(Joplin, MO) – In January 2025, the Joplin Schools Board of Education approved the Long Range Facility Planning Committee (LRFPC) Phase 1 recommendations to address the facility needs they considered to be of highest priority:
- Suitable educational spaces for all students
- Suitable Special Education spaces for intensive programs
- Early Childhood/Pre-K expansion
Those Phase 1 facility upgrades will soon be implemented at Jefferson Elementary, McKinley Elementary, and Royal Heights Elementary, using nearly $11M of the district’s financial reserves, made possible by careful stewardship of taxpayer funds.
The LRFPC made further recommendations in October 2025 to address additional facility requirements in support of student success well into the future of our community. These Phase 2 recommendations would be paid for by up to an additional $10M of district reserves, plus a proposed bond issue that would extend the current tax rate while maintaining our district’s current tax levy.
“We are thankful to be in such a safe financial position that we don’t need an increase to our tax levy, as property tax assessments are fully expected to support the district’s improvement needs,” said Joplin Schools superintendent Dr. Kerry Sachetta. “And the proposed improvements would impact facilities that will be used by the vast majority of our students and staff members in the district at some point during their time with us. It’s a substantial investment in our kids’ future opportunities.”
Broadly speaking, the proposed upgrades will address:
- Additions, and Interior Classroom Renovations: Stapleton and Eastmorland Elementary Schools
- Interior + Classroom Renovations: Cecil Floyd and Kelsey Norman Elementary Schools
- Classroom Renovations: McKinley, Royal Heights, and Jefferson Elementary Schools
- Comprehensive Window Replacement: Eastmorland, Stapleton, Kelsey Norman, and Cecil Floyd Elementary Schools
- Site Access, Safety, and Parking Improvements: Eastmorland, Stapleton, Cecil Floyd, McKinley, Jefferson, and Royal Heights Elementary Schools
- Indoor Activity Facility — Joplin High School Site: This includes classroom space for physical education, athletic and activity spaces, storage, and community space.
- Junge Campus Improvements: Buildings, Grounds, & Transportation Facility Remodel; Bus Lot concrete and parking improvements; Locker Room and Concession Renovations at Stadium.
The Long Range Facility Planning Committee is made up of community members, parents, city leaders, business owners, and Joplin Schools staff members who volunteered to evaluate district properties in order to create a Long Range Facility Plan to guide our Capital Projects for the next five to 15 years. The Committee began meeting in 2023 and has toured every district campus and facility, comparing educational suitability, program needs, student demographics, safety, and projected student enrollment data.
“The committee has done an incredible job in considering the whole scope of what our students and staff need now and into the future,” said Board of Education president Veronica Scheurich. “We want to extend our thanks to them for volunteering their time to this work, and for creating a plan that can guide district efforts for years to come.”
Reference:
Sarah Coyne, Director of Communications
Joplin Schools
sarahcoyne@joplinschools.org
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