? If you think that, show me the data that proves it.

I've looked at the data. I've researched it heavily. And the truth is that yes those schools have smaller total population / building than we do. But we're outperforming a lot of them and we're paying SIGNIFICANTLY less property tax as well.

Is your argument that "Well. those schools are smaller, we should go be like those schools"? If those schools are outperforming us, then you have an argument. But they're not and so "doing what they do" won't accomplish the intended outcome which is to provide a world-class education to our graduates right here in JC.

BTW - each of the 7 academies will only have 300-500 students in them. That's 66% less per building than the average of the top 53 high schools in the state.

TickledPink 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Outperforming them in what way? Several of these schools have over 99% graduation rate. What's JC's?

backesmarc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Tickled - there's not ONE school in the top 53 schools (total student enrollment) that has a graduation rate of 99%. Check DESE data. Your statement is false.

sancho 5 months ago

I was glad to see how many people attended the meeting. It is great that so many folks took time out of their schedules, a week before Christmas, to go to the meeting. I had heard there will be more meetings scheduled. So it sounds like we will have more opportunities to get information. I also saw on the newjchsdotus website that they are encouraging people to forward questions to them. They will try to add to the frequently asked quesitons (FAQ) section to address questions as they get them.

Rob, is there a website that we can go to to see a list of the top 10 high schools in MO?

hater1234 your point about looking at the top 10 schools in the nation is a good one, but I'll start with MO and go from there. By the way, I had a similar experience to yours. We moved here in the late 80s. I was going to send my kids to one of the catholic schools, but I heard so many good things about the JC public schools we decided to try sending them there. Our 2 kids did great. We never regretted our decision. There were large numbers in the schools, but the class sizes were manageable and the teachers knew their students. Both my kids are teachers now and I credit the JC school district and the excellent teachers they had with being great role models for them. When people talk about Jay Pride, that is what I think about - my kids getting excellent educations here and using that education to be successful, and going on to help others (their students) to do the same.

TickledPink 5 months ago

w w w.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/missouri

I also looked up the top Midwest high schools. The general theme - smaller enrollment, smaller class sizes. In none of the cities I looked at did they have only one mega school. Several of these are magnet schools and are in addition to the regular public school. THIS is my issue. I like the academy idea, but not as the only school in town. Set the academy as a magnet school to compliment the high school.

In all probability, this whole thing is going to get shot down at the polls so all these meetings and articles are likely a waste of time. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen it too many times.

JCLifer 5 months ago

You just know this thing is dead in the water. Too many people are opposed to giving the current school building away, as well as the nice Atkin's Stadium that the sports boosters spent millions on.

Also, folks in this town are really poor and tapped out. The jobs in this town are mostly very low wage. Many residents have seen losses to their family income, and very few have seen raises. Most of the voters are older, on fixed incomes, and do not have kids in the school system anymore. Their own kids have likely moved away years ago to raise their familes elsewhere.

Th biggest reason for failure is the high proportion of familes who send their kids to parochial schools or who home school their kids. They are not going to vote on penny for the public schools.

I see this thing flopping by 2/3 majority unless the school board can somehow build some trust and get off the megaschool plan. They need to purchase much cheaper land and keep/remodel the current high school and Nichols Career Center.

mikemojc 5 months ago

I find that I agree. The Academy academic model sounds workable, but it's NOT dependent on bricks and mortar. I think we need multiple, smaller campus'.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

Hater1234, I already did, if you look at all the High Schools in the United States 2011, and you added 9th graders to our group, you are around the 70th largest school in the country! I guess good old jeff city ought to be about the 70th largest town too! Rob

3633 5 months ago

Most cities have schools where they send the top acheivers into a certain school, perhaps magnet schools, but not all the students. Seems like putting all students in an academy situation will not help all students.I would suggest two schools, East and West and move on, all students deserve a good learning environment. My two kids attented JCHS also and are doing great! Build another school and restore the current on, and also no tax hike will pass on the ballot, I won't vote for it!!!!

TickledPink 5 months ago

This is why we can't have nice things ....

With either option there will need to be a tax increase. We can't remodel the current school and build another with the revenue we currently have. We certainly can't build a massive academy campus with current taxes. If a tax increase isn't approved, we're stuck with what we have now, which is obviously not working.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Very sad, too. It not only hurts our children, but it also holds our community back from being an economic power, with higher wage jobs, steady employment, and a higher standard of living for all.

