SPS breaks ground on $58M Pershing Middle School project

Springfield Public Schools kicked off construction of a new Pershing Middle School with a July 9 groundbreaking ceremony.

The $58 million project is part of the $220 million bond issue approved by voters in April 2023.

“Over the next two years, a brand-new middle school will rise on this site, complete with a large gymnasium and a new outdoor athletic field,” said Superintendent Grenita Lathan, in a news release. “These improvements will not only provide a greatly improved learning environment – they will elevate the extracurricular opportunities available to our Pershing students.”

Identified as a priority by the Community Task Force on Facilities, the district looked at the scope of the project and the grade configuration.

Pershing long served as a K-8 campus, but a decision was made to close the elementary portion and split the attendance area between nearby Field and Wilder elementary schools, where new classrooms were built.

The district also opted to construct the new middle school toward the back of the campus located at 2120 S. Venture Ave. Students in grades 6-8 will remain in the existing school until the two-story, 142,000-square-foot one is built.

According to the district, the existing school will be cleared to make way for athletic and green space. Increased traffic flow and safety are priorities in the new project with a gym expected to serve as a storm shelter.

The project is expected to be complete in 2028.

Crossland Construction Co. Inc. has been selected as the construction manager at risk and the design is by Springfield-based Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. and DLR Group Inc., which is based in Kansas City. Others involved include Olsson Inc., Interpres Building Solutions LLC and Mettemeyer Engineering LLC.