'Legacy will continue' as SPS breaks ground for new arts-focused Reed Academy

With the late afternoon sun beating down and soft clumps of dirt shifting underfoot, members of the Reed school family — past, present and future — gathered Wednesday to celebrate a new start.

They stood on the now-cleared city block at Atlantic Street and North Lyon Avenue that was first home to Reed Junior High, then Reed Middle School and finally Reed Academy for the past century.

The aging brick structure that housed the ever-evolving school was demolished and cleared. The dirt that remains has been leveled to make way for a new, state-of-the-art Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts.

Under a word-cloud banner stretched between construction vehicles that read, in part "Reed" and "Awesomeness Happens Here," Superintendent Grenita Lathan welcomed the crowd of mostly students, parents, teachers and staff.

Speaking after a performance by the Reed Choir, Lathan said: "It is student talent like this that helped inspire our plans for the future Reed Academy."

Then she said the words many had been waiting to hear: "I am thrilled that we are ready to officially break ground on a new school for those talented students and their classmates."

She added: "As we turn the first shovel of dirt, we are marking the beginning of an exciting journey for Reed, its students, parents, staff and our community. Our dream of creating the new Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts will soon become a reality."

The Reed project is a cornerstone of the $220 million bond issue approved, with overwhelming voter support, a year ago.

Plans detailed by Sapp Design Architects call for the new 128,900-square-foot building to serve 725 students in grades 6-8. There will be 21 core classrooms, six science combo labs and two collaboration spaces.

The layout includes 23,620 square feet for the performing arts including two rooms each for choir and world dance and one each for band and orchestra. There is also a multi-purpose auditorium with a stage, sound booth, storage and seating for 450 people.

"Over the next year, this campus will be transformed with the construction of a new building. It will improve the learning environment, enhance security, remove accessibility barriers and expand space for exploring the arts," Lathan said.

"Almost one year ago, 77.6% of Springfield voters approved a $220 million bond request to fund critical school improvements throughout our district. Part of that request was nearly $60 million dedicated to the construction of a new school for Reed."

Preliminary estimates show the project may come in up to $5 million under budget.

The district spent $1.7 million to demolish the existing school and buy up adjacent property to expand the footprint of the campus. The construction bid from DeWitt Construction, awarded in late February, was $39.7 million.

On top of that, there were architecture and design fees, related costs and a contingency fund, which is standard in major projects.

For this school year and the next one, Reed will operate out of the former Jarrett building on Jefferson Avenue, just north of Grand Street.

Lathan noted two more major bond projects are coming up. The district plans an extensive renovation of the Pershing Elementary and Middle School campus — which, once complete, will only serve students in grades 6-8 — and construction of a new Pipkin Middle School. A final location for the Pipkin campus has not been announced.

"The original Reed building served this community well for 100 years. That legacy will continue to be honored in the new building's design and by future generations of students who walk its halls," Lathan said.

"Students from Boyd, Bowerman, Watkins and Williams will reap the benefits of this new school when they become Reed Beavers and when they move onto high school at The Hill — Hillcrest — they will benefit from the recent (investments) in improving that campus."

She added: "It is satisfying to know the remaining years in Springfield Public Schools for these students will be spent in buildings intentionally designed to enhance their educational experience."

Board president Danielle Kincaid — who attended along with board members Judy Brunner, Scott Crise, Steve Makoski, Maryam Mohammadkhani and former board members Denise Fredrick and Alina Lehnert — said the groundbreaking was a "tangible reminder of why we do the work we do."

Brunner, a retired educator, was a principal at Reed years ago.

More: Hillcrest celebrates end of renovation, high school hailed as 'heartbeat' of northside

In recent years, Reed has experienced a leadership turnover. Principal Bret Ingle, who is finishing his first year at the middle school, will be the principal of Williams Elementary next year.

At the event, Ingle introduced new principal Robin Collins, who is currently the assistant principal at Hillcrest. Collins said she is excited to serve students and staff during a "transformative" time.

"Here on the northside, there has always been a strong sense of pride demonstrated by the alumni of Reed and there are many proud Beavers here among us today," she said.

Collins said she witnesses how the extensively remodeled and partially rebuilt Hillcrest has been a positive boost for students and the community it serves.

"I can also attest there are some obstacles and frustrations in bond projects when it changes the everyday life of a school but stay positive," she said.

"Although this journey back to our home will continue to sprout some challenges, they pale in comparison to being in a new building. It is truly worth it."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Public Schools breaks ground on arts-focused Reed Academy