It is a catch-22 situation this town is in. We continue to spiral downward because of a string of silly decisions related to poor planning, poor execution, and a huge mistrust. We have got to figure out a way to break out of this. I fear if we don't, this town is going to continue to die a slow death as other towns continue to grow and attract our best and brightest students away.

mikemojc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

School tax actually went down some over the last 5 years, just check your property tax receipts. Taxes WILL need to go up to support any new construction.I just hope we (The Patrons) can settle on the best, most efficient plan before the April election cycle passes.

We do tend to shoot ourselves in the foot when we point ourselves down a particular path before achieving some kind of consensus.

"What do we want?!" "Change!" "When do we want it?!" "25 to 30 years ago!" "How do we want to pay for it?!" ::crickets::

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

You raise a good point: What is Jefferson City Public Schools doing to help their gifted students? Those are the students who are going to find the solutions for fixing all these hard problems. What are we doing to help maximize their learning? How will they fit into the academy model?

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

How will special needs students be integrated into the acadmies? Will there be a special academy for special needs students?

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

backemarc, tell me about spending 3.1 million dollars, and I never heard anything about it until it was a done deal? Kids have been gioing to Simonsen since I return to to JC in 1977. Like I said, you put the 9th grades with the High school kids together, and you have one of the largest schools in the state? The city needs two high schools, we needed two high schools back when the board tried to shove 4 Jr highs down our throats back in the late 1970s? To what play against each other to make one grand football team? I want to see my tax money spent wisely, and your thought process on this is exactly why this will not pass! Rob

backesmarc 5 months ago

Well your comments lead me and everyone reading them that you're for two schools no matter what the data or fiscal reason suggest. To blindly say two schools is better than one with no supporting data to back that up is the kind of thinking that has led to Jefferson City being a declining stagnant city.

As far as not hearing about the land purchase or knowing anything about it suggests that you haven't been paying attention to the last three years. This wasn't sprung on voters. This has been a deliberate intentional process that has taken place over 36 months.

The more people hear that (as this article evidences) the more they understand the reasoning, financial sense, and academic promise the current proposal holds to.

JCLifer 5 months ago

Oh good grief...You can keep saying these things but it doesn't make them true.

MO4LIFE 4 months, 4 weeks ago

They bought the land without the voters approval with the voters tax money and that is cool with you backesmarc. Because it is not cool with me and when the tax levy doesn't pass they will have all that land and no voter approval. THEN WHAT?

JCPSDad 4 months, 4 weeks ago

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LEVY IS NOT THE SAME AS THE BOND!!!! The Tax Levy is designed for technology and building security. This has nothing to do with the Bond for the school initiative. After the recent school shooting, I see this Levy as VERY important for this community.

MO4LIFE 4 months, 4 weeks ago

No bond or levy will pass without the two schools that the people asked for when they sent out the survey and then did the old bait and switch by sending out another survey without an option to say you want two high schools. Classic JC We do what we want not what the citizens ask for!!!!!

JCLifer 5 months ago

If the board is dead set on keeping a megaschool, I would like to see a plan for remodeling the existing high school, adding a wing, and building a parking garage if needed. We already own the land. The building is paid-for. It has the brand new multimillion dollar stadium there.

This would be a much better and cheaper plan than just relocating the megaschool out to 179 on that very expensive land.

I would vote to keep the current high school and expanding it a bit instead of building another megaschool and paying all that money for essentially the same thing.

RobHunterJohnson 5 months ago

JC LIFER, I would second that! People say why don't you go to the meetings, because this town is cut and dry before it even gets discussed, just hit a planning, and zoning meeting, or a council meeting! Rob

hater1234 5 months ago

Rob and JCLifer - I can tell which generation you both belong to, and it's not the one that has kids currently in school or in the future. Let your kids' generation decide what's best for their kids.

JCLifer 5 months ago

As long as we are being asked to pay, we have the same right as anyone else to work for the best for our town and see that our tax dollars are not wasted.

backesmarc 5 months ago

We looked at that as a committee. And it was a strong option. The current proposal is better. It provides state-of-the-art facilities, disrupts the learning process for current students less, and allows for the expansion of a higher-education corridor here in Jefferson City with Lincoln and Linn State.

The land on 179 was bought for 27,000/acre which is less than what St. Mary's paid for a similar sized tract of land. It's not expensive land and is perfectly situated and suited for the new school. There's also almost 5 million of improvements that St. Mary's paid for that we don't have to. Once again, the school board and Dr. Mitchell have demonstrated tremendous fiscal prudence for the taxpayer.

