Avenue City School District turns 50
District officials anticipate enrollment will continue to grow
District officials anticipate enrollment will continue to grow
Photo by Eric Keith / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
The Avenue City School District will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its formation on Saturday.
Four one-room schoolhouses merged in 1958, giving birth to the Avenue City School District.
Sunday, the district will honor the 50 years that have since passed.
The district consists of a kindergarten through eighth-grade school in Cosby, Mo. — several miles northeast of St. Joseph.
Through the years, the district has changed from a community of families with roots in the area to one that also has families who flee city life and join the area.
“People like the country life and want to move out of the city limits just far enough to where you can get back into town,” longtime resident Kari Maag said.
The school’s enrollment has increased to 140 students with time. Parents and staff tout small class sizes and some of the best student state assessment scores.
“It’s almost like it’s a private school, but we don’t have to pay the private rates,” Ms. Maag said.
During Saturday’s events, those in attendance will celebrate many of the district’s highlights and historical details.
The 50-year mark comes at a time when the district is hoping to expand and upgrade facilities in part because of growth.
On Aug. 5, district voters will decide whether to keep property taxes as is in order to fund a $1.25 million bond project.
The district proposes extending a 95-cent tax (95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation) to add three classrooms, two locker rooms, a preschool and several other projects.
About 20 new students have entered the district each year in recent years, and with housing expansions planned, the district expects the trend to continue.
“We’re looking down the road and anticipating future needs, and it looks like this district will continue to grow,” Superintendent Jerry Archer said.
Saturday’s Avenue City School District 50th anniversary celebration schedule:
1 p.m.: tour of building, Avenue City School, 18069 U.S. Highway 169, Cosby, Mo.
2 p.m.: program, school gymnasium. Remarks from past and present legislators, summary of events from past 50 years, slide show. Cake and punch reception to follow.
3 p.m.: informational meeting on the upcoming bond issue, gymnasium.
Nancy Hull can be reached
at nancyhull@npgco.com.
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