By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Board of Education members continue to review the election results from April 8th in an attempt to understand what led to the defeat of the $157 million bond issue.
The St. Joseph School District is asking community members to take a brief survey to provide feedback to the board.
St. Joseph School Board member, Mike Moore, says individual board members have heard from the public, but want more through a formal survey.
“To kind of go straight to the public and just ask, hey, why didn’t you want what Prop 2 had to offer?” Moore relates during an appearance on KFEQmmunity. “And so, I think you’ll see some of that happen and we’ll continue to seek the community’s feedback.”
St. Joseph voters soundly rejected the proposal April 8th. Only 5,262 voted in favor of it, according to unofficial results released by the Buchanan County Clerk’s office, with 6,081 voting against; a split of 53.61% against to 46.39%. The issue, which would have increased the St. Joseph school levy by 60 cents, needed a 57% majority to pass.
Moore says the board is waiting on the administration to propose a path forward to address the district’s four key areas: high school academic inequality, the school feeder system, middle school inconsistency, and operational inefficiency.
“So we had a pretty solid plan, well laid out, well detailed if the bond passed. And, you know, we thought we’re going to act like winners and we’re going to put the eggs in that basket,” Moore says. “And so now, we are having to take a few minutes to come back and say, hey, knowing now that we don’t have a new high school on the horizon, how can we take care of these four concerns?”
The St. Joseph School District is soliciting public comment online. You can click HERE to access the survey. The survey asks 10 questions. The district estimates it would take two minutes to complete. The survey closes May 7th.
Also, the board is asking for candidates to fill the remaining year of Rick Gehring’s term in wake of his abrupt resignation from the board.
Interested residents can apply with the St. Joseph School District.
Moore says the board could choose among the applicants, but wants to interview each first.
“Board indicates that we want to go a little further than that and actually talk to folks, which I generally agree with,” Moore says. “We’re going to spend that little bit of extra time. And yes, it’s the board that makes that decision and it’s a majority decision, right? You might wonder well what happens if we come down 3-to-3 on a candidate? Well, we’ll work it out, because we have to make a decision, we have to make an appointment.”
Those interested in applying can click HERE for more information. Applications can also be picked up at the district’s Central Office at 1415 N 26th Street, St. Joseph, MO 64506. Please enter Door #5.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
