Construction of Wing Elementary underway

Sikeston R-6 School District administrators, past and current board of education members and bond steering committee members pose during the groundbreaking of Wing Elementary early Tuesday at the construction site located at the corner of Col. George E. Day Parkway and Brunt Boulevard in Sikeston. Pictured are, from left: former school board member Jim Gleason; current board member Scott Crumpecker; current board president Matt Tanner; Michelle Worth, co-chair of the bond steering committee Better Schools Make Better Communities; Chuck Mayes, chief academic officer/curriculum and professional development’ Matthews Elementary academic leader Crystal Hartzog; Lynn Crader, assistant superintendent for elementary/special education services; superintendent Tom Williams; Matthews Elementary facilities manager Todd Jenkins; Shannon Holifield, assistant superintendent for secondary/support services; former board member Amy Blanton; current board vice president Rebecca Steward; current board member Aaron Boyce; Lori Boardman, director of R-6 business services; current board member Chad Bles; current board member Glen Cantrell; and current board member Kyle Alcorn.

Leonna Heuring/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — Construction on the new Sikeston R-6 elementary school officially began early Tuesday with a groundbreaking ceremony by district administrators, past and current board of education members and bond steering committee members.

The 17 individuals in attendance gathered briefly under a partly-sunny sky and 80-degree weather at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the site of the future Wing Elementary located at the corner of Col. George E. Day Parkway and Brunt Boulevard in Sikeston.

Since the $11-million bond issue was approved by Sikeston R-6 voters in April 2017, Superintendent Tom Williams said the most frequently asked question he’s received from patrons has been: “When are we going to get started?”

Williams said he’s happy to say construction is officially underway.

“Now that they’ve gotten started, that gets everyone excited,” Williams said following the groundbreaking on Tuesday.

The project has been broken into stages, the superintendent said.

Pictured is an artist rendition of Sikeston R-6’s Wing Elementary, which is currently under construction. The new school building located at is expected to be completed by July 2019.

Image courtesy of Sikeston R-6 School District

“Right now they’re preparing the ground for the main part of the building, such as the administrative offices, library, cafeteria and so on,” Williams said. “Then they’ll move to the gymnasium section, and, lastly, they’ll go to the classroom section.”

Water, sanitation and electricity will be the focus of those working at the site from July 4-24, according to the district’s website.

“They’re bringing in soil to compact and have that tested. Then they’ll begin the process as far as laying concrete and so forth,” Williams said.

The overall plan is for the building to be completed by July 2019 and ready for use for the 2019-2020 school year.

“We’ll come back prior to start of the school year and have a grand opening,” Williams said. “We’ll invite the whole community into the building.”

Throughout construction, project snippets will be posted on the district’s website and social media, said Sarah Thompson, who handles communications for the district.

“We have set up a time lapse camera, and it’s been recording all summer long,” Thompson said. “You can speed up a full month into a 30-second video so we’ll be able to see the progress as it goes.”

Thompson said those video updates will be posted from time to time and encouraged the public to check the district’s website often.

“That will be very exciting when we get to see the actual progress in quick time,” she added.

The new elementary school will include a multi-purpose building and safe room.

“I’m very appreciative as is the school district and school board of Scott Matthews and his family for their donation of this land,” Williams said. “The support he has given the district throughout this venture has been very exciting — and he’s very excited about it.”

For updates on the project, check the district website: sikestonr6.org and click on the link: “Wing Elementary Updates.”