School board purchases land for new high school

Plan must still be approved by voters

October 1, 2012 at 4:43 p.m. | Updated October 1, 2012 at 4:43 p.m.

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.
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.

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.

Upcoming Events