School construction ongoing; local contractors benefit

For its supporters, the mood was elation.

On April 6, 2010, voters in the Cape Girardeau School District overwhelmingly approved a $40 million bond proposal to replace an elementary school, build an event complex and address deferred maintenance throughout the district, among other projects. The issue, which required 57.2 percent for approval, garnered 61.26 percent of the vote.

It was a long time coming, the bond issue's champions said.

"This is really a testament to the determination of our school district," said Kyle McDonald, who served as school board president at the time.

The last time voters approved a bond proposal was in April 2000, with the support of an $18 million bond issue to build a new high school.

Nearly a year after the district got the green light, construction is humming on millions of dollars of building projects, with some work in the books and the entire scope still on schedule to be completed by the end of 2010.

"It's going really well," said district superintendent Jim Welker. "I really give a lot of credit to our professional team we have."

Leading the projects, McCarthy Building Companies and local architect Phillip Smith. Bond Wolfe, a St. Louis architecture firm, will handle the larger projects, like the Cape Girardeau Central High School auditorium.

"We have a great team and things have gone really well," Welker said. "I've been impressed with all those groups.

"It's kind of exciting to watch these things planned out."

The plan is proceeding rapidly.

Construction crews last year replaced roofs at Alma Schrader and Clippard elementary schools, and work has begun on some $6 million in further upgrades to Shrader, Clippard and Jefferson Elementary School.

Clippard construction plans call for two major additions: kindergarten and preschool rooms, and a multimedia center. Alma Schrader's corridor will be enclosed, two classrooms will be added, and a small office and music room will be completed. Jefferson construction plan includes an administrative office at the front of the school, reflooring the school, a new roof and the installation of a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

The bond issue has meant a big boost to the Southeast Missouri construction trade. Sides Construction of Cape Girardeau, for instance, is handling the general construction work at Jefferson, earning a $501,000 bid. River City Mechanical of Jackson was the winning bidder for mechanical and plumbing work, with a $1,125,000 contract.

"As we were promoting during the bond issue, we anticipated using a lot of different contractors from the area, and that should have an impact on the local economy," Welker said.

What's next?

Bids are going out for the construction of a new 50,000 square-foot Franklin Elementary School, the biggest of the district's projects, estimated to cost $10 million. Bids also were expected to go out in Frebuary for the planned stadium complex at the high school, pegged at more than $2.4 million, and the school's planned $8 million Richard D. Kinder Performance Hall. The auditorium last month received a $1 million gift from Cape Girardeau Central High School almnus and world-renowned businessman Rich Kinder.

Also on the list of projects to begin this year, the Cape Girardeau Central High library addition, projected to cost more than $2 million, updates to Cape Girardeau Central Middle School, and a 16-classroom wing at the high school, at a projected price tag of $4.3 million.

Construction should begin by this summer.

Welker expects everything to be wrapped up by the end of 2012.

The superintendent thanked Cape Girardeau voters for their support.

"This will help us bring our facilities where we need to be, and we appreciate and thank the community for supporting us in this bond issue," Welker said.

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