Kennedy Elementary was established in 1968 in Saint Joseph. The building was unique in its granite exterior and round design. It was an open school, but walls were added in the mid 70’s. For many years it housed approximately 250 students in various grade configurations from K-6, to K-4, to then adding PreK, to then being PreK-6th. As the town of St. Joseph grew, so did the student population at Kennedy. By 2005, four portable classrooms had been added. By 2006, it became evident that the school could no longer house the now 450 students.

Plans got underway to purchase land and get approval for a bond referendum. 72 acres were purchased about a mile outside of town, and work began to convince the voters of District 742 of the need for a school. The community strongly advocated for a green school and a school that could house and program for grades 7 and 8. The advocacy paid off. The referendum passed in 2006, and plans were underway for the new Kennedy Community School. All students and staff were bused out to the site for the official ground breaking ceremony in May of 2007.

The new school opened in the Fall of 2008. It was LEED certified at the gold level, meaning it met the standards of an outside agency for sustainability and energy efficiency. Numerous elements of our design and construction led to the rating. Daylighting, geothermal heating and cooling, indoor air quality are just a few of the green elements. Solar panels and a wind turbine are on site to help teach students about alternative energy as well as to provide electricity.

Currently, Kennedy Community School is home to 750+ students in Grades PreK-8.