SJSD’s Prop 2 results forces ‘Plan B’
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- After a night filled with some wins and some losses, some may be wondering, "What comes next" for St. Joseph's high schools.
The St. Joseph School District's Proposition 2 bond measure to build a new high school South of U.S. Highway 36 was voted down by St. Joseph residents on Tuesday. More than 53% of voters opposed the measure.
As stated in the district's long-range plan, the next step could be to ask voters to approve an $80 million no-tax bond in April 2026. That would upgrade two of the district's existing high schools, as plans remain to close one location.
"The reason we even had this proposition was to execute a long-range plan. We're able to address specifically inequities among the offering of both activities and academics at the three high schools, a feeder system throughout the district that really doesn't make sense, a mixed middle school model," said Mike Moore, school board vice president.
Despite voters saying no to building a new facility on Tuesday, district officials have said they still will move to a two-high school model, with Central and Lafayette remaining open and potentially receiving upgrades. Benton will become a middle school, they said.
School Board President LaTonya Williams said it will be up to how the board votes to determine if voters will see the measure on April 2026 ballots.
"It is in the long-range plan in order to use a portion of the bond capacity," Williams said. "We're able to use up to $80 million if the board chooses in order to do so."
Moore said that although the loss of the Prop 2 measure was unfortunate, the district will move forward with plans to strengthen schools in the current facilities.
"Those opportunities are still there, and fortunately, we can execute those, make the district stronger," Moore said. "We'll just have to do it in the buildings we already have."
In a previous interview with News-Press NOW, the St. Joseph School Board said the long-range plan would not change, regardless of who was elected for the two open board seats.
