Knob Noster Public Schools

August 3, 2026

Dear Knob Noster Students, Parents, and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well and that you have enjoyed a great summer 2026 as we celebrated America 250 and the freedom we all share. We look forward to continuing this celebration through the remainder of this year across our All-American community!

As we enter August, we begin shifting focus to our return to school.  With the transition to our new high school this fall, I am writing to provide some clarifications to help us all remain on the same page. Below is the topline information.

1. School for all PreK-Eighth Grade students will begin on August 24, and all activities associated with the published school calendar remain the same for these students.
2. All schools other than the high school will continue operations as they did last year.The previous high school will be offline for the 2026-2027 school year (or longer) as significant repairs and renovations occur. Parents will be updated in advance regarding when grade reconfiguration will occur following the upcoming school year.
3. The new high school project is exceeding expectations and will be a point of pride for our community for decades to come. However, a construction project of this scope is challenging, with weather being a key variable. The unusually rainy spring/summer seasons of 2025 and 2026 significantly impacted the construction timeline.
4. Accordingly, there is a good chance the start of school for HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY may be slightly delayed until no later than September 8. At this time, KNHS students should plan to return on August 24. However, if a delay is needed, we will notify parents on or around August 14.
5. At this time, we have a very tight timeline for completing the KNHS project and subsequently securing the Certificate of Occupancy, which ensures all life safety requirements have been met so that we may safely use the building. The Certificate of Occupancy is a signal of substantial completion of the project. In addition to safety, we want to ensure our KNHS team is settled and ready to deliver high-quality instruction for our students on day one.
6. If a delay in the start of KNHS does occur and if this causes a hardship for your family or your child, please contact your KNHS counselors. We do have options available for students to report to school in alternative settings which can provide meaningful learning and/or service experiences.
7. Any delays associated with the High School will NOT cause changes to the schedule for any other building. The board-approved district calendar has additional time built in to cover this delay for high school students, should it occur. KNHS will meet state requirements without significant (if any) other changes to the published calendar.
8. Alternative Methods of Instruction will not be used in any way regarding any potential delay for KNHS, unless something unforeseeable occurs. This is highly unlikely.
9. Regarding registration, administration, and student support needs, all KNHS functions will remain at the previous KNHS until further notice. The new KNHS will remain an active construction site in the weeks ahead, and therefore, must remain clear of students, parents, and visitors.
10. Regarding high school sports, our new stadium and new gymnasium will be delayed beyond the start of the year. We do anticipate these facilities will be completed and available for use within a month of the start of school. Until they are complete and available, sporting practices and activities will occur at the previous high school. Additional details are forthcoming from your coaches. We recognize this will cause some additional transportation and coordination issues. We thank you for your understanding, flexibility and cooperation.
11. Our high school sports meetings will be held as scheduled at Knob Noster Middle School.
12. Our KNHS Freshmen Orientation, Open House and Back to School activities are on hold with final dates to be announced as soon as possible. These dates will align with the scheduled or the delayed opening of the new KNHS.
13. As a reminder, there are several phases of the project that will continue for the next 12 months or so at the new high school campus. Those include the multipurpose building, the manufacturing and agriculture auxiliary building, and the greenhouse. The grounds of the campus will also take significant time to get into final condition, given the size of this campus. You should expect to see construction continuing in these isolated areas throughout the year. Safeguards will be in place to ensure students remain safe and learning remains uninterrupted.
14. Regarding the previous high school renovation, the district is awaiting outcomes of a grant before commencing this project, as the grant will impact the scope of work that will be completed. This building will receive much-needed renovation and update before coming back online as our new Knob Noster Middle School.
15. Financially speaking, our publicly communicated plan is working as expected for all projects. The new KNHS project will be completed in full, as promised. Renovation of the existing KNHS will occur, as promised. The Board of Education will have some very favorable news to share soon regarding the status of the financial plan.
16. Regarding a celebratory ceremony for the new KNHS, the decision was made to push that event back so that it may occur in conjunction with our 2026 Homecoming. Our goal is to invite and involve as many community members as possible, both current and past. This will also help the dust settle (literally) as much of our fall grass and sod will be delayed until weather allows for safer planting. Our Board and our team are very excited about this project, and we look forward to celebrating with you in the near future!

As we head into the new school year, I wanted to provide this information to help you plan for the return to school. As with every back-to-school season, please look for further communications from the district and from your individual schools, teachers, and coaches.

As always, please contact my office or your school office with any questions. We specifically ask that you NOT rely on social media, community chat rooms, or word of mouth from secondary sources to acquire information or to seek answers to your questions. These are often not reliable sources and often do not share accurate information. Seeking information directly from our district is a key step in helping eliminate uncertainty and misinformation which can lead to confusion and frustration.

Thank you for your time to review this information. We are incredibly excited about the new school year, and we look forward to seeing you back in ALL our schools very soon.  Reach out anytime.

~ Knob Noster Public Schools Our Mission Is Student Success! ~

V/R,

Jerrod Wheeler

Superintendent