Another alternative muddles school issues

At the most recent St. Joseph School District Board of Education meeting, another alternative to shaving the district's high schools down to two was presented.

The alternative came as board members requested a comparison of the costs and logistical information for two high schools that would compare the feasibility of Central and Lafayette at the two high schools. Then they also requested the same information for a two-high school model that included Central and Benton.

Whoa. That's something new.

For months, we were told that the student capacity of Lafayette and Central would accommodate the present and future needs of the district. Benton, we were told, was too small.

We were told in past elections that Benton was the oldest building and would require the most work and renovation to bring it into the 21st Century. It seemed a foregone conclusion that the home of the Cardinals would be turned into a middle school.

Now, Benton is back in the game.

But this highlights the problem our district faces. Nobody seems to have an exact plan or a timetable that shows when these changes will occur. Now, another alternative has surfaced.

Remember that this all began a few years ago with a proposal to build a single high school to serve all of St. Joseph. It was to be a brand spanking new high school with facilities and amenities that put us on par with even the richest suburban Kansas City districts.

We think that's still the best idea.

If St. Joseph is going to invest in its students, one building that provides all the educational opportunities seems to make the most sense. It puts every student and parent on an even playing field.