MSU board to vote on magnet school contractor

The Missouri State University Board of Governors today is scheduled to vote on the construction contract for the Springfield Public Schools magnet school funded by businessperson Bill Darr.

Snyder Construction Group submitted the low bid of $6.4 million for the project, and MSU staff recommends the board accepts the company's bid, according to the board agenda.

The 15,100-square-foot project is scheduled to be completed in time for the spring 2022 semester. The building would be owned by MSU and used by SPS as an agricultural magnet school.

Other bids for the project were made by KCI Construction Co., at $6.44 million; DeWitt & Associates Inc., at $6.6 million; and Branco Enterprises Inc., at $6.7 million, according to the agenda. The project has a total funding source of $6.7 million.

Darr and the Darr Family Foundation in the spring donated $6.5 million to MSU and SPS for the project at the 90-acre Darr Agricultural Center in southwest Springfield.

SPS officials have said the agricultural school for fourth, fifth and sixth graders would be the first of its kind.