Jackson school district holds groundbreaking for new elementary school

Against a backdrop of construction workers putting up masonry walls and grading ground, Jackson school officials and community members turned out Thursday for the groundbreaking of the district's newest school.

The 105,000-square-foot building will sit on 15 acres at 455 N. Lacey St. The project architect is Warner Nease Bost Architects Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., and the contractor is Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, Mo.

Construction is being is financed with a bond of about $16 million that was approved by voters April 3, 2012.

The land was purchased in 2000 with an eye toward growth, assistant superintendent Beth Emmendorfer said. It is close to Interstate 55 as well, offering easier access.

"This is a morning we've been waiting for quite a while," superintendent Ron Anderson said. " ... It's been in the works for quite a few years. We're seeing a tremendous amount of activity, and you can hear it, as we speak."

Board president Terri Tomlin said the contractor started quickly on the building.

Tomlin said the new school will "greatly expand" the district's ability to reach more early childhood and elementary students.

"It's an honor to see this project actually begin as many parents, community leaders, teachers, administrators and school board members have worked toward this goal for several years," Tomlin said.

Anderson said a completion date for the building has not been determined because construction speed depends on weather conditions. It may be ready in 2014, but likely not in time for the start of the school year.

The building will contain 24 classrooms for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, with additional class space for student support services.

A separate wing will include 10 classrooms for early childhood education, Emmendorfer said.

Anderson said the building will be able to hold about 600 kindergarten through fifth-grade students and 150 to "maybe 200" early childhood youngsters. Anderson said the building was designed to be enlarged, if need be.

The school is needed to relieve crowding at South, Orchard and West Lane elementary schools, officials said. Emmendorfer said the district hasn't determined how many students from those schools will go to the new building, because attendance boundaries haven't been drawn yet.

"What we're trying to do is get an accurate attendance count," Anderson said. He added the longer the district waits for those figures, the more accurate the count will be.

Directed by Melody Gilbert, the West Lane Elementary School honors choir sang at the groundbreaking. On a few songs, students were accompanied by Jackson Middle School choir teacher Stephanie Fridley on guitar.

Along with adults from Brockmiller, the school district and chamber of commerce, students from South Elementary's early childhood program and Orchard Elementary participated in the groundbreaking. The students used mini shovels to turn the dirt.

"It's just an outstanding project," Anderson said after the ceremony. "A lot of it is the planning that went into it. We have designed flexibility into it. We'll have areas where students can work as teams. I think a lot of foresight has gone into this."

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

455 N. Lacey St., Jackson