News Articles
As Proposition U (Prop U) priority projects start moving from the drawing board and into facilities and fields districtwide, our community will start to see significant returns on their investment of trust and support in The School District of University City. That includes the transformative benefits of Prop U and working together in support of students and families. The District will center reports around the fall, winter, spring and summer seasons in four basic categories:
➢ DESIGN: Development and approval of the full plan
➢ PROCUREMENT: Bid process/permits
➢ CONSTRUCTION: Progress from groundbreaking to installation
➢ COMPLETION: Ready to go!
Several key projects were started this summer, immediately after the April 2 election, including the first sale of bonds to generate funds (June 2024). This fall, we can look forward to improvements in the following areas:
In July, Pershing and Jackson Park playgrounds kicked off, the specialized equipment has been received and permits are pending. The
new, modern design is sure to be a hit with students, but it may require a bit of finesse with the timeline! A chief concern is minimizing the time in which the playgrounds are off-limits to students. The new “pour and play” surface is temperature sensitive. Presently, we are shooting for completion this fall.
In mid-September, the Board of Education approved University City High School’s (UCHS) new hydroponic container garden. The $500,000 projects include a Fresh Harvest 365 shipping container and hook-ups for electricity and water – making it completely sustainable. The container, partially funded by grants, partner support and Prop U, will take an estimated six to eight weeks to install for completion in late October or early November.
Additional video cameras are being installed across the District. The District technology team is moving forward with an estimated completion in mid-December.
Plans for upgrades in secured entries at Barbara C. Jordan, Flynn Park and Pershing schools are underway with St. Louis-based partner Hankins Construction. District leaders hope to minimize any inconvenience to parents and visitors by having the project completed during the November/December breaks. In the meantime, they are pinpointing the temporary entrances and exits that are most convenient to parents and school buses.
The Flynn Park gymnasium is the last space in the District where there is no air conditioning. This will be remedied as the Operations team moves through scheduled school repairs. This project is expected to be finished by 2025, in time to fight off warmer temperatures.
Two larger projects are centered around fall sports. In fact, the Homecoming schedule was adjusted this year to give flexibility in reimagining the current sports fields. We are hoping that the UCHS amphitheater-style, bowl seating can be preserved, while the field at
Jackson Park School, located at the southeast corner of Hanley Road and Balson Avenue, will have more traditional bleachers. Bids are in process and planning is underway for both fields. The Operations team and school leaders will review the plan with residents who live near both schools.
More information about these bond issue projects will be available soon at ucityschools.org/PropUinProgress.