Jefferson City School Board to address overcrowding

Several issues will come up at Monday’s Jefferson City School Board meeting, including overcrowding.

According to the 2016 budget report, since 2004, student enrollment has grown by more than 12%.

Enrollment within the district is up to 9,000 students.

The number of students taking part in the district’s free and reduced cost lunch program has grown by 2,000.

More than half of the students in the district qualify for the program.

Ahead of Monday’s work session, the district’s chief financial officer said while the board couldn’t address the overcrowding issues like they wanted in this budget, the board is putting together a strategy for the future.

“We’ve had a subcommittee of the board looking at what we are going to do with our facilities because we do have overcrowding at our elementary schools that is trickling into our middle schools and we know that is going to hit our high schools soon. So, the board is trying to decide what kind of potential bond issue they may be putting before the voters,” said Jason Hoffman, Chief Financial Officer.

The board did decide not to vote on placing a measure to build new schools on the November Ballot.

Board members have until August 25th to place a ballot initiative on the November ballot.