SPS breaks ground on $42M middle school

Photo provided by Springfield Public Schools

Jarrett Principal Kirk Slater thanks Superintendent John Jungmann and the SPS Board of Education for their vision on Prop S during a livestreamed groundbreaking ceremony.

Construction progress sparked by Springfield Public Schools’ 2019 passage of the $168 million Proposition S bond issue continues to pop up across the city.

SPS yesterday broke ground on the new Jarrett Middle School, a $41.5 million project at the site of the recently demolished Portland Elementary School.

"Despite the many challenges that 2020 has brought, it's been a year of celebrations related to Proposition S projects," Superintendent John Jungmann said during the livestreamed ceremony. "This fall, the first three major projects were completed and we were able to welcome new students into facilities for Adah Fulbright Early Childhood Center, Delaware Elementary and Sunshine Elementary."

Jungmann added the Jarrett project joins recent groundbreaking ceremonies held for Hillcrest High School, and Boyd and Williams elementary schools.

Jarrett Principal Kirk Slater said the new campus on Portland Street would span 130,000 square feet. That compares with 80,000 square feet at its current facility on South Jefferson Avenue. During the ceremony, Slater commended Jungmann and the SPS Board of Education for their vision on the Prop S development projects.

Jungmann said the new Jarrett would be able to accommodate up to 725 middle school students when it's completed in August 2022. Branco Enterprises Inc. is serving as general contractor for the project designed by Dake Wells Architecture Inc.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. today at Sunshine Elementary School, where a nearly $14 million renovation and expansion project was completed this fall by Carson-Mitchell Inc.