Fueled by bond funds, Nixa Public Schools enters busy summer of planning, projects
Nixa Public Schools will juggle more than a dozen projects this summer, including laying the groundwork to build new student spaces and renovate others.
The major projects, including an addition at High Pointe Elementary and development of 38 acres adjacent to Nixa High School, were funded by a $47 million bond issue approved in April.
Part of the work this summer will be paid for with funds the district sets aside annually for maintenance, repairs and capital improvements.
Kevin Kopp, assistant superintendent of elementary education, said the design phase for those projects are under way with the goal of asking for construction bids in October or November.
"We are definitely accustomed to busy summers. But, when you pass a bond issue, it does feel busier because you have access to additional funds that support (projects) that we're able to do that we wouldn't have been able to do without that support," Kopp said. "This summer definitely feels busy."
Bids for the indoor multipurpose facility planned for the open land near the high school will likely be sought as early as January.
"That will be really a unique space. We're hoping that space will be used for not just athletics but activities, band and potentially banquets. It will be used a lot," Kopp said. "It's a big space. You can essentially put a football field inside of it."
Kopp said both of those projects are expected to take approximately one year to build.
In a recent interview, Kopp and Jared Webster, the Nixa Junior High principal who became the executive director of secondary schools on July 1, provided an update on many of the planned projects.
Junior high projects
Plans for the junior high including parking asphalt, a baseball clubhouse, a greenroom and a FACS — or Family and Consumer Sciences — laboratory.
The green room will be used for journalism students as well as the district's communications team, which produces videos.
"We want to be able to give our students even more opportunities to do journalistic things with that space," Kopp said.
The FACS lab will is be used during school hours and beyond.
"We are hoping to use that space not just for students but also for the community, where we may be doing some adult cooking classes and FACS-related things for interested community members," Kopp said.
High school projects
Outside of the high school building, there will be upgrades to the track, construction of a greenhouse, landscaping around the Eagle statue, and parking asphalt.
Kopp said the district received a grant for the greenhouse, which will be primarily used by FFA classes.
Inside, there will be a green room, lighting down the hallway leading to AETOS — the district performing arts center — and a remodel of the library.
Webster said the library will include new flooring, a classroom, a career center and a coffeeshop. He said it is similar to the set-up at a community college.
"We want to provide an area there that is very inviting to students ...," he said. "We want to create an atmosphere that really draws them in ... where they want to be there."
Safety upgrades are planned for the alternative center.
High Pointe projects
Due to crowding, the district has relied on mobile units to add space to the High Pointe campus. Enrollment has hovered near 600 students and the school is located in a fast-growing part of the city.
"Our community is really growing on the east side of town," Kopp said.
Kopp said 12 classrooms will be constructed as part of an addition there. "Several of the classrooms will be in a storm shelter."
The district has applied for FEMA funding to pay for part of the shelter.
The location of the storm shelter is important because High Pointe is right next to Summit Intermediate. "We will be creating enough storm shelter space at High Pointe that both schools will be able to shelter in that space."
New Activity Center
On the property next to the high school, the district will construct a new multipurpose activity center.
"You would be shocked to see how often our turf field is used by just about every activity or athletics you could think of from baseball to band to archery to football. It is overused," Kopp said. "We do have a couple of grass fields but they are not big enough. It opens up an opportunity to do more practices for more activities."
Kopp said the additional space will also allow for an expansion of intermurals.
"Only so many kids can make the team. We are looking for more opportunities for kids to be involved," he said. "We know that when kids are engaged in an activity at the high school, they do better in school."
Webster said with the high school "pushing 2,000" students, in terms of its enrollment, the activity center will free up space in other parts of the campus.
He said the size of the high school means there is a constant demand for common spaces, including the gyms.
Other projects
Kopp said traffic improvements will be made at several sites including a new car lane at Espy Elementary.
Other work planned this summer include HVAC and roof improvements, workroom remodels and upgrades and general maintenance, painting and cleaning.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Fueled by bond, Nixa district enters busy summer of planning, projects
