JCPS Board of Education approves elementary school boundary changes

Jefferson City Public Schools Board of Education members unanimously approved changes Monday to some elementary school boundary lines.

The changes will affect East, Thorpe Gordon and Moreau Heights elementary schools.

ABC 17 News has reported that space issues at East Elementary School have been a big concern voiced by parents in the district. The changes are aimed to alleviate overcrowding at the school.

Starting next school year, about 66 students living in the area near Lafayette and Route 50/63 will move from East Elementary to Moreau Heights and Thorpe Gordon.

Another 24 students who live in Hawthorne Apartments will move from Moreau Heights to Thorpe Gordon.

The changes may allow the district to eliminate trailers at East Elementary School, according to Superintendent Larry Linthacum.

Board member Steve Bruce said the boundary changes are the first step in solving space issues at East Elementary.

“We know student populations can change from month to month and school year to school year,” Bruce said. “So you heard Larry reference tonight that the district needs to take up how we look at boundary changes fundamentally going forward, how often we look at that.”

In April, voters will decide on a bond issue and operating tax levy to build a second high school.

If passed, the district plans to refinance the bond in about four years and use the money to address elementary and middle school needs.

At the previous school board meeting, Linthacum said the funds may possibly be used to build a new elementary school on the east side of town.

The school board also approved a $214,000 contract with Architects Alliance to start Phase One of design work on the proposed second high school.

If voters do not approve the ballot measures in April, the district will only pay $64,000 of the contract.

“The architects help confirm and control the number,” board president John Ruth said. “So that’s good for taxpayers to make sure that we get the best bang for the buck because they help us with the bidding and make sure that we’re getting the space that we need. Then to get some conceptual drawings to understand how we’ll use the space.”