Republic school projects nearing completion, baseball remodel could be on the way

In the first regular meeting led by new board president Lauren Layman, the Republic Board of Education delved into plans for the new school year and the construction going on in the district. 

Construction updates

Jason Perkins, assistant superintendent, detailed the goings on with the high school expansion that will soon house an indoor arena. 

According to Perkins, masons have begun work, laying brick around the building and near the entrance. The lighting has been completed in the indoor stadium, and the graphics, which will include tiger eyes and RepMO Tiger lettering are up.  

The upstairs of the expansion including the JROTC, wrestling and choir room are nearing the finish line. The next steps are getting the ceiling tiles in and putting the finishing touches on the project, said Perkins. 

Perkins divulged that the original goal was to finish this project before the beginning of the school year, but delays on late materials have thrown off the schedule. When school is open, the turf and community room should be done with the upstairs of the project to be finished in September. 


The city has granted the school partial occupancy approval despite the unfinished upstairs so students will be able to use the building once the school year starts. 

The middle school remodel is also underway as was detailed by Perkins. HVAC systems, flooring, ceiling grids, lighting, paint, windows, furniture, and hallways are in the process of receiving a refresh, the project is expected to be complete in 2027.

Perkins also updated the board on potential upgrades at the baseball and softball field, which the governing body gave him permission to investigate at a previous meeting.

The project has already begun preliminary work as a successful geological survey has already been conducted. Perkins was given the all-clear and according to his report, the grounds are suitable for a turf field.

The project could begin as soon as August with an expected completion date of 2027 

State measures

Overstreet, in his report, spoke about the upcoming Amendment 5 vote, which would phase out the state income tax. 

He said that if it passes it could have an impact on the revenue the school gets from the state, but since it has not yet been decided at the ballot box, there is nothing they can do at this time. 

Overstreet also reminded the board that DESE submitted a proposal signed by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe to issue a yearly A-F report card to Missouri school districts. The measure still has to be adopted by the state board of education, however.  

That measure would include multiple restrictions on how schools operate. One of the big ones according to Overstreet, is the protection of instructional time. 

“Right now, the testing windows for the MAP and the EOC expire in early to mid-May,” said Overstreet. “But under this new proposal, that would be done by the end of April… which could essentially mean we could have two-thirds of a quarter of a school year left that we are not educating our students on the Missouri learning standards for which we’re being assessed.”