Springfield Public Schools

Springfield Public Schools has a new tip line to allow anyone with a concern to more easily share it with school officials.

Tips can be submitted anonymously via text at (417) 319-2901, online or through the MySPS app, and tipsters remain anonymous.

SPS spokesman, Stephen Hall, said the tip line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by school police, so any tip will be promptly investigated.

The RAP Back program was authorized in the state by Missouri House Bill 1350, which went into effect in late August.  It allows entities that are enrolled to receive ongoing status notifications of new arrests, both in Missouri and in other states, once employees’ fingerprints are in the system.

Central High School parents were notified by the school’s principal late this morning about an incident that happened earlier today.

Principal, Lisa Anderson, said Central staff were alerted by students about the possibility of a student with a weapon. 

She said administrators responded immediately and questioned the student.  A BB gun was located and was confiscated by school police.  School officials say it wasn’t loaded and was not presented in a threatening manner.  No one was harmed.

Springfield Public Schools go back in session August 15, and SPS Superintendent Dr. John Jungmann said the focus this year will be “One Team, One Dream.”  The idea is for the entire community to be involved in making sure kids get a quality education.  Part of that, he said, is looking at what kinds of facilities students need to be able to learn "and what kind of safety environments and equitable access to accessibility and those things need to take place," Jungmann said.

Campbell Elementary will close at the end of this school year and will re-open as an interim early childhood education center and Parents as Teachers hub in center city.

The Springfield Board of Education made the decision Tuesday to consolidate Campbell and McGregor Elementary schools.