New South will be bigger and better

By TARYN PARKER
Room 210 Staff Writer

As we know we are going to have three Joplin Middle Schools built. We are going to have a new South, East, and North.
"March 3, there was a bid on how much it cost to build the new South," South Middle School Principal Ron Mitchell said.
"The estimate was seventeen million dollars, maybe a little lower." There will be 235 parking spots for the new South building, Mr. Mitchell said.

"For 600 kids to go to a school that was built a long time ago, it's good that we will get to have new bigger rooms like that cafeteria. It will be five times bigger at the new South.
"We won't have to share a gymnasium and auditorium like we have to do now."

Plans are uncertain for what will be done with the old South Middle School building, Mr. Mitchell said. There may be a Regional Professional Development Center for teachers from all over Joplin and some teachers from cities close to Joplin."

The new South Middle School will hold 700 students, Mr. Mitchell said. He explained some of the differences students will see at the new school.

"We will have a baseball field for P.E. Since we have a small cafeteria we have three lunches, but at the new South, we will only have two lunches because about 300 kids will be able to fit in the cafeteria." Autistic centers will be in all 3 new schools.

The new building will also have a safety precaution that is not in place at the current South Middle School.

"Sixty-one total cameras will be in the new South, everywhere except the bathrooms and locker rooms."

Another change will be the addition of extra faculty. "Since the new South will be bigger," Mr. Mitchell said, "it is going to need new teachers for the second floor."

South will be bigger and better once it is built because everything in it will be new!