Nixa District Buys 25 Acres Near High School for Operations Center

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 1 minute read

Nixa Public Schools recently purchased 25 acres near the high school for an “operations center” that will include a new district-owned center for school buses.

The district closed on the property off Nicholas Road, a half-mile north of the high school, in mid-June. The cost was $4.6 million.

“Growth is something we’re always experiencing, so we try to be proactive and keep an eye out for properties that offer a good opportunity,” said Kevin Kopp, the district’s assistant superintendent of operations.

“The location was amazing.”

Most of the property, 20 acres, was purchased from Snyder Equipment, a company that manufactured parts for the railroad and recently consolidated its operations.

The former Snyder property, along with an adjacent five-acre lot, includes five buildings totaling 75,000 square feet. Kopp said that works out to less than $60 per square foot, which is cheaper than new construction.

He said some renovations will be needed before moving technology, maintenance, facilities, catering offices and employees, likely within 12 to 18 months.

The departments are currently located in the Faught Administrative Center or other district facilities.

“We thought it would be a great place to move,” Kopp said of the property south of Mt. Vernon Street/Missouri Route 14.

Kopp said the move would create a domino effect that would allow the district to fill the vacant space. He said the space would be used to expand programs, early childhood classrooms and virtual health clinics that employees and students can access for free on campus.

More: Nixa High School to limit student cell phone use in classrooms starting this fall

“We believe we will be able to move all of these groups to this land within the next two years,” he said.

Currently, the transportation department and school buses are located in leased space. Kopp said the lease will end and operations will move to the new property.

“By moving all our buses to this location, we will also save on this rent,” he said.

Lina Portman

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