Sikeston kindergarten building project moving along; recent heavy rains impact work site

SIKESTON — Construction on the Sikeston Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education Center’s multipurpose building and safe space is moving along; however, recent, heavy rains have impacted work-site conditions.

Richard Graves, project superintendent, briefed the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education on the project during the board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday at Central Office.

Heavy rainfall in mid-December combined with 3 inches of rain last week and additional rain early Thursday have made for some muddy conditions at the construction site.

“Right now, progress-wise, the brick is moving along,” Graves said. “I just want to bring up – you know that we had 3 inches of rain last week — I pumped for about a day and a half, just trying to get water off the project site. We’re dealing with some of that. It was nice and dry when I got there, and now it’s raining every three or four days.”

The project crew is moving forward with mason work on the building, Graves said.

“We’re on the west side right now, and we’ve got half of that front entrance done,” He said.

Graves hoped to have rest of the west side completed this week; however, he anticipated Thursday’s rain pushing that estimate back. Once that’s complete, the crew ill move to the south side of the building, he said.

“On the inside portion, we have almost all duct work up,” Graves said. “We do have the unit sitting there to hang up in the ceiling, and we’re working on getting the transitions to those. We’re trying to get those finished up. This week and next week, we’re trying to have as much of the mechanical systems up inside the building, including the sprinkler, too.”

Obviously, there have been some challenges, including the heavy precipitation and cold temperatures.

“The site work is really where there are concerns because we’ve got some ruts down there already,” Graves said, adding the mason equipment off of the site, and there are still some sidewalks and canopies to install.

The kindergarten’s new multipurpose room/safe space be able to provide space for physical education classes which have been held in the cafeteria. Also, on rainy days and other inclement weather, the students will be able to utilize the gym during recess,.

The new building will include an office/room in there for PE teachers, bathrooms, custodial closet and storage room. There will also be a very low-stage area called a platform that can be used for performances.

Graves said currently the estimated completion date is March 6.

“I’ll be brutally honest with you, guys,” Graves told the Board. “We’re trying to get it done as quick as possible. I want to get it done for you as fast as possible. I also want to give you a quality product, do stuff in the right manner. That’s something I’m pretty much known for when we build stuff.”

In other informational items at Tuesday’s meeting, Kaleigh Merideth, R-6 lead nurse, provided the health services report, and Natalie Bohannon, R-6 communications and marketing specialist, briefed the board with a communications update.

Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Shannon Holifield provided the district CSIP, or Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, and strategic plan update. She said the district is to finalize its CSIP and bring the entire strategic group back together in the spring.

As of Dec. 1, districtwide enrollment was at 3,260, which is about 100 students less than the same time last year. The superintendent noted these are December figures, and historically, the district does receive an influx of new students in January, which is also the beginning of the second semester.

In action by the board, a budget amendment was approved as were board policies 2521, 0440 and 2310.