This year was a rough year for Jefferson City's school district - from teachers, parents and students airing public complaints to lawsuits and resignations.
In our newsroom staff's annual poll, we chose this as our top story of 2014, narrowly topping St. Mary's move to a new, state-of-the-art $218 million hospital.
What follows are summaries for our top 10 local news story picks of the year. Do you agree or disagree? Are there stories that shouldn't be on the list? Stories that aren't on the list that should be? Let us and other readers know by posting your comments at the bottom of this article.
1. JCPS woes
In 2014 the Jefferson City Public Schools experienced a rocky and tumultuous year - one that was marred by complaints about challenging teaching conditions, lawsuits filed against the district and, ultimately, the early retirement of Superintendent Brian Mitchell.
The bad news started in February when architects appraised all the district's facilities and gave East Elementary School a score of 57.4, putting it in the "borderline" category - below "satisfactory" or "excellent."
Last summer, more than 60 students, parents and teachers attended a 3.5-hour-long coffee hour to air complaints about plummeting teacher morale and a lack of discipline in the schools. Also last summer, parents started to come forward with concerns about safety conditions in the elementary schools. Observers of the district - including many retired teachers and graduated students - started to raise concerns that JCPS was seeing a steady decline in the experience of its professional staff.
A current and former teacher filed separate lawsuits against the district, alleging age/sex discrimination.
JCHS Principal Jeff Dodson resigned in September, and Mitchell weeks later Mitchell announced he would retire early at the end of the school year. The announcements didn't quell community concern. In mid-October a large crowd complained to the Board of Education about dangerous and disruptive students, while others asked school leaders to carefully consider the needs of children with disabilities.
Weeks later, the district reassigned Moreau Heights Elementary School Principal Stacey Goodwin and named Stephen Saak the interim principal. By December the Board of Education had concluded its search for a new leader, hiring Larry Linthacum, superintendent in the Maryville district.
2. St. Mary's hospital moves
It was a big year for SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Jefferson City (SSM). Not only did the organization go through a brand change, but it also moved into its $218 million new facility.
SSM staff were able to complete the big move ahead of schedule and under the estimated budget. The ground-breaking for the new hospital was in 2012 and construction began shortly after. It is a 375,000-square-foot facility with another 90,000 square feet for office space.
There were plans to donate the older complex to the state so Lincoln University and the State Technical College of Missouri in Linn could take over a part of it for nursing and medical-related educational programs. However, Gov. Jay Nixon in June vetoed the funds needed to renovate the facility, and the administration stopped negotiating with St. Mary's over the terms of the donation. The possibility of rekindling the deal was never mentioned in the Sept. 10 veto session.
Hospital officials are working with its real estate agent, and exploring options on how to use the old building. It is for sale, and there are no firm plans for the property at this moment.
3. NAACP march
Fears of disruptive behavior or violence stemming from a December NAACP march from Ferguson to Jefferson City never came to fruition, as neither protesters or counter-protesters caused disruptions.
Concern heightened after marchers went through Rosebud, where they were met with counter-protesters yelling "Go home NAACP" as well as racial slurs. Someone broke out a window in the back of an NAACP tour bus. Even before that, the Missouri Governor's Mansion cancelled its annual candlelight tours set for Dec. 5, the day the NAACP arrived in Jefferson City. Living Windows, another annual holiday event, drew a sparse crowd that rainy night.
National discontent over the fatal shooting of a black teenager by a white police officer in Ferguson, as well as other similar incidents, led to the NAACP march. The "Journey for Justice" culminated with about 150 people rallying at the Capitol for police reform.
4. Two high schools
Serious conversation developed in 2014 regarding two high schools for Jefferson City Public Schools. The 40-member Long-Range Facility Planning Committee received cost proposals in May and held public meetings in October.
The 20-year plan includes more than just the two, 1,500-student high school campuses. The favored option would renovate the 609 Union St. location for about $40 million and build a new campus near the intersection of Mission Drive and Missouri 179 for $76.4 million.
If approved by voters in the future, additional elementary schools, improved safety and upgraded operations would also enhance local learning. Demographers predict the district enrollment, currently about 8,900, will grow by more than 500 students in the next decade.
5. Conference center rejected
In April, the Jefferson City Council voted 9-1 to reject conference center proposals from the Jefferson City-based Farmer Holding Co. and the Hannibal-based Ehrhardt Hospitality Group after nearly two years of a proposal process.
