A pavilion has recently been constructed in front of the Middle School, connected to an ADA-compliant walking track installed last school year so that students can have expanded recreational space for recess.
The Parent Teacher Organization is responsible for financing the bulk of the project through fundraising efforts over the past few years, mostly from student-led candy bar sales, while the PBHS Class of 1972 made a substantial donation toward its completion.
"It's been a coordinated effort to enhance safety and accessibility for our students, and the group continues to look at other options to be made available to our kids through this wonderful partnership," said Dr. Amy Jackson, assistant superintendent of business. "We appreciate the lasting contributions to the Poplar Bluff Middle School."
The Middle School has a separate enclosed, outdoor playground, but the concrete surface makes it best suited for basketball, according to Principal Dr. Josh Teeter. The fenced-in green space out front will allow students to run around, he said. Previously they were walking to the nearby Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park for special activities.
Future plans include replacing the soccer goals, according to PTO members Kera Hoffman and Candis Maurer, who are credited for initiating the project and seeing it through until the end. The acreage formerly served as Strenfel Field before the Middle School and the High School swapped locations in 2016.
"This is our old high school baseball field, so it was the perfect opportunity for us to get behind," said alumnus Rick Berry, on behalf of the Class of 1972. Berry reached out to Jackson, who brought the project to his attention. R-I Maintenance Supervisor Colt Sievers led the effort to save the district thousands of dollars with purchasing power and in-kind labor.
Above: Donors, school officials and student representatives gather on Tuesday, Dec. 15, under the new pavilion connected to the walking track at the Middle School.
Below: The R-I Maintenance Department and contractors break ground on the pavilion at the end of September and complete the project in mid-December.
