By Debbie Robinson
and Derek Spellman
news@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — In the wake of two unsuccessful bond-issue measures, the Neosho School District this week began soliciting public comment on how to address overcrowding.
“We are starting back at square one,” said Superintendent Richard Page on Friday.
In the past seven months, voters twice defeated a proposed $16 million bond issue that would have financed construction of a new fifth-and-sixth-grade building next to the existing middle school. After constructing the new building, the district would have moved grade eight from the junior high to the middle school, which then would have housed grades seven and eight. The junior-high building is part of a complex that includes the high school at 511 Neosho Blvd. and would have been absorbed into the high school.
The bond issue also would have financed expansions or renovations to the older parts of the high school.
School officials are planning at least several public forums this year in an effort to obtain a sense of what kind of plan the community would support, Page said.
The first forum was conducted Thursday night at the Civic Center and drew a spectrum of opinions.
Page said some suggested construction of either a new fifth and sixth grade building or a new seventh and eighth grade building, although at different locations. Some suggested construction of a new high school.
As to when the district should do something, people were split between immediately and when the economy improves.
“There was no question about the need,” Page said of the district’s overcrowding issues.
He said there was consensus on some issues. Those who attended the session Thursday night said eighth grade should be separate from the high school, Page said. The consensus also was that most of the improvements to the older parts of the high school should be done without a bond issue.
Page said school officials are just gathering ideas right now. The hope is that a consensus for a plan will emerge during the subsequent forums. The next forum is tentatively planned for late August or early September.
School officials on Thursday presented information about the district finances, including what percentage of its budget went to operations and to capital outlays. They also discussed the district’s enrollment in recent years.
Page said during Thursday’s forum that the district has gained about 50 students a year over the past 12 years, said Page.
An example, Page said, is Benton Elementary School, with 544 students and all 27 classrooms in use.
“What’s interesting about Benton is we took 100 students out of Benton when we opened Carver (Elementary School),” he said. “Now, we’re starting to push the capacity at Benton.”
Board President Cindy Norman said she felt the downturn in the economy played a role in the defeat of the bond measure, but other factors also had to contribute.
“We have a problem, and we need to solve it together,” Norman said.
Past elections
The bond issue for the Neosho School District was defeated by a margin of 4,433 votes in favor and 5,975 against in November. The issue failed by a margin of 1,382 votes in favor and 2,034 votes against in April.
