The October 27th MAC (Military Affairs Council) Breakfast featured three guest speakers in the absence of USD 475 Superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt.

Today’s topic for discussion – a new Junction City High School featuring Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Hudson, USD 475 Director of Business Operations Bill Clark, and JCHS Principal Melissa Sharp.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Hudson said that the school curriculum has changed significantly since JCHS was built in 1958 that all of the necessary educational tools to prepare students for the world aren’t easily available.

“We’re trying to prepare students to enter a world where you’re going to have to have more than your high school education…what are we doing now to get them ready for that kind of a worldd,” said Hudson.

Melissa Sharp, JCHS Principal echoed similar sentiments.

“Having separate campuses takes away from [teaching relationships], it’s really good for climate because you have a school of 470 and a school of 1250…but you don’t have the collaboration…about two-thirds of the freshman are ready for more rigorous coursework,” said Sharp.

Sharp added that the District spends about $18,000 a year on shuttling students between the Freshman Success Academy and the main high school campus.

Bill Clark addressed the infrastructure issues in the JCHS main campus building that would total $31 million to repair/renovate or replace.

Clark said that building a new high school is something the community needs to strongly consider.

“Our building is really not conducive to the education environment of today, and so to really help ourselves deliver the right curriculum to meet the needs of military students, to help keep Fort Riley viable, it’s something that we as a community need to take a look at,” said Clark.

Roughly 58% of Geary USD 475 students are tied to the military; Clark said that BRAC, Base Realignment and Closings are something that the community needs to keep in mind.

There has been public discussion tat the Department of Defense will face the challenge of BRAC after the upcoming Presidential election – Clark said that building a new high school can offset that potential in the community.

“The leadership of the army has stated that there’s certain criteria that will help to evaluate military bases, and of those that’s been articulated is the value of public education to support military families,” said Clark.

Sharp, JCHS Principal said that outdated facilities is not a unique challenge to Geary county, the state or even the nation – but this community has the opportunity to upgrade or build new facilities at potentially no cost to the taxpayer.

District leaders will continue work with a the JCHS Steering Committee to gain the support of the community.