Construction progress on the new Reed Academy

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield Public Schools construction project is making progress. Walls are going up at Reed Academy, one of multiple projects funded by Proposition S , which was passed by voters last year.

“We’ve been working for two, two and a half months all underground,” said Bryan Saunders, a Bond Project Manager with Springfield Public Schools. “So we can build the building out, which will last another hundred years and more than that. So now we have the foundations in place and now we start on what the community is going to see rise up out of the ground with the new Reed Academy.”

Saunders said because the new building will be at the same site the previous one was demolished crews have been focusing underground since the groundbreaking in March.

The district says the walls going up is a milestone and they are excited for people driving by to see the progress.

“This is a very exciting day for Reed Academy, but it represents just one small piece of what phase two of Proposition S makes possible,” said Stephen Hall with SPS.  “We really appreciate this community, and we value the taxpayer dollars that are being invested in improving learning environments for our students.”

Reed Academy is part of phase two of Proposition S, just one of many projects funded by the $220 million bond. SPS says they will have a ribbon cutting for 6 storm shelter gyms after the school year starts in August, and other projects are just getting underway.

The district is under contract for the location of the new Pipkin Middle School, planning for work to start next year, and they are beginning design work on the new Pershing Middle School.

In addition to these large construction projects, the district says all schools within SPS have safety and security upgrades including upgraded cameras, door sensors and alarms all funded by Proposition S.

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