Ozark School District cuts ribbon on multimillion-dollar project

The Ozark School District cut the ribbon late last week on a multimillion-dollar project.

The Aug. 22 event marked the ceremonial opening of an indoor activities center, storm shelter and gym across two buildings at Ozark High School, 1350 W. Bluff Drive, according to a news release.

Ozark School District officials say the activities center building has the first indoor practice facility at an area high school, serving sports, band, winter guard and JROTC groups. The other building doubles as a storm shelter and gym.

"We've been out of gymnasium space for quite a while, and so instead of having to pile multiple classes in the gym, we can now spread out," said Craig Carson, assistant superintendent of learning, in the release.

The buildings mark the last initiative that's part of the district’s $19 million bond issue from 2022, officials say. Every school building in the district now has a storm shelter.

“This completes a mission that we started several years ago when we did our long-range planning and decided with the community that one of the most important things that we can do is provide safe spaces for all students during storms,” said Curtis Chesick, assistant superintendent of operations, in the release.

Branco Enterprises Inc. served as general contractor for the 29,000-square-foot activities center building designed by Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. The project cost was $5.6 million, Springfield Business Journal previously reported.