SJSD to hold second public hearing on long-range plan E Monday night  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph School District will be back at the table at 5:30 p.m., Monday Oct. 27 at Central High School.   

This will be the second hearing focused on Plan E, part of the district’s long-range planning process. 

Community members will once again get a chance to share their thoughts and feedback before the board moves into its regular meeting right after the hearing. 

Lafayette High School teacher Jeff Leake said Plan E gives the district more room to adjust and address board questions — something that wasn’t possible with the previous plans.  

“The response I have been getting from each group is extremely positive because they recognize the damage that the two plans presented could do to the community and the school district,” Leake said.  

Leake believed one of the biggest issues so far has been trying to please only a small section of town instead of considering what’s best for everyone. 

While he doesn’t support either of the plans currently on the table, he says Plan 2 would likely save more money and cause less disruption for teachers and families.  

“The boundaries are drawn in more of a fair fashion especially at the elementary level, plan 7 looks like it doesn’t save as much money as either plan and it disrupts far more teachers and students,” Leake said.  

School board president LaTonya Williams agreed that both Plan 2 and Plan 7 come with major drawbacks — including closing a neighborhood high school, something many families strongly oppose.  

“The majority of the community is against closing of any high schools and so there has been a loud outcry for plan E or a plan that’s like plan E,” Williams said.  

She pointed out that while choosing Plan 2 or Plan 7 might help the district’s financial situation, any decision the board makes is bound to upset some parts of the community more than others.  

“Of course being able to condense the buildings will condense the expenses and then rightsizing the schools and being able to give more equitable academic opportunities across the district are the pros of plan 2 and plan 7,” Williams said.     

Williams added that before making any decisions, the board plans to carefully weigh every option and opportunity. She encouraged community members to ask plenty of questions and stay engaged ahead of Monday night’s final vote.