MO4LIFE 4 months, 4 weeks ago

@Backesmarc... BS! That is not what voters asked for plain and simple and if you are on the committee you are guilty like the rest of bait & switch do what we say tactics. I have a child graduated from JC one in middle school and one in elementary and this is not what the people want period. Take TJMS and make it JCHS West then take LCMS make JCHS East and then convert the existing high school into a middle school for all the 6th, 7th and 8th graders to attend. Makes more sense than the BS that your committee is trying to steer us into a future that will just screw us all in the end out of a good education when the academy style fails and it will fail. I promise in 5 yrs we will be talking about how bad of a deal this was and how the school bord just did it there way and didn't listen to the public like they havent for the last 30 yrs plus.

backesmarc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Well - call me guilty then. I'm proud to be guilty. This is the best option for secondary education in Jefferson City and the data and numbers prove it out. World class education here in JC, the most fiscally responsible option for taxpayers, and allowing for the expansion of a higher education corridor in JC as well. We'll let the people decide what they want in April.

MO4LIFE 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yep and it won't be a single HS! I predict 70% vote against the levy and the bond.

JCLifer 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I'll bet it is closer to 60/40 AGAINST the bond and the levy due to when they schedule the election. We are going over the fiscal cliff, and many federally-funded state employees are going to lose their jobs. The folks left working will have to absorb Obama's $4,000.00+ tax increase. The majority of residents are barely makung it on their way below average wages as it is. This thing has no chance of passing- especially to throw away the brand new Adkins Stadium and ol' JC for another megaschool.

TrueStory 5 months ago

How is Lincoln going to pay for the school when it is having trouble paying for the bills it has now. They just stole the money its researches use to pay themselves which will stop all research at the university. They are having problems getting students to the school and more problems getting any to actually graduate. Lincoln cannot afford the high school facility unless it is given to them. PERIOD. Which I think is the plan in the first place. JC just wants new facilities. State of the art is old and tired in 5 years like anything else.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

HATER1234? Why should I sit still why you spend my money, I am questioning the application of previous funds the school board has already spent? If you followed me anywhere else on these pages the past couple of years, I have no problem spending money! Just ask Conner, Grace , or JC LIFER! I am willing to pay my fair share! If I am being asked of! I would like to know why we built the Taj Mahal of football stadiums 5 years ago; to sell it? My home is to small, but I have made improvements that my family will never recover, but I am not moving. If I was JCHS, and planning on moving, I would have just thrown out some fertilizer, and some fecue seed on the old ATKINS STADIUM! The expenditure of 3.1 million dollars for some ones farm, and with a couple of banks inflating the price gives me the right to ask of the school board, and The going price at Versailles this week on 118 acre is $167,000. versus 3.1 million here in Jefferson City? This electronic method of debate is the future so you better get used to it! Rob

centerguy56 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Rob....what does the price of land in Versailles have to do with anything????

JCPSDad 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Please do not confuse the Tax Levy with the Bond vote. The Levy is designed for school security initiatives, like cameras and door lock systems. It is also going to be used to help with technology initiatives and upgrades. Whether you support the bond for the new high school or not, I would hope everyone would be supportive of tighter building security for our children and more technology opportunities for them. The levy should be a "no-brainer"......

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

You need to get your message out, at some point in this process the board even blended an elementry school with this new high school? It is called communication! Rob

JCPSDad 4 months, 4 weeks ago

This was what I heard from a district employee - looking at the website and news releases it seems they are tied together as a single initiative solely for the purposes of the new high school. Does someone have more information on this????? Am I correct in belieiving the bond and levy are seperate initiatives????

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

centerguy, it shows contrast! $167,000 dollars is alot to me, so when someone gets something cheaprer than St Marys, I guess we better snap it up? Mr Backes, as for data lets do a little checking, with all these different groups ranking kids its hard to say, so I will go to the two I know about JCHS, Parkway West, I googled MO HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS. Jefferson city is considererd larger than average 10/12th JCHS 16/1, 9/12th PW 15/1, I want you to go look at the results its about the 4th page in for JCHS, and 1st page for PW. All I can say is that they cut their student population in half, and I see the results? So please take a look Mr Backes. I am just an old construction worker with a 12th grade education, and a whole lotta commen sense! Rob

centerguy56 4 months, 4 weeks ago

I can find land for 500 an acre so what.......we are not talking contrast we are talking reality........it is a GREAT site and well worth the money.....it is a 50 year investment!

