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Board discusses demolition funding for North Building and possible mothballing of Jefferson elementary
Summary
Board members discussed a Mercer study recommending demolition of the district's aging North Building and said a new project manager is seeking legislative funds for demolition; the board also debated placing Jefferson/Jeffrey City elementary into mothball status to clarify staffing and transportation needs if enrollment remains low, and asked administrators to return a proposal with enrollment threshold dates.
Board members discussed two facility matters: the long‑standing poor condition of the North Building and options for Jefferson/Jeffrey City elementary.
The chair said multiple school‑facilities directors who toured the North Building "couldn't believe that it was still in existence," noting a prior Mercer study recommended demolition as the most cost‑effective remedy. He said the new school‑facilities project manager is pursuing legislative funding to demolish the structure while retaining the property for a potential future school footprint.
On Jefferson/Jeffrey City elementary, the board discussed changing its status to 'mothball' (inactive but preserved) because years of low enrollment make opening and staffing the site difficult. Administrators explained mothballing clarifies whether to hire teachers, arrange transportation and cover food service logistics; members proposed a timeline to revisit the decision in March/May and asked administration to provide a written proposal setting enrollment threshold dates for action.
Members emphasized community access: a mothballed building could still host community events but would simplify district planning. No formal board vote was recorded on either substantive item during the meeting; members asked staff to draft a proposal and timeline for future action.
