Branson Junior High School to open $8.5M activity center

With construction of an activity center at Branson Junior High School wrapping up, a ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled April 1.

Branson Public Schools will celebrate the completion of the 8,800-square-feet center, which doubles as a storm shelter, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend the ceremony at 263 Buccaneer Drive in Branson, and tours of the facility will be provided. The $8.5 million project was fully funded by the district.

In a video message, Superintendent Nate Moore said, “This is going to be a tremendous opportunity for our community, for our kids, a place for them to come to perform and to participate in multiple activities.”

Jared Howerton, activities director and assistant principal at the junior high, said the space includes gym space, locker rooms, a concession area and team meeting space.

“We had 85 junior high kids come out and play football this year,” he said in the video message. The added space is going to be extremely beneficial for us as a program and a school.”

Howerton said the space will also be used for archery, wrestling, boys and girls basketball, physical education classes, practices and events.

The architect is Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective, the general contractor is Nabholz Construction Corp. and the project includes remodeling an existing press box and bleachers at the football field, according to past reporting by Springfield Business Journal.