Our Opinion: An education goal patrons will support

Whether it's called Option B or Plan B, building a second public high school may be the most viable proposal.

Eighteen members, a vast majority, on a public school planning committee favor a plan, Option B, for two high schools - renovation of the existing high school and construction of a new one.

Two members of the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee for the Jefferson City Public Schools prefer construction of a single high school, known as Option A.

Our readers will recall that district voters in April 2013 defeated a ballot proposal to construct and operate a single high school - which some critics dubbed a "mega-school" - on district-owned property at Mission Drive and Missouri 179, near construction of the new St. Mary's Health Center.

Lessons can be learned from defeat.

The first lesson is resubmitting a similar proposal, Option A, would seem unwise.

A second lesson is the most vocal opposition to the failed proposal came from proponents of two district high schools, options B and C.

A question is whether supporters of two public high schools will - to use the vernacular - put their tax money where their mouth is.

Option B, the renovated and new facilities, would be less expensive than Option C, construction of two new high school.

The committee plans to host a town hall meeting, not yet scheduled, to hear from patrons.

Selecting from among the three options will be a big step, but it only opens the door to what promises to be a long journey hammering out countless details.

Facilities are not the goal; facilities are a resource to provide the best possible education for students, which is the ultimate goal.

Committee members must keep that in mind as they work toward an education goal the community will support.