Nipher to Get Track, Field With Prop 1 Leftovers

The Kirkwood School Board approved more construction at Nipher Middle School during a special meeting Wednesday.

A new field and four-lane track, as well as pavement improvements and road construction will be funded by money left over from , the 33.5 million no-tax-increase bond issue that voters approved in November.

Nipher currently is to make room for new classrooms with money from Proposition 1. The improvement will force the removal of the current track and field, as well as alter nearby roadways, which will affect child drop-offs and pick-ups.

Improvements at Nipher came as part of two proposed bond issues. Proposition 1 passed while Proposition 2 did not. It was in Proposition 2 that intentions to improve Nipher physical education facilities were first stipulated, along with a proposed pool for .

Because many Proposition 1 construction projects received low bids, nearly $3 million remains from funding, $1 million of which will go toward the additional Nipher improvements.

Superintendent Tom Williams said the district waited to approve the contract for physical education facilities until the board knew all academic improvements were complete.

"We're lucky this money left over can help make Nipher more complete, and parent drop-off and pick-up can be safer," Williams said.

Director of Community Relations Ginger Fletcher  said the district was excited to address the Nipher improvements with the remaining Proposition 1 funds.

"We think this is really important, and if we can do it for less money than what was originally thought, then we can all leave happy," Fletcher said.

Read more about Propositions 1 and 2: