More than 100 years after Sherwood Elementary was first built as a one-room school house; officials with Springfield Public Schools broke ground for a new elementary building that will function as part of the Springfield Boys and Girls Club.
The partnership between Sherwood and the Boys and Girls Club, the first of its kind in Missouri, allows for many shared spaces such as the gymnasium, cafeteria, and computer lab.
The new $14.2 million elementary school will be located on South Golden Avenue, south of Horton Smith Golf Course.
The facility will house 450 students and feature energy efficient and environmentally friendly structures. District officials say the capacity will improve overcrowding in several neighboring schools.
Dr. John Jungmann, new Springfield Public Schools superintendent, spoke at Wednesday’s groundbreaking.
“Boys and Girls clubs will make Sherwood its new home when school is completed and will occupy approximately 5,500 square feet of their own dedicated space and have the ability to share the school’s gymnasium, restrooms, cafeteria, library, playground, music room, art room, and computer lab. What a great example of community resources coming together to serve students,” Jungmann said.
Funding for project comes from the April 2013 bond initiative approved by voters.
Additionally, Boys and Girls Club officials raised $1.8 million for the new club. It will be named after the Sertoma Unit, which donated $500,000 early in the campaign.
Completion date for the new Sherwood Elementary School is August 2015.