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Education news and issues in the Ozarks.

Church Donation to Benefit Springfield's Boyd, Weller Elementary Schools

SPS receives $14,000 check from Central Christian Church (L-R: Pastor John Andrews, Greg Walton, Superintendent Dr. Norm Ridder,

There are more than 60 facilities in the Springfield Public Schools' system, with the average age of those buildings 48 years. So every little bit helps when it comes to updating existing infrastructure. On Monday, school administrators applauded the recent donation of a local church for safety and security upgrades. KSMU’s Scott Harvey was there. 

http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/church-donation-benefit-springfield039s-boyd-weller-elementary-schools_59130.mp3

Above the front entrance of Boyd Elementary School in north Springfield reads the year 1911, when the school was founded. According to Principal James Grandon, the school plans to use a portion of a $14,000 donation to bolster security at their building’s entrance. He says the move is one method within the broader debate on how to create a safer environment for students in the wake of recent school shootings.

“Thank heavens we haven’t had events of this sort in our community, we don’t want events of this sort in our community, but we don’t want to live in ignorance either. So we want to be prepared and safe, and efficient as we can be,”  Grandon says.

The funding, provided by Central Christian Church, will also benefit Weller Elementary. John Andrew is the church’s pastor.

“The money is one thing, but it’s more of an affirmation of our commitment to children of this community, and the community throughout the city and the state.”

Central Christian Church and its members, for the past 13 years, have offered an after school program for Boyd students, conduct an annual book festival at the end of the academic year, plus provide a breakfast with Santa event.

The church is the first organization to contribute to the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools’ newly-created Safety and Security Fund, which was established after SPS began reviewing their schools to identify potential areas for improvement earlier this year. Foundation Executive Director Jana Bachus says that when we invest in the future of our children, our community flourishes.

“When the community comes together to support our public schools it’s a positive thing for everyone. And that’s what we try to do at the Foundation, is to pull in community partnerships to help our schools, and just to make them the best that they can be,” Bachus said.

Safety audits of all 36 elementary schools are expected to be completed by the end of this school year, with audits of middle and high schools will follow.  Click here for more information on Foundation and the SPS Safety and Security Fund.