Leaders at St. Joseph Public Schools are thanking the community for their support after the approval of a $59 million bond request this week.
The vote came after an attempt to secure a bond of more than $98 million failed last year. Speaking the morning after the election, St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education President Kerry Wright told us the district listened to what the community had to say after that unsuccessful vote and redrew its request.
“I think that’s part of what led to the success the second time around is people felt heard, they felt appreciated, and it helped us understand where some of our blind spots were on the first ask,” Wright said.
Despite the request being reduced, there was still a campaign opposing it. Wright says that was unfortunate.
“You know, I can remember a time when politics didn’t run in education, whether it be the LMC vote or our vote. And so my hope going forward is that that diverges a little bit more and stays out of education.”
This week’s vote came out to roughly 55% in favor and 45% opposed.
St. Joseph Superintendent Kristen Bawks tells us the next step for her is to meet with teachers and administrators to identify the most urgent needs to address with the bond funds.
The stated purpose of the bond was to pay for building improvements, classroom technology, school buses, athletic facility improvements, and upgrades to parking lots and driveways.
