Construction Around Town: Republic Elementary II

The city of Republic is investing $4.3 million into its future. A 60,700-square-foot addition to its Elementary II classroom building will give students a new gymnasium, cafeteria, library and classrooms, some of which are designed for severely handicapped students.

Neosho's Branco Construction Co. began work which involved demolition of a portion of the old building November 2001. Chris Ball of Jack Ball & Associates Architects is the project architect.

The completion deadline is set for February 2003, but Republic Schools Superintendent Pam Hedgpeth said the project looks like it could be finished by Dec. 1. She said all 500 third- and fourth-grade students are occupying the building, but they are not in their permanent classrooms. It can hold more than 600 children, "which, the way we are growing, will take us three or four years," Hedgpeth said.