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Bulldog Hall ribbon cutting is Aug. 17
SIKESTON — Sikeston R-6 School District’s building projects continue moving along as a ribbon cutting and open house for the high school’s Bulldog Hall is scheduled for next week.
During Tuesday’s regular monthly school board meeting at central office, Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Shannon Holifield provided an update on the district’s building projects.
“Teachers began moving into Bulldog Hall on Monday,” Holifield said. “Things are in very good order with Bulldog Hall. We have a punch list that’s not very long, and they are quickly addressing that, and communication has been great.”
Holifield noted there are some minor pieces that still need to come together. For example, some of the can lights for the library media center that have not arrived yet, but they are expected to in a couple months and will be installed over Thanksgiving break, she said. Also, the used electrical box will be switched out with the new one, which as delayed, over Christmas break.
“The grounds look great; sod is in and landscaping looks really good,” Holifield said. “We’re real excited and more than ready for the ribbon cutting. It’s been a really great experience.”
The ribbon cutting and open house for Bulldog Hall is at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17.
The razing of C Building, which is the space Bulldog Hall replaces, on the high school began Aug. 5 and work continues to demolish the building and clean up the site, the superintendent said.
Things are looking great at the new Lee Hunter Elementary, which had its ribbon cutting and open house July 12, Holifield said.
“We knew the day we had the ribbon cutting, there were still still things not done; however, the punch list seems to not be reducing,” Holifield said.
Because of this, Holifield said she called a special meeting on Tuesday with Navigate Solutions and Fleming Architects to discuss the issue.
“We realized some things on the punch list can be fixed while school is in session,” Holifield said, adding finish dates for some of the other items were determined and needed for district officials to plan and get ready for the new school year.
A quick walk-through of Lee Hunter was also planned for Thursday to address any remaining questions, she said.
“Teachers are moving in, and it’s going to be a beautiful place,” Holifield said of the new elementary building.
The multi-purpose room addition project at the Kindergarten Center also continues, she said.
“If you’ve driven by the Kindergarten Center, you can see they’ve made some progress and where the work is getting done there,” Holifield said.
Districtwide bathroom renovations are underway and nearing completion, too, she said.
“The two public bathroom renovations at the Field House are almost complete and the same at the alternative school,” Holifield said.
Bathroom renovations at A Building on the high school campus are a bit further behind the others, but they will be completed by the time school starts on Aug. 23.
“The safety vestibules at Middle School and Southeast Elementary are still not complete, but they are on track for completion before school starts,” the superintendent said.
Holifield commended R-6 Director of Building and Grounds Lorrie McClenton and her staff for the work they’ve done on the renovations.
“They have worked extremely hard – after hours and on the weekends — and have gone above and beyond, and our custodial services, CPC, have been fantastic as well,” Holifield said.
In other business Tuesday:
— The Board approved the re-adoption of the “COVID-19 Operational Plan and Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.”
“It’s exactly how we finished the school year,” Holifield said of the plan. She noted the biggest change in the plan was students will go through the breakfast line once again and eat in their classrooms. They will eat lunch in the cafeterias.
— The Board approved the professional development plan for the 2022-2023 school year.
— Holifield gave an update on the district’s strategic plan. The district has engaged GlennView, a consulting firm located in Cape Girardeau, to assist with the strategic planning process, and recently conducted six focus groups with stakeholders including the Board of Education, administrators, faculty and staff, students, parents, and business and community leaders. Two stakeholder retreats will be held to finalize the district’s strategic plan.
“Teams have been developed,” Holifield said, adding they will meet next month. “The (online survey will close this weekend.”
The district anticipates completing the process early in the fall semester.