SJSD School Board to decide on district reorganization plan

ST. JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) --  The St. Joseph School Board was meeting to make a big decision Monday night at Central High School — one that could reshape the district’s future.

At the last Town Hall meeting, administrators shared an impact analysis to show how different reorganization plans could affect students and staff. 

Right now, there are three plans on the table. Plan 2B would move Edison Elementary to the North, while Plan 7B would shift Stonecrest Elementary to the North instead. Both 2B and 7B bring changes to SJSD's high school model.

Plan E, which would keep the district’s high schools as they are, is also a contender.  

A public hearing was set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, where community members had three minutes to share their thoughts before the board moved into a work session.  

District leaders said this conversation has been years in the making. With the district’s current financial challenges, administrators are moving to find a more sustainable way to use resources. 

Sophomore Abby Kolzer  from Lafayette High School said she hopes the school board makes a decision that benefits everyone — not just teachers and staff, but the whole St. Joseph community.  

“My opinion is that option two should pass and they should vote yes on that. Its the most financially sound. It affects the least amount of teachers and students,” Kolzer said.  

Abby shared that her time at Lafayette has given her opportunities she knows not everyone gets — and it was tough when the district’s initial recommendation didn’t reflect that.  

Another Lafayette student, junior Peyton Huff, said she also supports Plan 2B, believing it’s backed by solid data.  

“I think a lot of us are majority plan to not just because we go to Lafayette, but because we also look at the data and we see that it's given us right here that the plan too is the better option,” Peyton Huff, said.  

But when it came time to vote, the majority in the room sided with Plan E — the proposal to keep all three high schools open. 

During public comments, several families urged the board to choose a community-led option — one that puts every student and staff member across the district first. 

Community member Andrew spoke in support of Plan E, saying it’s important to preserve the role each high school plays in its neighborhood.  

“All three high schools are important to each neighborhood. They're not everything. These schools are a safe haven for students. They get good meals and protection from the world they have to live in at home,” Andrew said.  

Another resident, Maggie Segment, agreed, saying Plan E offers a fair solution with minimal disruption to staff and students. 

Some board members also called on the district to take a closer look at Plans 7B and 2B, warning that those options could deepen the divide between administrators and the community.  

“Uprooting large numbers of students, creating significantly longer communities for numerous students, overcrowding many schools are not the ways to serve our chidlren,” one member said.  

In the end, the board voted to move forward with Plan E. They’ll hold a special meeting on Nov. 10 to discuss how to refine the plan so it best serves everyone in the district.