For decades, some in Jefferson City have argued the public school district should have a second high school.
New Superintendent Larry Linthacum said he heard similar comments 20 years ago when he was teaching in the JCHS business department, and serving as an assistant football and basketball coach.
"Every one has a different opinion on it," he said last week. "I'm formulating one along the way - and there will come a time when I say, "This is what I believe, and the reasons are A, B and C.
"We want to give kids opportunities - that's why we're in education - and we want to have classroom environments that are conducive to learning."
But that can be accomplished successfully whether a high school has 3,000 students, 2,400 or 800, he said.
"There's pros and cons to each," Linthacum said. "The bottom line is: Are the learning environments conducive to learning?
"(And) you've got to weigh the pros and cons while you're still being a good steward of the patrons' money - because there's a price tag with each."
He noted having two high schools offers more students a chance to participate in club activities, fine arts performances and sports. And classes likely would be smaller.
But two complexes have greater costs, with more utilities and personnel costs.
Last fall, the district's Long-Range Facilities Committee recommended the district build a second high school, renovate the current high school complex, add a 12th elementary school and add classrooms at Callaway Hills Elementary.
Before Linthacum arrived, the seven-member school board hired Stifel, Nicolaus and Co. Inc. to serve as an advisor on the various financial options to be considered for those proposals. They told the board during a work session last Monday that all of the committee's recommendations likely carries a $140 million-to-$160 million price tag.
Depending on when the issue is placed on a ballot and how the financing is done, the Stifel report suggested a needed tax increase ranging from 60 cents to 80 cents for each $100 of assessed property value.
For homeowners, a 60 cent levy increase would cost an extra $57 a year on a home valued at $50,000; $114 a year on a $100,000 home; $171 for a $150,000 home (which school officials said is the average price for all homes in the district); and $228 a year on a $200,000 home.
If the tax increase were 80 cents, that would mean a $76 annual hike for a $50,000 home; $152 more for a $100,000 home; $228 for a $150,000 home; and $304 more each year for a $200,000 home.
"Our tax levy here is $3.69 (per $100 assessed value) - and that's quite a bit lower than the state average" for all public school districts, Linthacum said, "so you only have so many dollars and cents to work with.
"Folks need to see the value in that if you're asking to raise the taxes - I've got to be able to justify why, because there's not many people in Jefferson City, probably, who think that they're not paying enough taxes now."
Last week, the school board decided to wait until next year to place an issue on the ballot.
Linthacum said he will make a recommendation, but didn't set a personal deadline for doing so.