On Friday, September 2, the Kirkwood School District (KSD) officially broke ground on construction work at Nipher Middle School, the oldest building in KSD still in use. The project will allow for increased capacity.

Superintendent David Ulrich, members of the Board of Education and community supporters marked the start of the project. Students also participated in the event.

At Nipher, construction will result in four new classrooms, an enclosed connection corridor to increase safety and security, and a conversion of existing space redesigned and dedicated for instrumental learning.

This project is one of several made possible thanks to the community’s support of Prop R, which was approved by voters in April 2021. “For 100 years, students have been learning on this campus,” said Dr. David Ulrich, KSD superintendent. “It’s been necessary for the building to grow, change and adapt. Each time there has been an addition or improvement, it was thanks to the support of our community.”

Funds generated from Prop R will provide additional classrooms, security upgrades and accessibility improvements at schools in the Kirkwood School District to address overcrowding.

Recently completed Prop R projects include HVAC improvements throughout the District, new ADA entrances at North Glendale and Robinson elementary schools, a new secure entrance on the Essex side of Kirkwood High School and at North Glendale and a two-classroom addition at Westchester Elementary School. Additionally, this summer, the District completed interior renovations at Keysor, Robinson and North Glendale Elementary schools and Kirkwood Early Childhood Center.