Groundbreaking on Future High School
More than 75 supporters celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for Poplar Bluff School’ new high school, the impetus of the district buildings plan, on Thursday, June 4, at the present site of the 5th & 6th Grade Center.
Pictured with shovels are (from left) Board Member Ken Davis, Senior High Principal Mike Kiehne, Board Members Alana Robertson and Gary Simmons, Board President John Scott, Superintendent Chris Hon, Board Vice President Dr. Cynthia Brown, Board Member Heather Tuggle, Board Member Steve Sells, Assistant Superintendent of Business Rod Priest, and Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Dr. Amy Jackson.
In attendance were state and city officials, business leaders, project managers, R-I administrators, the School Board of Education and members of the various committees established beginning in 2010 in order to help reach this major milestone, including: the Long-Range Planning Committee, the Citizens’ Advisory Council and the Committee for our Kids’ Future.
The current educational facility will receive a 135,000-square-foot addition featuring a new science wing, media center and centrally located commons area. The high school will share the 80-acre campus already housing the Technical Career Center and will include expanded spaces for band, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and athletics so students can safely navigate school activities without having to leave campus.
Site work led by general contractor K&S Associates out of St. Louis began as soon as school let out on May 15, with an anticipated completion date of September 2016. The project is one of a series of expansions and renovations across campus resulting from a $50 million levy measure voters approved in 2014 so the district can meet growth projections and improve the safety of students.
(Left to right) Architect Brett Dille goes over the site plan for the future high school with local businessmen, Herman Styles and Rick Lansford.