Jefferson City School Board discusses ballot measures for proposed second high school

The Jefferson City School Board held a special work session Monday to discuss possible ballot measures to fund a second high school.

The board has until January to approve putting any measures on the April 2017 ballot.

Currently, the board is considering a $130 million bond issue and an operating tax levy.

About $90 million of the bond issue would go toward building the proposed new high school.

The remaining approximate $40 million would go toward renovating the current high school as well as adding a new gym and commons-walkway space between the high school and Nichols Career Center, according to Chief Financial Officer Jason Hoffman.

A separate operating tax levy of about 55-cents would pay for costs to operate the new high school and needed resources for grades K-12.

For taxpayers, the two measures would mean about $26 a month for the average Jefferson City home size of $139,000, according to Hoffman.

If voters approve the bond issue, JCPS Board of Education President John Ruth said it would allow the district to address other space needs in the future such as additional elementary or middle school buildings.

“This plan lays out the ability approximately every four to five years to have $30 million freed up that you can have a no-tax increase proposal to take care of those facilities,” Ruth said.

The current high school will be over capacity if it doesn’t build a second high school by 2019, according to Superintendent Larry Linthacum.