St. Joseph School Board talks timelines for district facilities plan at Monday work session

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Information on the district's reorganization and facilities plan took center stage as St. Joseph School Board members and district administrators gathered for a work session Monday to discuss the next steps.

A key part of Monday's discussions focused on potential timeframes for implementing long-term updates to the district's modification plan after the Prop 2 school measure failed to pass in April 2025, a plan for two new high schools.

Additionally, the board also discussed making modifications to the ongoing facilities plan on a yearly basis.

"The big thing for tonight was having a time frame in mind (for the the facilities plan)," SJSD Superintendent Ashly McGinnis said. "We have a facilities plan online but with the failure of the bond in 2025, we're in the process of updating the plan. It will be a work in progress that is a collaborative effort."

Regarding potential changes in district staffing levels in wake of the plan, the board has been in contact with faculty members from every school to understand where they currently are with staffing. Feedback will be used to determine the best course of action for students, staff and the community.

"Early on we made visits to all our buildings to have conversations with the staff. They provided input on how we should proceed with staffing changes," McGinnis said. "We made follow-up visits to places such as (Eugene) Field and Pershing (Elementary Schools) to have the necessary one-on-one meetings. We're looking at information like certification and years of service, but also want to know where they believe is the best fit for them to serve our students."

The next board of education meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Troester Media Center located on 3401 Renick St.