School board purchases land for new high school

Plan must still be approved by voters

Members of the dais look toward school board member John Ruth as he expounds upon the reasoning for a single high school in the Jefferson City Public Schools system. Officials were at the Mission Road round-about Oct. 1, 2012, to make an announcement regarding the purchase of land and the location of the proposed new high school. Next to Ruth is Dennis Nickelson and Joy Sweeny, both on the school board, Brian Mitchell, superintendent, and architect Cary Gampher. Photo by Julie Smith.

Monday, October 1, 2012

School leaders Monday unveiled plans to construct a replacement high school, saying it would meet the district's need for space "well into the next century." The announcement to faculty and reporters came shortly after the Jefferson City school board purchased more than 118 acres east of Missouri 179 for about $3.1 million.

If approved by the voters, the new high school will be situated east of Missouri 179 and north of Mission Drive.

After examining about 13 locations, both Superintendent Brian Mitchell and Board President Joy Sweeney noted the Missouri 179 location was "our No. 1 priority site." The board was searching for a site between 80 and 100 or more acres.

Mitchell said the possibility of selling the current campus at 609 Union St. to Linn State Technical College and Lincoln University made the land purchase doable. Negotiations for that transaction aren't complete yet.

Read additional details in our morning newspaper or e-Edition for Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012.

More like this story

rollnthndr 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Well I wonder what they will do with the land if voter's don't apporove the April 2013 bond issue? Who are we going to find to buy the land at the bargain price of $26,000 + an acre?

Wonder why the school board did not listen to their patrons when they felt we needed a second high school? The academy approach may be a fine educational tool, but do we want to put all our resources into just one method of educating our students. The article also states that this facility will fulfill our needs "well into the next century". The current high school made it about 50 years. Are we building a high school that will accomodate close to 5 - 6,000 students. There's about 87 years left in this century.

Maybe we need to start with a new school board and superintendent.

JCLifer 8 months, 3 weeks ago

They project the new high school will last more than 87 years into the future because the growth rate of this town is so low. The only people who will be living here will be old retired folks and the very poor. There won't be many kids to educate. Of course the Catholic, Baptist, and Lutheran high schools will continue growing and adding more of their schools. Also, if Obama and his education sidekick Arne Duncan get their way, we will get a couple of Charter schools in Jeff City so we can have it just as good as St. Louis City and Kansas City schools.

Crump 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Why can't this group think about a second high school. We are already the largest school in Missouri, and should look to splitting the system. Are these the same people that haven't figured out that we don't want to own a convention center. Maybe they are in need of a refresher course in the ecconomics of JC. Wake up. Lincoln and Linn Tech are not in a position to purchase anything. We lack sane leadership.

Wetsu 8 months, 3 weeks ago

They have their agenda not the people's agenda. Check out this sight. facebook.com/jcschooltax Our country club school board refuses to consider a second high school because they think it will divide the community and it would mess up their academy building plans. Columbia is building their third high school. Make sure you read each posting completely by clicking read more. There are comments you need to see and links. Pass it on.

earlsmusic 8 months, 3 weeks ago

lol

GoodSolutions 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Are you willing to raise your taxes enough to cover the costs of two staffs? When I looked at the options, I didn't think the taxpayers of this community would want to pay the taxes to cover two food service staffs, two principal staffs, two custodial staffs.

JCLifer 8 months, 2 weeks ago

People in this community are either too poor or too tight to pay addititional taxes for anything. The working people are barely getting by with the very low wages in this area, and the older rich people will not part with their money to benefit public school kids (their kids go to a private school anyway).