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

How much does the other side of the road cost? For 100 acres? I don't feel like anyone shopped at all, The Board just signed the check! Rob

backesmarc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Rob - there was site selection committee that looked at over 20 potential sites that met the site criteria. They did this over a period of 6 months. They did their due diligence. This was the best available site in JC with owners who were willing to sell property to JCHS.

sancho 4 months, 4 weeks ago

The price of land in Westphalia has nothing to do with the price of land in Jefferson City. Ask any realtor what are the 3 most important factors in pricing real estate and they will say, "Location, location, location." Supply and demand are also key factors in determining price.

The land the school board bought is in a prime location, near where development (as a result of the new St. Mary's Hospital being built nearby) is happening and will continue. Because of that, St. Mary's is contributing to the construction of roads and infrastructure, so some of those things will be in place if a new school is built there, and the school district won't have to pay for it.

There are not a lot of land parcels big enough to accomodate a new school in Jefferson City. There's probably plenty of parcels that big in Westphalia. So people in Westphalia with 118 acres to sell are going to get less money (a lot less) than people in Jefferson City with 118 acres to sell.

Does anyone know what St. Mary's paid for the land where they are building their new hospital? Thanks.

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Build a smaller school that needs less land (59 acres) and remodel the existing school. Both of those will save considerable money over a megaschool built on 118 acres of PRIME real estate. A smaller school could probably be built on 30 acres, since a new stadium will not be needed (the second school can also use Atkins Stadium).

Instead of buying PRIME acreage, put the second school at Apache Flats or Route C or West Edgewood. Save money and have two high schools.

centerguy56 4 months, 4 weeks ago

where do you come up with 59a ????.....oh wait divide 118 by 2!!....brilliant.....

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Yes. Build a second high school less than half the size of the proposed megaschool and you will probably need about 30 acres.
The prime land on 179 should be used for something more productive than a school. Let a private company come in and build there. We don't have to waste millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to build a megaschool on prime land. A smaller school on 30 acres could be built much cheaper in Apache Flats, Route C, West Edgewood, etc.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

JC, the real problem is now that the school board has bought this ground? I have got to give this a break unless someone replys to the High School rankings! Smaller groups gives more time for hands on for students, from teachers, and from staff! Keep the High school we have, and build another one with room to grow! Think outside the Box Rob

backesmarc 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Rob - quit using a web site returned to you in a Google Search and go download ACTUAL DESE data as reported by the schools themselves.

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Data reported by the schools themselves is going to be fair and accurate? Why don't we just ask the fox how many chickens are in the chicken coop each night?

sancho 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Oops!!! I should have said the price of land in Verssailles. Sorry.

Littleinvestor 4 months, 4 weeks ago

I'd like to know where you can find $500-acre land in MO. Maybe if it is contaminated or something but four years ago my family sold rocky woodland, with lots of land too steep to stand on comfortably, for $1,200 per acre out in the middle of nowhere. I have no knowledge of land values in Jefferson City but land inside any urban area is expensive. Out here in farm country we have to be able to farm the value out of it in order to pay for it.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

You know what centerguy56 and sancho, neither of you even will bat eye at the price of the property? Did the school Board even look at another site? True the school is catching a free ride on some of the road work? The city is pawing all over itself with the Frog Hollow work! The utilities will be brought in for nothing if they build, you two are a couple of YES MEN you would have signed the check for four, or five million if someone told you were getting a good deal! This whole town runs on scratch my back friend. I am still waiting to hear from MR Backes to tell me about the 2 schools and where JCHS really fits into the rankings. Their Algebra level was below the Missouri average on the page I was looking at? Rob

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Scratch my back and waste the taxpayers' money. Meanwhile we are paying Buick tax rates and driving a rusted out Yugo. No wonder no one wants to live here and no decent employers want to locate here.

Wonder how the yacht storage shed is doing at Binder Lake out in the county?

centerguy56 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Rob.....if someone were to show you the REAL benefit of the site purchased and WALK you thru the thought process would you be OK with it or would you still be barking this stuff based on NO information????....if we are YES Men are you and lifer NO men??????

JCLifer 4 months, 3 weeks ago

We are the YES men for building a new high school and remodeling the current one. We are the YES men for TWO HIGH SCHOOLS!

We say YES for our kids and for improving our town!

centerguy56 4 months, 3 weeks ago

are you serious?..........if the committee and JCPS would have proposed 2 high schools you would have been against it!!!....as far as improving this town i have read VERY little you say that is encouraging improvement..........you are not posting on this anonymous blog to see things improve........

