Kelso School District to conduct survey about school's facilities

The Kelso School District will be surveying its residents starting Tuesday to gauge opinions about the school's facilities.

District officials are considering building a new school or renovating the current one, which is rented. The district will distribute surveys starting Tuesday. They will be sent through the mail or hand delivered.

In June, the school board formed the Organizational Betterment Committee, composed of staff, school board representatives and members of the community, said principal Kim Burger. The committee started meeting in July and has met once since then. Twenty to 25 people have attended, she said.

Committee members decided to measure public opinion before moving forward with plans, Burger said.

"We're trying to find what's best for our students to make it accessible for different needs and the changing needs as they come into the building," she said.

The district pays $14,900 per year to rent a building and athletic facilities from the Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Superintendent Bill Rogers said the district has been putting money into a building fund since 2003. He said the school board has been saving money when possible and the fund has collected $750,000.

"They've just been extremely frugal with the dollars that they spend," he said.

The school, which includes kindergarten through eighth grade, is housed in a building constructed in 1938. Rogers said the school has served the students well but has its shortfalls.

"We'd like to be set up a little bit better for technology," he said.

The deadline to respond to the survey is Sept. 18. Once the results are collected, there will be public meetings to discuss the direction of the district, Rogers said.

The survey asks about needs for the current building and includes statistical information about the district.

It also includes questions about possible locations for a new school. Rogers said there is potential property near New Hamburg and Kelso. The school is on Route A east of New Hamburg.

"I think the motivating factor here is we want to have the best learning environment possible," he said.

Residents who do not receive a survey can call the school at 573-545-3357 or email obc@kelsoc-7.k12.mo.us.

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388-3627

Pertinent address:

1016 Highway A Benton, Mo