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Springfield R‑XII board approves design work for new Bingham Elementary and Bissett renovation using 2023 bond funds
Summary
The Springfield R‑XII Board voted unanimously to proceed with design for a new Bingham Elementary and a renovation/expansion at Bissett Elementary, allocating roughly $47.8 million of phase‑3 bond funding for the projects and keeping a roughly $48 million unallocated cushion for cost changes.
The Springfield R‑XII Board of Education voted unanimously to authorize design work for two 2023 bond‑funded projects: a new Bingham Elementary School and a renovation and expansion at Bissett Elementary.
Deputy Superintendent of Operations Dr. Travis Shaw told the board that, after premiums and interest on sold bonds, the district has about $256 million available against the original $220 million authorization, leaving roughly $48 million unallocated for phase‑3 decisions. Administration presented conceptual designs and cost estimates that together total about $47.8 million — roughly $27.3 million to replace Bingham and $20.4 million to renovate and expand Bissett, including a storm‑shelter gymnasium at Bissett.
"We have that setting, should we need to use it on this particular bond issue," Dr. Shaw said regarding a previously approved capital transfer and the district's contingency position. He described the Bingham concept as a two‑story campus sized to meet program needs and said Bissett's recommendation emphasizes adding square footage while preserving recent investments such as a recently replaced HVAC system.
Board members asked for additional demographic and facility studies before final construction commitments. Dr. Shaw told the board the district will conduct another demographic/boundary study and update the facility master plan before moving forward to construction and that architects and construction managers would be selected through the district's RFQ process.
The board made the motion to approve the two projects' design phase; Dr. Thomas Tate moved to proceed and (recorded) Doctor McConnie seconded. The motion passed with seven votes.
The district will bring architect recommendations by May 13 and construction manager recommendations by the June board meeting; guaranteed maximum price contracts and any construction‑phase approvals will return to the board for separate votes.
