New Charleston R-I Central Office is open for business

Located in the A.D. Simpson Building, 311 E. Tom Brown St., the Charleston R-1 Central Office is located on the east side of the building while the Board of Education meeting room is located on the west. Visitors may use the building’s north entrance, the doors facing East Tom Brown Street.

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The main office and special services offices have opened at the new Charleston R-1 Central Office just in time for the new school year, which begins for students on Aug. 15.

Located in the A.D. Simpson Building, 311 E. Tom Brown St., the main office is located on the east side of the building while the Board of Education meeting room is located on the west. Visitors may use the building’s north entrance, the doors facing East Tom Brown Street.

While the project is currently unfinished, staff members have ensured all vital district-level operations and processes remained up and running throughout the relocation process, according to B.J. Babb, who handles communication for the district.

Director of Facilities and Transportation Bobby McKenzie and his crew have worked nonstop to see the project through.

“It has been a big project, but we hope to complete all phases by second semester,” McKenzie said.

Babb said McKenzie and his crew are to be commended for their countless hours of hard work, persistence and dedication.

Several administrative offices, including some once located in other buildings, are being consolidated into the new Central Office. The goal is to provide a more centralized location for district-level operations while offering Charleston Middle School and Hearnes Elementary some much needed additional classroom space, according to Brett Blackman, safety director for Charleston R-I.

Blackman said the relocation yields some distinct safety benefits to the district.

“A.D. Simpson Building provides better security, accessibility, and space for Central Office,” Blackman said. “With this relocation, we have the space to house several important offices and resources previously located throughout the district, under one roof. This move will play a key role in improving our district crisis communications and other safety efforts.”

Dr. Kimberley Blissett, principal at Charleston Middle School, said the completed project will benefit her school. The old central office building is set to become a part of CMS once the relocation is complete.

“CMS will gain some much-needed classroom and administrative space,” says Blissett, stating that they will be able “to expand curriculum offerings.”

Now that space is being freed up at Warren E. Hearnes Elementary School, Principal Angela Zorbas said she’s able to allow more space for services provided to preK-5th grade students.

WEH is now “able to expand and improve OT/PT, reading remediation and special needs services while addressing some safety concerns,” Zorbas said.

Trevaughn Robinson and Q’Nairies Anderson, both incoming seniors at CHS, helped with the relocation of Central Office. The students were participating in the Summer Jobs program provided by the Youth Workforce Development Board at the Bowden Center. The young men assisted the maintenance crew around the school district with odd jobs.

Trevaughn Robinson and Q’Nairies Anderson, both incoming seniors at CHS, helped Director of Facilities and Transportation Bobby McKenzie with the relocation of Central Office.

Superintendent Dr. Tammy Lupardus would like to remind the public that, during a transition period of July 30 through Aug. 31, some systems, offices or resources may become temporarily unavailable. Some services may still be provided at the old office, 1014 S. Main St., during the transition period, she noted.

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New contact information for Charleston R-I Central Office: Charleston R-I Central Office; A.D. Simpson Building; 311 E. Tom Brown Street/P.O. Box 39; Charleston, MO 63834. Phone and fax (temporary) number is 573-290-2825.