SJSD School Board reaches consensus to move forward with plan 4BR after emotional public hearing  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph School District held another public hearing and ultimately agreed to move forward with Plan 4BR — the option supporting a Benton/Hyde and Central High Schools.

The room was packed, and emotions ran high. The community was split on which plan it wanted, and several community members pleaded with the board to either make a decision or slow everything down.  

“Answers to any and every question. Any member of the board could have, or even the community members. I mean, I think. It's our D-day. It's either we choose a direction, you know, or we just let it ride as it is,” LaTonya Williams said.  

After some heated back-and-forth and a lot of discussion, board members reached a consensus: Plan 4BR will be the plan they vote on Monday, Nov. 24, with the intention of finally implementing a direction for the district. 

This comes after a busy week of meetings. On Monday, Nov. 17, the board sat down with district leaders to review Plan 2B — the Lafayette and Central model. The conversation led them to take another look at Plan 7B, which has since evolved into Plan 4BR, before making any final decisions.  

“I think on the most part, the members of the board also agree it's easier to get it in a direction. And then everybody knows, here's what's going on. And then only vote on the one plan at the end,” Williams said.  

Williams also stressed the importance of the upcoming financial audit scheduled for the Nov. 24 meeting, especially after so many questions were raised about the district’s finances this year.  

“I know that the district has an audit every year. And that's also completed, only I mean, okay, so extra eyes on things. Never heard anything. And so I was really glad, you know, when everyone was open to an idea of an extra audit,” Williams said.  

Williams added, she’s already been vocal throughout this process and chose her preferred plan weeks ago. At this point, she says her focus is on doing what’s best for students in the community.