Benton students show up big as SJSD nears vote on high school plans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph School District Board of Education held another special work session Monday night, as board members continued debating Plan 2R — a revised version of Plan 2B and the plan to keep Lafayette and Central as the district’s two high schools. 

This special work session had a noticeable twist... A large group of Benton High School students showed up carrying posters, quietly filling the room to show their support for keeping Benton open as a high school moving forward. 

Even though public comment wasn’t allowed, their presence sent a clear message. 

Board President LaTonya Williams said she understands how draining this process has been for families, staff and students — and she wants it to end soon.

Williams says she’s pushing for the board to make a final decision by Monday, Nov. 24.  

“I think that we had to put everybody through enough. The admin, kids and the community. If the board is not able to do the job that we are elected to do, then we should just 'okay, we put a pause on it,'” Williams said.  

At the last meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12, four board members expressed support for Plan 2B. The remaining three members favored Plan 7B — a model aimed to merge Benton with Hyde and keep Central as the second high school.  

“I mean, logically, when you're talking about closing schools, in my opinion, there are no winners. It's only losers. Everybody will lose,” Williams said.  

She also acknowledged that from the outside, the board’s process can look confusing — and sometimes even scattered.  

But she stressed that nothing should be happening behind closed doors and that every step of the process needs to remain transparent to the public.  

“Finally, make a decision. And if we're not able to come to a consensus, and do nothing. We probably will. I looked at the agenda earlier today, and it is on the agenda because we're supposed to have a vote. Because this evening it's only a discussion, not a vote,” Williams said.  

The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Troester Media Center. This time, the public will have an opportunity to speak before the board moves into another work session.