TRC accepts bid for Sikeston campus

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers College accepted a bid Wednesday for approximately $6.4 million to construct its Eastern Campus in Sikeston, Mo.

The 40,000-square-foot facility marks the first newly constructed building outside the college's taxing district and its first significant construction in a decade.

Three Rivers also will formally enter into an agreement next week with the University of Missouri to begin classes in Willow Springs, Mo. This will become the college's farthest off-campus site.

Wright Construction of St. Peters, Mo., was accepted as the low bidder during the monthly board of trustees meeting. Cost projections from 2010 had been as high as $8 million, according to president Dr. Devin Stephenson.

Three Rivers expects to begin moving into the Sikeston campus by this time next year, Stephenson said. Classes should begin in the spring 2015 semester, at least a semester before scheduled.

"We are very pleased," Stephenson said.

The new campus will accommodate between 1,200 and 1,500 students. The current 8,000-square-foot facility has been at its 500-student capacity for some time, according to Three Rivers.

The college is uncertain how many students will attend at Willow Springs when the campus begins serving students in January, Stephenson said. Three Rivers already provides services there, including workforce training and a dual-credit high school program, but will now take over a former Missouri Department of Transportation building to expand offerings.

Classes will be offered in conjunction with Missouri State University, similar to Three Rivers' partnership with Southeast Missouri State University for courses held in Cape Girardeau, Stephenson said.

The two schools will form the South Central Education Consortium, sharing responsibilities and costs at the campus. They will sign partnership agreements Tuesday at an event in Willow Springs. Gov. Jay Nixon and other dignitaries are expected to speak.

Three Rivers first announced the possibility of a Willow Springs location in summer 2011. Administrators had hoped classes could begin within six months, but the two schools initially had difficulty reaching a partnership agreement. Recent delays were caused by budget concerns, Stephenson said, and funding withholdings.

About half of the credit hours Three Rivers provides to students each semester are generated outside its taxing district.

Trustees have supported the college's entrepreneurial approach to serving communities at every part of Three Rivers' service area, director of communications Teresa Johnson said.

Site work at the Sikeston campus has already begun, Stephenson said. The footprint for the building has been laid out, a mall area clearly defined and work started on the U.S. 61 interchange, which will be an exit for the campus.

Wright Construction's bid listed a completion time of 300 days. Eleven bids were received, ranging from the low bid to nearly $7.3 million from RL Persons of Poplar Bluff. Completion times ranged from 255 days to 730.

The project includes a $750,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for a community safe room.

In other business, trustees:

* Heard the Halloween Safe Zone event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31, moved this year to the Tinnin Fine Arts Center due to renovations and conflicts at the Bess Activity Center. The event is sponsored by River Radio and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

"It will be a very positive, very safe environment for our kids to come and enjoy the Halloween festivities," said Dr. Angela Totty, vice president for student success.

* Discussed the progress of a search for a dean of workforce development.

* Discussed the upcoming Missouri Community College Association conference, at which eight people from Three Rivers be presenters.

* Approved a policy regarding awards, gifts and prizes that meets IRS guidelines.

* Hired Larry Todd Allen as ACHIEVE program director.