Demolition Continues for Joplin Schools

That's just one of the many projects approved at tonight's school board meeting.

The board approved to accept a bid from Gator Demolition for about 644-thousand dollars to complete demolition on the high school.

This company also worked on the demolition of Franklin Technology Center.

The school board also accepted bids to move construction along at East Middle and Elementary school and Irving Elementary.

Superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff says the sooner we get dirt moving the better.

"In the next couple of weeks people start seeing some dirt move out of the East site from the new elementary school and middle school and shortly thereafter they will start seeing footings pour, and it wont be long after that...that they will actually see block going up and a new building starting to take shape."

Last fall the school district chose Urban Metropolitan Development to do the demolition of the high school.

Later the school canceled it's contract which in turn led to a lawsuit against the district.

The company is asking for more than 2 million in damages.

Dr. Huff says the suit could take up to a year to settle, but he's confident it will work out in the district's favor.

Dr. Huff says,

"I stand firm on the fact that we don't feel like we've done anything wrong, and that at the end of the day we're going to be victorious as we fight that suit very aggressively."

Also the board voted to accept former school board member Ashley Mickelthwaite's resignation.

The board will start taking applications in the next 2 weeks to fill the position as soon as possible.

The board was presented designs like the ones below of what the new Joplin High School could potentially look like.