None of this has any chance of passing. It is fun to dream about a growing , vibrant, progressive city with high quality schools, however.

burner_t 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Amen crump! This is not about improving Jefferson City. It is about a school board's desire to become a research tool or data point by taking an an entire high school down the academy road. Career academies really only benefit the high risk students and have been proven to demonstrate no significant improvement in academic achievement. I think it is a worthy experiment just not on a district wide basis. It further's my position that a second high school is needed. For those unfamiliar with a career academy, please google it before you provide a "yes" vote on this grand experiment.

centerguy56 8 months, 3 weeks ago

i am really curious about the academy concept. burner. are you an expert on this concept? I will be waiting to see what the board has to tell us about their plan. I wont be voting until April so i have 6 months to get more info and make a informed decision.

Marc_Backes 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Center,

To read more about the academy concept and see the research and links that go along with it - visit the NewJCHS website and you'll be able to get all the information you want.

JCLifer 8 months, 3 weeks ago

The 179 location is PERFECT for the new West Jefferson City High School!

The land between the Lewis and Clark Middle School and East McCarty will be PERFECT for the new East Jefferson City High School!

A great plan for two state of the art smaller high schools for the Capital City! Sadly, the puckered tight local voters will not approve the school taxes to make ir happen, and the broke state budget will not support capital dollars for Lincoln and/or Linn to purchase the old JCHS campus either.

bigpicture 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Every time the issue of the size of jc comes up, people always talk about two schools. I agree, but look at the big picture. No one ever asks why Holts Summit doesn't have their own district. If New Bloomfield, Wardsville, and Eugene are large enough areas to have their own districts, then why can't Holts Summit? Problem solved, Jefferson City doesn't need two high schools, Holts Summit needs their own!

JCLifer 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Very good point. New Bloomfield and Holts Summit need to consolidate with Southern Callaway County District.

earlsmusic 8 months, 3 weeks ago

You're gettin' silly.

jpfelix 8 months, 2 weeks ago

What about the new stadium facilities? are they going to bus kids over for practice?

GoodSolutions 8 months, 2 weeks ago

They will sell those, hopefully, to Lincoln. Right now, Lincoln does not have regulation track. I heard they wanted the JCHS stadium.

tonto_goldberg 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The JC School District does not own those facilities.

MO4LIFE 8 months, 2 weeks ago

yes they do get your facts right

For1NewJCHS 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Having two high schools financially will be more expensive for this community. You not only will have to hire twice the number of staff and faculty, but each of the schools would have to be equal with all the same amenities at each. Students would only have the choice of maybe three academies rather than the seven academy choices they get in one high school. The new high school will have all the athletic facilities, so there will not be a need to bus kids over to the current stadium. But the bottom line is these new academies will prepare our JCHS students with life skills, so when they graduate they are ready for college or careers.

JCLifer 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Sure two schools will cost more than one. So what? Our kids are worth it! Our kids deserve the very best academics and skills we can give them to prepare them for a highly competitive technological future. Do you really think it is better to cram 6000+ kids into one building? Is that really the best way to educate our future leaders?
The schools could offer different academies and vocational programs, but any kid could attend either school as needed to meet his/her needs. With the aid of technology, classes could be shared and held at both schools at the same time. It is time to start thinking out of the box and also using technology. School isn't the same as it was 40 years ago.
How much practice is held on Atkins Field? I hear the band cannot even access it for practice. Two super stadiums may not be needed- the two high schools may be able to share one facility for the all-important official sports events. They might even be able to use the current stadium. Of course each school would need some practice fields for the lesser sports participants who are not the shining stars of football team.

tonto_goldberg 8 months, 2 weeks ago

We need you on the school board.

MO4LIFE 8 months, 2 weeks ago

There will never be two high schools. Seperate the school and you crush the sports program and put it in an entirely different class and then you have no more powerhouse sports program. Therefore they will not do two high schools. JC is all about SPORTS!!!!

TrueStory 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Two high schools will mean twice the teachers? I thought the number of teachers is student based. I would like the gangs split up. I would like to see less violence. I grew up in a mega school and it is the average student that gets ignored. I would like the teachers to be able to at least recognize a few of the students in the parking lot. I think you would have 2 winning football teams. There are great football players that cannot play because you only have one team. It is so sad seeing all those boys on the sidelines wishing to play......

