Prop S bond issue Phase 1 construction continues; Phase 2 work, planning underway

Construction work on Prop S, Pattonville’s $111 million no-tax-rate-increase bond issue, continues into it second summer. Voters in Pattonville approved Prop S in 2022 with a 79.4% favorable vote. Prop S will fund projects at every school in Pattonville, including adding classrooms to address growth in student enrollment; providing safety and maintenance improvements; and updating school facilities to meet teaching and learning needs. Approval of the bond issue did not increase the district’s tax rate. 

Work that began last summer on storm shelter additions at Bridgeway, Parkwood and Willow Brook elementary schools and the new gym at Holman Middle School is expected to be completed at the beginning of the school year. Additionally, interior renovations at those schools have been completed (see list at right). This will mark the conclusion of the first phase of construction on Prop S.

As previously announced, Phase 2 was separated into two stages. Work on Phase 2A began this summer. That work includes renovations to the science labs and family and consumer science (FACS) labs at Pattonville High School. All FACS labs and half of the science labs are scheduled to be renovated this summer and the other half will be completed next summer. The FACS cooking spaces were last updated prior to 2000 and the science labs are seeing their first renovation since being built in 2001.

Also as part of Phase 2A, work began this summer to transition Holman’s former Gym B for use by the district printing and transportation departments. Gym B, located next to the district’s current transportation department, will include new office space for transportation as well as four bays that will be used for bus maintenance. The building will also house the district’s printing department, which is currently located near Pattonville Heights Middle School. Upon completion of the renovations, the current printing facility will be demolished and used for additional parking at Heights.

School administrators with buildings in Phases 2B and 3 have been continuing discussions with their school improvement teams (SIT) and school communities to ensure planned work meets the needs of the school.

Design has begun on projects in Phase 2B, which will include work at early childhood, Drummond and Rose Acres elementary schools, Pattonville Heights Middle School and the remaining projects at Holman. 

Phase 3 projects remain the same and include improvements at the Academy of Innovation at Remington and remaining projects at the high school. Design on that is expected to begin in early 2025. Construction on Phase 2B and Phase 3 is expected through 2027.

Changes to the Prop S timeline are due to challenges impacting the construction field, primarily labor shortages. Additional delays are due to continued supply chain issues. As was regularly reported, supply issues started during the pandemic and are still being felt. Areas primarily being impacted are mechanical industries, like HVAC and electrical, as well as items that use computer chips. This is resulting in longer project timelines and the potential for interruptions to daily school operations. 

Summer 2024 Construction Work

Phase 1 Work

Bridgeway Elementary School

• Stage addition in the gym was completed in early 2024.

• Office renovations are taking place this summer.

• Construction on the storm shelter building addition is nearing completion.

Parkwood Elementary School

• Office renovations, including making a more secure entry into the building, was completed last fall.

• Construction on the storm shelter building addition is nearing completion.

Willow Brook Elementary School

• Renovation on the new art classrooms and the cafeteria expansion were completed last fall. 

• Relocation of the front office and counseling and nurse’s spaces were completed this spring.
• Construction on the storm shelter building addition is nearing completion.

Holman Middle School

• Renovations to Gym A, including more efficient locker rooms and health spaces, was completed last fall.
• Construction on the storm shelter gym B addition is nearing completion.

Phase 2A Work

Pattonville High School

Renovations to the science labs and family and consumer science (FACS) labs are in progress. The FACS labs and half of the science labs will be renovated this summer and the other half will be completed next summer.

Printing and Transportation (formerly Holman Gym B)

Renovations to convert Gym B for district printing and transportation facilities began this summer. The site will include four bus bays and house the printing department once completed.