In 2014, the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District proposed to create a middle school at the high school's long-time Victory Lane location. Upon voter approval of the April 2014 tax levy increase, the campus would unite all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students in one location. The switch was to entail a massive renovation of existing facilities, but would ultimately improve safety and provide adequate space for growth in enrollments and educational programs.
It has been nearly a year since the district's vision has been realized and while there are yet a few kinks to work out following a rocky start last September, every promise made on the election fact sheet published by Poplar Bluff R-1 Schools in 2014 has been kept, according to Dr. Brad Owings, principal, who has been with the district for nearly three years.
"In fact, we had a bump in enrollment last year," Owings said. "We typically have 400 students per grade level. The group coming in (from the elementary schools) was 430 students so we added two new classrooms in the 4th grade hallway."
Plans to create the new middle school included improvements and updates to existing classrooms, connection of all separated buildings with enclosed corridors, a new front addition to provide for a secured front entry, library and media center, centralized administration and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) rooms. The renovation also meant demolition of C building, which would have been astronomical to renovate and in it's place the addition of a secured playground.
The playground took additional time to finish and in lieu of having recess inside, Owings said the middle school utilized Kiwanis Bacon Park for about one quarter of the school year.
Improvements that didn't happen at the middle school were promised by the City of Poplar Bluff and not by the school district. Plans to build a new entrance off Kanell Blvd., at N. Westwood Blvd., didn't happen but Owings said it was a blessing in disguise regarding traffic flow.
"I don't know the ins and outs of why that never came to pass, but I can say I'm glad that they didn't do that because I need every foot of the current loop for parents to line up in. (Otherwise) we would have traffic backed into the highway every day (during drop off and pick up times)," he said.
Owings said he is looking forward to beginning his first school year in Poplar Bluff without construction and hopes for smooth sailing. He said the library has been a great addition for the students, as well as the secured front entrance and that many of the remaining issues from the major construction projects are quickly being addressed.
One issue that plagued the campus throughout the 2016-17 school year was flooding in various parts of the campus. Owings said water would only enter the buildings during torrential rains and that several fixes were put in place to keep water out, including strategically placed bales of straw to relieve water flowing downhill and flooding the walkway under A building.
Superintendent Scott Dill verified water had previously entered two classrooms near the lower A entrance and that rerouting water flow was a top priority. Owings said since maintenance crews placed the straw barricades and cleaned the drain, flooding has no longer been an issue.
Dill noted during the short but heavy rainfall Thursday, water entered the lower gym lobby and said crews were working to address the situation.
Another issue Owings found concerning was though he was able to find two additional classrooms last year, he said it already placed the school in a tight spot.
"We're full. We had enough classrooms in the 4th grade hall to accommodate them. 5th grade's going to be a little bit tougher and we have enough in 6th grade. But after getting those two classrooms, we really don't have any spaces."
He said at this point, there is one more room that could be used to accommodate a class. Owings went on to say while creating additional space would require work, the option is definitely available as enrollment continues to grow.
Dill added that while he is aware spaces are full, he said further examination of classroom usage would occur prior to further renovation projects.