Festus R-6 school officials have allocated nearly $5 million to build an approximately 10,500-square-foot addition to Festus Intermediate School at 1501 Mid-Meadow Lane.
The Festus Board of Education voted unanimously April 17 to award a $4,976,990 contract to Brockmiller Construction of Farmington to build the addition. The company submitted the lowest of five bids for the project, Superintendent Nicki Ruess reported.
The district previously hired Brockmiller to construct a 20,041-square-foot addition at Festus Middle School, 1717 W. Main St. The cost to build that addition was $7,574,900, and construction is projected to be completed in June, so Brockmiller will finish up that addition while beginning work on the new project, Ruess said.
“While the landscaping work is being completed at the Middle School, the Intermediate project will begin,” she said. “Brockmiller will start at the Intermediate School May 28.”
The Intermediate School is a 78,258-square-foot building, so the addition will bring its total size to about 88,758 square feet. The project will also include modifications to the existing building, she said.
Ruess said the target for the opening of the Intermediate addition is fall 2026.
She said the addition will include eight classrooms and four single-use restrooms. It also will double as a storm shelter as required by updated codes.
“The existing building will be modified to provide renovations to the existing lower level and will include: one standard-size classroom; three smaller special-use classrooms; a multipurpose room; one special-needs restroom; and a classroom storage area,” Ruess said. “It also will include the expansion and redesign of the existing playground and the addition of another playground on the classroom expansion side of the building.”
She said the additions at the Middle and Intermediate schools are needed to meet the needs of the district’s growing population. Once the Middle School project finishes, the district’s sixth grade will move from the Intermediate School to the Middle School. When the Intermediate School project is completed, the district’s third grade will move from Festus Elementary School to the Intermediate School.
“As more families choose Festus for their children’s education, it is essential that we provide the space and resources necessary to support high-quality learning environments,” Ruess said. “These additions will allow us to better serve our students and provide needed space for continued programs.”
The Middle School addition will bring that building’s total size to 89,848 square feet.
The district is paying for the Middle School and Intermediate School projects with revenue from a 59-cent tax increase voters approved in 2019.
“I am incredibly thankful to our community for their ongoing support of our schools,” Ruess said. “Their investment in our students’ future is not something I take for granted, and it is because of their commitment to excellence and high expectations that we are able to continue growing, improving and providing the very best educational experience for all children.”
Also at the April 17 meeting, the new school board members elected on April 8 were sworn in. The board now consists of Doug Wendel, Doreen Berezowski, Brent Abrams, Mike Wolk, Josh Martin and new members Mike Kinder and Alex Wilkey.