The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

Related Photos

Discussion

October 12, 2008

School dedicated in Carl Junction

By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carrie Johnson missed orientation for her daughter, eighth-grader Bailey Johnson, because of a broken foot. Sunday was the first time she saw the inside of the new Carl Junction Junior High School.

“This is awesome,” Johnson said. “It looks like they have more room in their classrooms. I know they were getting really crowded.”

School board president Rob Herron on Sunday dedicated the two-story building “to the community and kids.” More than 200 attended the ceremony in the school’s gymnasium. The Carl Junction Junior High choir sang two songs.

The two-story building has 24 bigger classrooms, including four science labs, a consumer sciences lab and an art room. It has three computer labs, rooms for choir, band and shop classes, wider halls, a 790-seat gymnasium, and a library.

Security features incorporated into the building’s design include more than 30 security cameras and a vestibule entrance.

Principal Debbie Elbrader said the building’s larger cafeteria is one of the students’ favorite features.

“It was in a backward area, out of the way,” Elbrader said. “Now it’s right where you walk in. It’s a central area.”

Bailey Johnson said going to school is a lot better in the new building.

“The hallways aren’t as crowded, and the classrooms are better,” she said. “There’s more room for lunch.”

Superintendent Phil Cook said the building was needed to keep up with the school district’s growth.

“We’re glad to be part of a growing community, but with that comes challenges,” Cook said. “We average about 85 new students a year.”

The new school opened up space at all of Carl Junction’s elementary schools. Cook said all the teachers in kindergarten through grade eight moved their classrooms.

Elbrader, who has been with the junior high for more than 28 years, said the new school should handle the district’s growth for several years.

“We’ve always been busting at the seams,” she said. “It seems like every time we’ve built a new school, it fills up. With this, it looks like we’ll be OK for about eight to 10 years.”

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011