By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Patt Lilly says St. Joseph voters have a big decision to make in April: whether to approve the $107 million school bond issue.
Lilly says it is vital to any community to have a strong educational system.
“To the extent that this investment improves education for all in the community, I think certainly would be a great opportunity for us as residents of St. Joseph,” Lilly tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
Voters will decide whether the St. Joseph School District borrows the money to convert Benton and Lafayette High Schools into middle schools as well as build a new high school to go along with Central High School. Funds will pay for other improvements in the St. Joseph School District.
Lilly says schools have a major impact on the local economy.
“And I think that’s definitely something that we as a community have to commit ourselves to is improving our public schools and improving the educational attainment in the community,” Lilly says.
Lilly says educational improvements fit into the long-range strategy of moving St. Joseph forward.
“The reality is, we have to invest in our schools, we have to invest in our teachers and make sure they have the opportunity to do the jobs that they have,” Lilly says. “And, I think the bottom line is improving our educational system is critical for the future of St. Joseph.”
Lilly says St. Joseph has lost residents to other communities, such as North Kansas City, due to how they perceive the local school system. Lilly says the decision to live in Kansas City rather than St. Joseph can often be made based on the perception of the quality of schools.