The proposal from Jefferson City-based Farmer Holding Co. included a 61,000-square-foot conference center to be located within the Capital Mall, with a 127-room hotel attached and a total conference center cost of roughly $14 million. The hotel itself would have cost just under $14 million. The proposal from Hannibal-based Ehrhardt Hospitality Group included a nearly 45,000-square-foot conference center in the 300 block of West McCarty Street, with a 150-room hotel attached. The conference center would have cost $13.8 million and the hotel itself would have cost $15 million.
Though the concept is not being actively pursued now, the portion of the lodging tax dedicated for that purpose is continuing to collect money monthly. The fund currently has about $2 million and is expected to raise about $9 million.
6. Joyce wins re-election
Americans are used to national groups spending large amounts of money for, or against, incumbent lawmakers, governors and presidents. But spending nearly $300,000 to unseat a trial judge in one state's capital county?
The Washington, D.C.,-based Republican State Leadership Conference (RSLC) contributed more than $304,000 to its Missouri political action committee, in October and November - and only $10,000 of that was given to a campaign other than the Cole County race between incumbent Presiding Circuit Judge Pat Joyce, a Democrat, and Republican Brian Stumpe, the elected Jefferson City prosecutor.
The RSLC gave $100,000 directly to Stumpe's campaign, and spent the rest on postcard and TV advertising questioning several decisions Joyce had issued in recent years and encouraging voters to reject her re-election bid. She won by a 1,343-vote margin out of a total 22,781 votes cast.
In November, an RSLC campaign report filed with the Internal Revenue Service showed billionaire Rex Sinquefield, Westphalia, gave $300,000 to the RSLC on Oct. 9, although the national group said no contributor can specify how a donation is used.
7. Capital Region addition
Capital Region Medical Center's (CRMC) expansion is slated for completion during the summer of 2015.
The expansion will add 120,000 square feet to the hospital's current campus on Madison Street, increasing space by a third. It will improve access for outpatient services and house specialty physicians. The addition will also include therapies, a pharmacy, radiology and a breast center.
The project is estimated to cost $37 million. Construction started with a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 27, and several dilapidated and condemned structures were purchased, demolished and absorbed by the project.
Hospital officials believe the project will bring job growth, economic development and neighborhood improvements to Jefferson City.
8. Multipurpose building
The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission is pursuing a partnership with Lincoln University to fund a multipurpose facility to serve residents and students.
In December, the Jefferson City Council agreed 8-1 to make a $1.5 million line of credit available for the construction of the facility to allow for a larger, four-court facility with an elevated walking track. The facility also would include office space, pre-function space, locker rooms and a basement, as well as a university fitness center and game room. The total project is projected to cost between $11.5 and $13.8 million, and between parks and the university, they have $10.1 million in funding of their own.
The facility also likely will be used to attract out-of-town tournaments, which officials hope will cut costs of ongoing operations. The Parks and Recreation Commission still has to finalize an agreement with the university, which is currently being negotiated.
9. Lafayette Street interchange
Work started in December for a new interchange at U.S. 50 and Lafayette Street.
The $20.3 million project, which is expected to be finished in 2016, will add four ramps off 50 to Lafayette, with the hopes of making it easier to get from the highway to Lincoln University and Jefferson City High School.
The project also adds a lane in each direction on the Whitton Expressway from Monroe Street to Lafayette Street and from Lafayette to Clark Avenue; and rehabilitating, replacing or constructing six bridges along the corridor.
Missouri Department of Transportation officials said this is the last major transportation improvement project scheduled for the Central Missouri region due to the severe decline in funding for state road and bridge projects.
10. Cole County zoning
Cole County voters rejected a proposal in August to adopt countywide zoning in what turned out to be a tight race.
The issue failed by less than 1,000 votes, with 7,391 votes, or 47.09 percent, voting in favor of zoning and 8,305, or 52.91 percent, voting against zoning .
In Jefferson City the measure was approved in all but two precincts, but in the county only one precinct voted for it.
Proponents said if it was approved, zoning would help to keep things such as adult sex shops and scrap yards from encroaching on unincorporated areas. They also pointed out even if the measure was approved by voters, a final plan would eventually have to be developed and sent to the County Commission for final approval.
Opponents said the proposal lacked specifics and they disliked the fact the County Commission would have control over zoning. They also felt zoning would only help the interests of area real estate businesses.