Gotigers 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Congrats to Columbia for doing the right thing and building a new high school. In my 53 years I have never voted against a bond issue. In the lastest school survey, 70% of the people chose having 2 high schools!!!

Now, not only do we have one of the largest high schools in the state, we are going to bring in the 9th grade and have the LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL in Missouri. Please explain why EVERY school district in Missouri is trying to create small districts except for us.

Sadly, I regret that I can not support this.

ReaderandVoter 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Totally agree with you. This will be my first vote against a school issue.

Sad our school administration is actually giving voters the "It's not fair" excuse for not pursuing a second high school. Never a problem for them when building a new elementary school to leave students in East, West or other older school buildings but suddenly they try to sell us on that lame "it's not fair" argument...

Columbia school administration is on the right track working for smaller schools. This proposal that was not even part of the options presented to the public hearing study groups is just plain wrong.

GoodSolutions 8 months, 2 weeks ago

In Boone County, the Columbia School assessed tax on property was 4.7089 in 2007, 4.7292 in 2008, 4.7717 in 2009, 4.8492 in 2010 and 4.8812 in 2011. In Cole County, the Jefferson City School assessed tax on property was 3.6770 for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Do you think the voters of this school district are willing to pay the kind of taxes they are paying in Columbia?

JCLifer 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Not until Jeffersonians get some better paying jobs. The low pay around here is really hurting the local economy, and it is the reason so many tax proposals are going down in flames. This is just a poor hick town with a poor hick town school system.

rollnthndr 8 months, 2 weeks ago

This future of economic development in this community may very well be dependent upon coming up with a strategy to improve secondary education in Jefferson City. While I support having 2 high schools and I would be willing to support such a plan by voting for the bond issue. Academies are not the only option available, but rather another education teaching method. We need to be diverse in our strategies to serve all the different students. There will be duplication of effort but not too the extent some believe. Academies were developed as an approach to combat drop out rates. We better not forget about the other 90%. Raise expectations of our students as we progress with the new options and require they actually perform at grade level to graduate. Provide more resources to our elementary schools to help struggling students before they get to high school and become disconnected with their education. What we don't need is the school board and supeintendent going against what the community wanted when they surveyed district patrons; 2 high schools. It's time this community pulls together to come up with a plan to serve our kids properly.

For1NewJCHS 8 months, 2 weeks ago

You are right that the majority of people said they wanted two high schools two years ago when the survey took place, but that question was asked before providing a possible price tag. If you look at the survey results from what people said they wanted after they were given an estimate for how much two high schools would cost the percentage of supporters for two high schools went below 50%.

mikemojc 2 months, 3 weeks ago

If I remember correctly, that survey question came from the 2012 'Push Poll' survey. Please re-examine that survey question in the context in which it was presented.

Gotigers 8 months, 2 weeks ago

For1newJCHS--- Why was this option never presented to the public in open sessions? My spouse and I both attended the information sessions and of the 3 or 4 options available, building 1 brand new super-size high school was not one of them.

JCLifer 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Maybe the JCPS Board is trying to do a TRANSFORMATION.

For1NewJCHS 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Gotigers - it is my understanding that building one brand new high school for JC came to light when there was interest from LU and Linn State to purchase the current campus. That inspired a new thought of building one new high school on more land which also would provide better building facilities for the 7 academies. The news release from the district about this is from April 24th.

ThePeopleSpeak 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Spending a ton of money on land, brick, and mortar does not improve schools. Spending money on high quality teachers, reducing student-to-teacher ratios, and following the model of the best national school system in Western Europe does: The Finns.

Rather than paying all this money for one, two, or five new schools, become "Little Finland" and watch the rest of the US beat a path to our door.

Or just aim low like a hick town should and waste more money on eye candy, which we all know will be what will happen.

The academy thing is something, but if you put lipstick on a pig...

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