Jefferson City School District looking to add new buildings

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -

Officials with Jefferson City School District are proposing adding new buildings to relieve overcrowding.

At a public town hall Wednesday, officials said nine of the districts 13 kindergarten through 8th grade buildings are at or over capacity. The other four buildings are also nearing capacity, according to JCSD.

Superintendent Larry Linthacum and other officials proposed building two fifth and sixth grade centers to relieve the overcrowding. The district said it would also help a 2017 plan to smooth the transition for students between fifth and sixth grade.

One parent at Wednesday's town hall said she's concerned that moving students around from building to building could negatively impact their achievement.

Other parents raised concerns about how added buildings might impact maintenance and needs of existing school buildings.

The proposed plan would be part of a no-tax bond issue. Adding the two buildings could cost the district up to $56 million.

A second town hall is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at East Elementary School.