Work in progress

Jackson High School is the site of a major construction project, but for students, life goes on as normal.

As the bell rings, students flood into the main corridor, seemingly unaware of the construction workers on the roof of their new arts complex or of the incomplete steel beams above their heads. The beams will eventually connect most of the six buildings on campus under one roof.

Jackson High Concert Choir leader Christy Shinn is excited about the additional space that will come when new arts buildings open next year. Currently, several of the music groups are larger than the practice spaces can accomodate. (Kit Doyle)

A majority of the construction is now on the outer edges of campus, away from heavy traffic flow, but still a reminder of the continuing development.

"You can finally see what everything is going to look like," principal Rick McClard said. "We're really excited about that."

Students returned from summer break to discover a newly paved parking lot with about 650 spaces, the foundation poured for a new music center and the exterior walls erected for a new events center. They also saw ducts installed in the old primary building, which will allow for central air and heat, and drainage and sewer systems in place. The primary annex has been remodeled to allow for industrial arts and agriculture classes.

Jackson High students made their way around construction areas between classes Friday, August 31, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

"You can see changes almost daily," McClard said.

The school broke ground on the project last October, following voter approval of a $19.8 million bond issue.

School officials intended for the heaviest work involving noise or dust to be completed when students were not present.

The summer drought allowed workers to make up lost time from digging into rock and unexpected discoveries of in-ground storage facilities not included in drawings, said superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson. Part of the campus was originally constructed in 1923, the rest in the 1950s. A shortage of bricklayers up until the last two weeks also temporarily stymied the project.

Despite these setbacks, McClard expects the project to be back on track shortly. "We feel pretty good the overall project will be completed on time," he said.

Anderson said the events complex is scheduled for an early February completion, with the rest of phase one to be completed by the spring. The second phase, which will include a new library and classroom space, can then begin. Anderson expects it to take about 14 months and cost around $6 million. Drawings are in the works.

Phase one, which includes the art, music, industrial arts and event centers and a new cafeteria, is estimated to cost $15.5 million. Anderson said the project is "just about" on budget.

Safety is a factor driving much of the work. Anderson estimates there are currently 20 entrances to the school. When complete, the campus will most likely have three, making it easier to monitor.

The renovations will also create more than 100,000 square feet of space, which will help ease some crowding issues.

Head choral teacher Christy Shinn said she has between 60 and 65 students in her afternoon classes.

Jackson High students switched classes Friday, August 31, 2007, passing through what will be the Main Corridor, heading to the auditorium building. (Kit Doyle)

"Kids are wall-to-wall," she said. "It's hard to even walk into the room." Throwing backpacks into the mix, and with only one exit in her room, she said she worries about safety.

She said she is most looking forward to the additional practice space. During morning and after-school practices, she said students are forced to find any available nook and cranny, such as closets or even the bathroom to practice.

Knee-high steel rods mark where individual practice rooms will be in the new music facility. Anderson said teachers met with architects multiple times to help design the new space.

The facility will have digital recording capabilities, and the events center will have the acoustic capabilities and space to host concerts that have previously been held in churches or on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

"We feel like we have the best band and choir program in the state, and we haven't been able to do much with it at home," McClard said.

Jackson High's College Speech class is currently housed in the rear of the auditorium, which will be used primarily for set and theatre-related housing once new buildings open next year. (Kit Doyle)

The updated high school, serving grades 10 through 12, will have facilities to handle 1,800 students. Now there are about 1,200 students, the same as last year, although this year's sophomore class is the largest the school has seen.

"I don't know if people understood what a large project it has been. They're just starting to get an idea of what an undertaking it is," McClard said.