JCLifer 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Paying millions of dollars to get nearly the same thing (megaschool) is not improvement. It is just status quo. Wasting the millions that alumni and boosters just spent for renovating Atkins Stadium is biting the hands that feed you.

We deserve much better than what the board is planning to do with our money.

centerguy56 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Lifer: wasting millions of dollars????my understanding is that they recd $ equal to what was spent on the stadium???? Do you have other info?

sancho 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Rob I factor into my decisions what I know about property. I don't buy something because someone says it is a good deal. I do my research, ask questions, and use my experience to come to a decision. As I recall there was a selection committee that looked at potential sites and they had a set of criteria to meet. Can someone point me to where the information about that criteria is posted online? I know I have seen something about the number of properties they considered.

Rob, you stated you have a background in construction. Have you paid attention to the value of land you were building on? My home is in the older part of town, near a blighted neighborhood, and the lot I'm on is valued at $20,000, and it's not even 1/4 of an acre. If someone had bought the land the school board bought, and put a high end subdivision on it, they would get much more than $27,000/acre for the vacant lots.

Rob, you and I are looking at this land transaction from very different perspectives. I respect your research and background, and I expect you to do the same and be respectful of my background, experience and knowledge. I am not a yes man and I would not agree to buy land without thoroughly studying the land, its location, and many other factors.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Sancho, I appreciate your opinion as well, I would have thought that in the last 2 years I would have seen something like A,B, C, in the paper or especially here at the NT blog! I would love to work on your buildings, I have worked this area for a long time, no need to list, but alot of locations in JC and Columbia, and more. The schools in St Louis even work night shift, overtime, all summer to avoid disrupting the students! There is more ways than you can imagine to implement construction on a school. Rob

centerguy56 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I cant wait to hear about your expertise on school construction........

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I can tell you aoiut the heating and the cooling process, and have a very good idea about the plumbing as well, what is your expertise? rob

centerguy56 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Rob: My expertise doesn’t matter. Suffice it to say I am a mature, well educated and knowlegdable citizen who spends time understanding decisions like the board is currently in the process of making....I didnt post about criticizing the Board and their experts on this subject. I don’t understand it all yet but I am willing to only criticize decisions I understand, not ones I don’t!!! 1st item “LAND”. I believe from what i know that the acquistion of the 118 acres that it is a great investment for the school district. I wish they had been able to secure it on an option “pending election” basis but they couldnt. I trust them on that but I would rather have it than not.......i believe those that criticize the site acquistion with limited information would be impressed with its overall value. Access, location, utilities, raw cost and site development cost………….and on! 2nd item “School Construction” your comment “The schools in St Louis even work night shift, overtime, all summer to avoid disrupting the students! There is more ways than you can imagine to implement construction on a school.” My comment to that. When ANY existing school is renovated there is NO such thing as not disrupting the students………..and the cost to minimize that disruption grows exponentially as the disruption is reduced. Fill us in on a example you have witnessed so we can understand how a “Smart School district” has managed that.

RobHunterJohnson 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I sure would like to know what you do? I Have been a Pipefitter/welder in the non union and union my entire life starting back in 1/76 learning to solder on heating, cooling coils, pumps, plumbing, and boiler operation in a 200 room motel! You may be well rounded, and mature, but your existing Building JCHS is not a worn out bldg by no means? Why then LT, and LU be ready to snap them up? Why should the JC tax payers fund statewide improvements. "I wish they had been able to secure an option "pending election" they couldnt. I trust them on that....." That my friend is the definition of scratch my back! Mill Creek Elementry Columbia Missouri, Ashland High School, LC Middle School JC new construction, MU campus numerous locations, MU Rolla, Ft Wood, Newman Center Columbia, Douglas School Columbia, Mexico High School, Lincoln University, School for the Deaf Fulton, Cardiac wings, hospitals, jails, every prisons in the central mo area, chemical, coal, nuclear plants all over the state including State facilities and Federal! "EXAMPLE" Hazelwood one of our competing schools in size has a major renovation coming up this spring and summer! So you see mr centerguy 56, I do have a back ground in the business, I wish the state felt like you do and we would all be busy for a long time! I just want my money spent in a wise manor, something that has not been shown from any of these posts from the supporters of the school board! Center if you went to JCHS, and live here, you best expand your horizon! Rob 57

centerguy56 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Rob:

that is an impressive list of projects you have worked on...........i will do some research on the Hazelwood project to see what it is all about....thanks

Big crowd at school forum largely silent

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