St. Joseph School Board votes to approve Central-Benton model, putting plan in motion
Patrick Holleron
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After multiple meetings and work sessions, the St. Joseph Board of Education has officially agreed on a long-term plan for reorganizing school facilities.
The board voted tonight to rescind Plan E — which would keep all three high schools — and instead enact Plan 4BR, which would maintain Benton and Central as a two high school model.
Both votes ended in a majority ruling of 5-2. The plan is expected to result in Lafayette transitioning into a middle school, part of a new four middle school model.
The next steps will be determining when this reorganization plan officially takes effect, as well as wide-ranging impacts on staffing, zoning and students, among other subjects.
Members of the SJSD Board of Education confer prior to tonight’s decision.