November 21, 2009
Nancy Hull - Education Reporter
District nixes site in favor of another
Friday, June 6, 2008
The St. Joseph School District dropped its proposal to build a new elementary school on a controversial site. Instead, district officials are pursuing a site they think better meets Planning Commission and City Council requirements. The Planning Commission unanimously denied the district’s request for a school on Karnes Road between Leonard and Woodbine roads, citing congestion, no sidewalks, bad roads and a lack of funding to improve the roads and add sidewalks. The proposal was in the council’s hands.
School district chooses new siteThursday, June 5, 2008
The St. Joseph School District decided to abandon its proposal for a new elementary school near Karnes and Woodbine roads.
Hiawatha district looks to sell paintings
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The years were 1918 and 1919. Famous Kansas painter Birger Sandzen sold the Hiawatha School District three of his oil paintings at the discount price he offered schools, probably $1,000 or less a painting.
School's out, er, in for summerTuesday, June 3, 2008
A new summer school activity had fifth- through eighth-graders swabbing Lafayette High School toilets, sink pipes and water fountains. The St. Joseph School District’s summer school began Monday, and the swabbing was part of a new program called Summer Institute, where elementary and middle school students can attend the high schools for special projects during the monthlong summer school. Each high school looked for a fun program that could reverse the decline in fifth- through eighth-grade summer school enrollment.
Humboldt students have come a long wayThursday, May 29, 2008
Ervin Juan-Francisco said he played Duck, Duck, Goose during Wednesday’s end-of-the-school-year play day. Not only did he say it, but he said it in English. And he said it to an adult he didn’t know. Quite a change from the boy who entered Humboldt Elementary School’s second grade when his family moved from Guatemala nine months ago.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Pappert family bought their favorite hot dogs, brats and chips. But they had to trade Diet Dr Pepper for Diet Dr Hy-Vee.
Speakers share advice as students journey onwardMonday, May 26, 2008
Sunday marked a transition for 735 St. Joseph School District graduates. High school’s behind, and the post-high school world lies ahead for these Benton, Central and Lafayette graduates. Students and staff who spoke during the Civic Arena ceremonies advised graduates on what to take from the past and what to make of the future.
Ready for the next stepMonday, May 26, 2008
Following a two-month hospitalization, Brittany Robbins questioned whether she’d walk with her high school class. Katelyn Harris’ acceptance into an elite program takes her a step closer to a childhood dream. Landry Ramirez is ready to do his part in this time of war. All three became St. Joseph School District graduates Sunday at Civic Arena.
3-year-old with cancer taught mom about loveFriday, May 23, 2008
The worse it got, the happier Alexis Adkins became.
Minnie Cline: An Army good-luck charm?Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Beth Buck drove 24 hours to thank her son’s “Lucky Charms.”
Plenty of pride in North SideSunday, May 18, 2008
Almost five years have passed since Doug Snyder kept nagging Cindy Williams. “Why doesn’t the North Side have a festival? Why doesn’t the North Side have a community group?” questioned Mr. Snyder, then a regular at the North Side restaurant Ms. Williams owns —Bottoms Up Bar & Grill. What a difference five years makes.
Maryville student earns national recognition for volunteer effortsSunday, May 18, 2008
John Seipel was sick of dealing with cigarette smoke at Maryville, Mo., bowling alleys and restaurants.
Skaith eyes overcrowdingSaturday, May 17, 2008
A proposed 400-unit apartment complex could mean one or many of the following for Skaith Elementary School: trailers, bigger class sizes, revoked student transfers, new school boundaries and at least six new classrooms. All are possibilities, Skaith principal Dr. Matthew Martz and St. Joseph School District assistant to the superintendent Steve Huff said Friday. Thursday evening, Deer Park-area residents protested developer Tim Rowland’s proposed development for southeast St. Joseph, citing concerns with Skaith overcrowding.
Missouri western receives record $5.5 million giftFriday, May 16, 2008
Steven L. Craig opened his first business when he was 9. On his parents’ Country Club Village lawn, he started a fireworks stand. Thursday, he was at Missouri Western State University for an announcement: He’s putting $5.5 million toward the university’s business program. Mr. Craig, who’s lived in California since graduating from Savannah High School in 1973, founded Craig Realty Group — a Newport Beach, Calif., company that owns and manages 13 upscale factory outlet centers in six states.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Soaring food prices have claimed another victim: the St. Joseph School District. The district expects its food costs to increase 7 percent between the 2007-08 and 2008-09 budgets. During a Board of Education committee meeting last week, district administrators attributed the hikes to a combination of factors, including price spikes felt globally, lack of local vendor competition and the district’s move toward more healthful, more expensive items. The district is buying more fruits and vegetables and fewer potato chips.
