Your Opinion: Change boundaries to reduce overcrowding

Dear Editor:

I contacted Mr. Perry Gorrell, Superintendent Cole County R-I and Mr. Kevin Hillman, Superintendent South Callaway R-II. Both said they could handle additional students. Mr. Gorrell told me that he believes that his district could take on another 200 students.

I also contacted Ms. Pamela Murray and Mr. Steve Bruce, both of whom are JCPS board members. Both told me they are unaware of any studies to determine if changing district boundaries, to reduce overcrowding, might be an alternative to burdening taxpayers with the cost of a new high school.

If both bond issues pass JCPS's 4.69 rate will rank it in the top 20 percent of all districts in Missouri. In a few years another bond issue to build an elementary school could easily push JCPS into the top 15 percent.

Changing district boundaries, and transferring student to districts whose enrollment is/has declined seems like a win/win situation. Without at least a cursory study showing that this solution is not feasible, I can't support building a new high school.

 

 

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