District Breaks Ground for North Middle School Renovation/Expansion

The Joplin School District officially began its third modern middle school construction project on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 as students, teachers, school officials and community leaders broke ground at North Middle School. The project will include a complete renovation of the existing North Middle School building, which was built in 1931, and the addition of 93,000 square feet of new construction.

"The North Middle School project is a special one for the community," said Superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff. "When this project is complete our kids will be in a facility that has the best of the new but also preserves the rich history of North Middle School."

The school's expansion will include 25 additional classrooms; seven special services rooms; new athletic facilities; a health room; computer labs; rooms for drama, art, band, vocal music, and family and consumer science; and a new auditorium that allows for 730 audience seats. The current auditorium will become a new media center and reading room.

The North Middle School renovation and expansion is part of the $57.3 million bond issue passed by Joplin voters in April 2007. Two other middle school construction projects that were part of that bond issue – the new South Middle School and East Middle School – are also currently underway.

»View more photos of the NMS Groundbreaking

Artist Rendering of Renovated/Expanded NMS

(posted 10/01/08)