Roads issue heats up at school board meetingTuesday, May 13, 2008
The community needs to find a way to fix bad roads so that the northeast part of town can get a new elementary school, some of the community’s most influential people told the St. Joseph Board of Education Monday evening. Last month, the city of St. Joseph’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council deny the school district’s request for a conditional use permit to build a school on the site. The two-lane asphalt country roads in the area are not up to par, commission members said.
Preschool program focuses on inclusionMonday, May 12, 2008
Three-year-old Ashleigh Coe couldn’t crawl. Dylan Irvin helped change that. “Dylan got down on the ground with her at preschool and started crawling with her, and now she’s crawling,” said Ashleigh’s mother, Laurie Coe.
District bars sex offender from eventSaturday, May 10, 2008
James Jones raped a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, a Buchanan County jury decided in 1990. Now 36, Mr. Jones wants to attend his child’s Truman Middle School eighth-grade graduation. But since he’s a convicted sex offender, Missouri law and St. Joseph School District Superintendent Dr. Melody Smith told him “no.”
Lake Contrary Elementary secretary Connie Shirey honoredFriday, May 9, 2008
Two hundred forty-eight students attend Lake Contrary Elementary School. Connie Shirey can rattle off all their names, knows which parent each lives with and almost knows phone numbers by heart.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Rachel Scott saw a girl sitting alone in the Columbine High School cafeteria. So she and her two friends left their table to join the girl. Two student gunmen killed Rachel and 12 others at the Littleton, Colo., school on April 20, 1999.
Unanimous vote stings school planSunday, May 4, 2008
The St. Joseph School District’s plan for opening and closing schools has hit an unexpected roadblock. St. Joseph’s Planning Commission threw up the block with a unanimous vote against the district’s request for a conditional use permit for a new elementary school on Karnes Road between Woodbine and Leonard roads. Narrow roads that lack sidewalks, curbs and gutters in the area make for a risky school location, commissioners said. The $6 million to $8 million in city funding needed to improve roads near the site isn’t taxpayer friendly, they said. And city funding for those roads is not in sight.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Juan Barrera wants his son’s life to shine brighter than his own. His son, Felipe Barrera, strives to meet that goal. Zach Hill considers his father, Rich Hill, his friend — a fun friend who teaches him right from wrong. Felipe and Zach, both Bode Elementary School students, placed in the National Center for Fathering’s “What My Father Means to Me” essay contest.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Alferd Williams said he knows why his teacher won the St. Joseph School District Foundation’s Teacher of the Year honor.
Alesia Hamilton named Teacher of the YearThursday, May 1, 2008
The St. Joseph School District Foundation named Alesia Hamilton the district’s Teacher of The Year on Thursday. Ms. Hamilton teaches first grade at Edison Elementary School. She taught 70-year-old Alferd Williams to read. He attends her classroom daily with first-graders.
Aiming for safer summersWednesday, April 30, 2008
Third-grader Bailey Bascue had walked inside a swimming pool before starting the YMCA’s Begin To Swim class. But he’d never really swam and knew nothing about giving CPR or rescuing a drowning person. Four one-hour classes at the YMCA changed all that.
Breaking the cycleSunday, April 27, 2008
Marjorie Weston dreamed of wearing a business suit in a big office. Having a child at 15 changed that. To provide food and shelter for her baby girl, she dropped out of St. Joseph’s Central High School and worked a night job as a nurse’s aide.
Some residents criticize proposed school siteMonday, April 21, 2008
At least a few northeast St. Joseph residents are fighting against the elementary school proposed for their neighborhood. They say the St. Joseph School District’s plan for an elementary school off Karnes Road between Woodbine and Leonard roads has too high of a price tag, has not involved enough public input and would bring a dangerous traffic load. They also worry about road widening cutting into their property. “This whole plan is a train that’s going downhill fast with no brakes,” neighbor Mona Marshall said. “I do agree that a new school is needed. This just isn’t the right location.”
Like his job, elevator operator is gone but not forgottenFriday, April 18, 2008
Roy Leidy spent about 30 years helping move one of St. Joseph’s best-known products from floor to floor.
Savannah fight video posted on YouTubeWednesday, April 16, 2008
A Savannah High School locker room beating was relived more than 1,000 times. A YouTube video of a Savannah High School boy punching another high school boy in the face and head by gym lockers was viewed 1,042 times before the Web site removed the video Tuesday afternoon. The larger teen of the two knocked the smaller teen down into the fetal position with about a dozen punches.
4 area schools earn Gold Star honorTuesday, April 15, 2008
Northwest Missouri high schools have a strong showing on this year’s state list of schools with the top student test scores.
Test scores a motive to cheat?Sunday, April 13, 2008
Hundreds of Missouri student assessment tests were thrown out within the past three years because school teachers and administrators allegedly helped students with answers. Statewide, several staff members lost their jobs amid accusations they orchestrated cheating on student tests. Many other school staff members were disciplined. School staff members have a lot riding on these student scores.
West Nodaway, Platte County bonds passWednesday, April 9, 2008
The two area school bond proposals that didn’t include a property tax increase passed, while the school bond issue that included a tax hike failed.
