Public education perceptions

A long-range planning meeting Thursday brought together about 80 parents, students and school officials to discuss the future of the Jackson School District, including an $18 million construction project at the high school.

It was the first time for the majority of those in attendance to view preliminary plans for renovations and improvements to Jackson High School, where a lack of space and deteriorating facilities have become major concerns in recent years.

Jackson superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson gave an overview of three construction plans the district is considering for $18 million in improvements to the high school.

The three plans include a possible partnership between the school and the city for a community center with aquatic facilities and a separate library for school and community needs.

Each of the plans would give the school around 250,000 square feet and include a new spectator gymnasium, a 15,000-square-foot addition for the music and arts programs and upgrades to the football stadium and parking.

Anderson said the district will most likely choose a hybrid of the three plans, depending on whether a partnership between the community and school district takes place.

Group discussions

Participants in the meeting broke into three groups to discuss and prioritize goals in the district's school improvement plan, which was originally developed at a community meeting in 2001.

The groups reviewed progress made during the past two years toward achieving the plan's goals in areas such as student achievement, staff development and parent involvement, and received input from students and teachers on how that progress has affected them.

"This meeting is such a good idea because a public school can't function without the public," said Kara Thompson, a sophomore at Jackson High School. "I think it's important for students to be here as well, to contribute knowledge about what really goes on."

Dr. Al Rowe, who served as a facilitator at the meeting through his Iowa-based consulting company, said he feels the meeting was a great way for Jackson officials to receive opinions and ideas from community members.

Rowe has provided advice to school officials during the past three years as they worked to develop the district's long-range plan.

"With all of the challenges facing schools these days, it takes many minds to formulate good strategies for the future," Rowe said. "This meeting is a good means to accomplish that."

Pointing to change

Preliminary plans for the high school construction project were viewed on a large projection screen with school officials pointing out where certain buildings would be located and what programs would be contained in those building.

Although the plans lack detail at this stage, they received a very positive response from both parents and students.

"I was so excited," said parent Aleda Phillips. "I was most proud of the forecast for expansions to accommodate future enrollment growth, which only increase community growth."

Phillips said she also approves of a partnership between the city and the school district to build a community center with aquatic facilities and a library to serve school and community needs.

"The plans seem to encompass exactly what we need," Phillips said. "A partnership will only increase the unity between the community and the school."

High school students attending the meeting also rejoiced at the prospect of improvements to the school.

"I was blown away by those plans," Thompson said. "We have so many problems at the high school, and I had no idea the planning had gone so far."

Anderson said the district will most likely put a bond issue to fund the high school project before voters in 2004, when there are three opportunities to gain the necessary four-sevenths approval.

Anderson also discussed the need to lower student-to-teacher ratios throughout the district and gave updates on current legislative issues that may impact school funding.

"This meeting was very informative to the people who attended," Anderson said. "They received the latest information, and there was good discussion regarding prioritizing our concerns."

The information taken from discussions and community input at the meeting will be summarized in a report and used at a second community long-range planning meeting March 20.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, ext. 128