"Where do we go from here?"
We posed that question in this forum more than a year ago, after voters defeated a proposal by the Jefferson City Public Schools to build and operate a new high school.
Specifically, voters in April 2013 rejected a proposed 55-cent tax levy increase to replace the existing high school with a new facility on Missouri 179, at an estimated cost of $79 million.
The most vocal opposition came from a group that favored two public high schools.
At the time of the vote, high school enrollment was 1,891 students and enrollment at Simonsen 9th Grade Center was 643. Enrollment when the latest school year began in September 2013 was slightly higher - 1,938 at the high school and 680 at Simonsen.
A former superintendent contends research puts the optimum high school student population at about 1,000 students.
Members of a facilities planning committee now are back at the drawing board.
The three options now being explored are:
• Renovating and expanding the existing Union Street campus at an estimated cost of $95.7 million.
• Renovating the existing campus, about $40 million, and building a new, second high school, estimated at $76.4 million.
• Building two new high schools at a cost of about $155.9 million.
Although many thoughts and questions come to mind, let's focus on two immediate issues.
First, we encourage district patrons to be open-minded in investigating these options.
The previous proposal - its scope and costs - is a factor, but it must not become the most important factor in evaluating new options.
If patrons already have made up their minds, the process of analysis and discussion becomes a waste of time and effort.
Second, the focus must be on educating students, not bricks-and-mortar construction.
Buildings do not teach; they are resources that provide educators and students with the environment and opportunity to facilitate learning.
Parents and patrons want to know how their tax dollars will help educate their children, who will become our future employees, co-workers, neighbor and community leaders.
We look forward to spirited, informed community discussion about which option optimizes education for students.