‘It was really stupid of me’Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Benton High School boy who distributed prescription methadone pills on a bus last month also handed out a pill at Benton. Tuesday in court, the 16-year-old boy admitted he gave a pill to a teen boy at Benton the day before he gave a Spring Garden Middle School girl pills on a bus.
Voters elect Siemens, Wagner to St. Joseph Board of EducationWednesday, April 9, 2008
St. Joseph School District voters elected a certified public accountant and a former district gifted teacher to the Board of Education. Of the seven candidates, Sarah Siemens, a CPA and district parent, won the biggest percentage of votes. She received 1,886 votes, which was 21.32 percent. Sue Wagner, who founded the district’s gifted program and now works in the Avenue City School District, received 1,772 votes, which was 20.03 percent.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The two area school bond proposals that didn’t include a property tax increase passed, while the school bond issue that included a tax hike failed. Voters in the West Nodaway and Platte County school districts approved bond proposals for new facilities Tuesday. Voters in the Buchanan County School District (Rushville Elementary School and DeKalb Middle and High School) defeated a bond proposal for new facilities.
Hacky sack club gives students a way to chillTuesday, April 8, 2008
Friday after school. Central High School parking lot.
Techno music blares from a car stereo. Ten high school guys and a young male teacher stand around in two circles on this nice spring day.
Half of them have long hair and would probably be skateboarding or playing video games right now if this didn’t exist. Most of them never had a reason to stay after school before this.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
A legislative proposal has raised concerns about how child care changes could affect families’ bank accounts.
Top city students leaving regionFriday, April 4, 2008
They’re St. Joseph’s top high school students. They’re also the students who plan to attend college the farthest from home. Thursday, the Lions Club hosted its annual luncheon for local high school seniors whose grades put them in the top 10 percent of their class.
Board candidates reveal spendingThursday, April 3, 2008
St. Joseph Board of Education candidates are aiming for the voters they know will show up on Election Day: educators.
LeBlond, St. James search for new principalsTuesday, April 1, 2008
Janet Wilcox is returning to her alma mater.
All too often, young students not 'where they should be'Sunday, March 30, 2008
Suzy Linebarger walked up the stairs with a 3-year-old girl. “One, two, three,” Ms. Linebarger counted with each step. Ms. Linebarger, a parent educator with St. Joseph’s Parents as Teachers, was walking with the girl during a preschool screening last month at the Keatley Center.
West Nodaway puts hopes on ballotSaturday, March 29, 2008
West Nodaway School District officials built what they see as a taxpayer-friendly component into a $1.2 million proposal.
Girls’ methadone use was a 'peer pressure thing,’ stepmom saysTuesday, March 25, 2008
The stepmother of a 13-year-old student accused of passing prescription painkillers out at school says the girls presented the pills to one another like this:
Planning for growthTuesday, March 25, 2008
Growth in Platte County has enabled a school district to propose something rare: a nearly $8 million project that doesn’t include a property tax increase.
Methadone’s lethality seen in deadly trendSunday, March 23, 2008
The prescription drug that sickened nine local middle school girls has a startling record: It’s killing a soaring number of people nationwide. And its death rate has spiked the most in teens and young adults. Within the past decade, methadone-related deaths have increased more than other narcotic-related deaths, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. In addition, the largest increase in deaths was for those ages 15 to 24.
Accused pill-supplier’s family speaks outSaturday, March 22, 2008
Family members of the Benton High School boy accused of giving Spring Garden Middle School girls prescription drugs are standing up for the 16-year-old.
Two girls could face drug chargesFriday, March 21, 2008
Wednesday’s prescription pills incident has three St. Joseph School District students in legal trouble. This morning, the Buchanan County Juvenile Office plans to charge two Spring Garden Middle School girls with delivery of a controlled substance, said Sue Rinne, juvenile office attorney. Both girls could face more than one count, and at least one could face several counts, she said. Thursday, a 16-year-old Benton boy was charged with delivery of a controlled substance.
Benton student held after nine hospitalizedThursday, March 20, 2008
A prescription drug exchange on a school bus Wednesday morning landed nine middle school girls in the hospital. Police suspect a 16-year-old Benton High School male of giving a Spring Garden Middle School girl prescription methadone pills — commonly used to treat heroin addiction — on a school bus, St. Joseph Police Department Capt. Kevin Castle said. The girl then passed the pills out at school.
Students believed to have taken methodoneWednesday, March 19, 2008
At least seven Spring Garden Middle School students who took what’s believed to be methadone were rushed to the hospital Wednesday. St. Joseph Police Department Cpt. Kevin Castle said the incident began when one student gave another student a substance on a school bus this morning. At least nine students, mostly eighth-graders and some seventh-graders, took the substance, Mr. Castle said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A few St. Joseph School District administrators are shuffling positions, and the district’s two largest elementary schools will each get a part-time assistant principal.
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