Robberson Elementary School received a $100,000 grant from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, an extension of North Carolina-based Lowe's Cos. Inc.
Grant funding will be used to relocate the school's office, relocate and expand the computer lab and expand a classroom, said Teresa Bledsoe, Springfield Public Schools community relations manager.
"Right now the main entrance used for the school is removed from the school office," she said. "You come into a back door to enter the school and the office isn't immediately visible."
Relocating the office to the front school entrance will increase safety by allowing greater visibility of visitors and will help parents locate the office, Bledsoe said.
The school, which has nearly 300 students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, also will be creating an expanded classroom by knocking down the wall between two smaller classrooms.
The move will create a better structural environment and will allow teachers more space, Bledsoe said.
The relocation of the school's administrative office also will allow the school to relocate and expand the school's computer lab.
“We are so thankful for this grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and for the support from employees at Lowe’s of Springfield,” Robberson Principal Kevin Huffman said in a news release. “The improvements will help us provide a better learning environment for the students and staff members at the school.”
Work on the projects is scheduled to begin Jan. 15.
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation was created in 1957. It contributed more than $30 million in 2009 to support community and education projects in the U.S. and Canada.
Its grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000, but it also gives out $100,000 grants to various regions once a year.
Springfield is part of the region comprised of Missouri, northern Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma, said Jack Blackburn, operations manager at the Lowe's location at 1707 W. Norton Road, one of the stores that was instrumental in securing the grant for the school.
Blackburn said his location's store manager Ben Martin; Marty Davis, store manager for the 1850 E. Primrose St. location; and district manager Kendel Baggs, whose office is in the Republic store, worked to get Lowe's Cos. Inc. to consider Robberson for the grant.[[In-content Ad]]
A franchise store of a Branson West-based quilting business made its Queen City debut; Grateful Vase launched in Lebanon; and Branson entertainment venue The Social Birdy had its grand opening.
