Students, district officials and board members broke ground Tuesday for a new Oak Grove Elementary School building in the Turner Public School district. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Ground was broken today for a new Oak Grove Elementary School at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan.
District officials, board members, students and community members attended the groundbreaking.
Almost 70 percent of the voters approved a bond issue for the new $14 million school last October. It is the first Turner School District construction project since the new Turner High School was built, said Jason Dandoy, Turner assistant superintendent of business and public relations.
At just under 70,000 square feet, the new school will be located just west of the existing Oak Grove school.
As soon as the new building is completed, the old school building will be taken down, projected for the summer of 2015, Dandoy said. The new school building is expected to be ready for the term starting in August 2015.
“The new structure gives kids the opportunity to go to school in one building,” Dandoy said. “Right now they are spread out over three buildings.”
Each wing will be divided into two grade levels. The school will include all the current Oak Grove elementary students, as well as a few special education classrooms, he said.
The new building will include certain reclaimed parts of the old structure, he said. It will have pieces of the current Oak Grove gymnasium ceiling used as accent wood. The signs on the new building will be from the current structure, he added.
It also will have security features built in, such as internal and external cameras, card readers, a security vestibule in front, and more.
Zoning was approved for the building on March 27.
Scenes from the groundbreaking Tuesday for the new Oak Grove Elementary School building at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by Steve Rupert)Theresa Tillery, Turner Board of Education president, spoke at the groundbreaking Tuesday for the new Oak Grove Elementary School Building, Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Ground was broken Tuesday for the new Oak Grove Elementary School building at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan. Superintendent Michelle Hubbard is on the right. (Photo by Steve Rupert)Scenes from the groundbreaking Tuesday for the new Oak Grove Elementary School building at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
The existing Oak Grove Elementary School includes three buildings. Some parts of the old buildings, including the signs, will be moved to the new school. (Photo by Steve Rupert)The existing Oak Grove Elementary School gymnasium was built in 1956. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
The existing Oak Grove Elementary School includes three buildings. Some parts of the old buildings, including the signs, will be moved to the new school. (Photo by Steve Rupert)The existing Oak Grove Elementary School gymnasium was built in 1956. (Photo by Steve Rupert)Oak Grove PTA presidents are remembered on a sign at the school. The first PTA president was Genevieve Hundly in 1939. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
An artist’s rendering showed the planned Oak Grove Elementary School at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan. The school is scheduled to open in August 2015.An artist’s rendering showed the planned Oak Grove Elementary School at 5340 Oak Grove Road, Kansas City, Kan. The school is scheduled to open in August 2015. (Artist’s rendering)
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s streaking baseball team made it 13 in a row Tuesday as four Blue Devil pitchers combined on a 6-hitter in a 9-1 win over Maple Woods.
The win improved the Blue Devils’ record to 18-15 heading into a home game Wednesday with Brown Mackie at 2 p.m. before KCKCC returns to Jayhawk Conference play – at Independence Thursday and a home twin bill against Indy on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Lefthander Hunter Phillips (4-4) got the win, allowing three hits and fanning two in four scoreless innings. Derek Watkins gave up a run and two hits in two innings, Jonathan May a hit in two innings and Spencer Nielsen pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Blue Devils scored all the runs they needed in the second. Singles by Zane Mapes and Lucas Jordan and Sam Baxter’s ground ball got one run home and Garrett McKinzie made it 3-0 with a two-run shot to left center, his fourth home run of the season.
KCKCC added its fourth run in the fourth, scoring on leadoff singles by Eric Hinostroza and Mitch Glessner, a sacrifice by Daniel LaMunyon and Mapes’ squeeze bunt.
KCKCC’s final five runs came in the seventh on just two hits, RBI singles by Christian Arnold and Tyler Raymond. Maple Woods hurlers contributed to the uprising with three hit batsmen and a walk.
Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday the signing of 23-year-old Spanish midfielder Victor Munoz.
He will be added to the team’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
“Victor is a player we saw in college and had train with us last year,” manager Peter Vermes said. “What we liked about him was that the style of play that he played over in Spain is something that definitely fits in with the way that we play. It’s a good addition to our team and a young kid who we hope can grow into our system.”
“I am very excited to join Sporting Kansas City,” Munoz said. “I trained here last summer and enjoyed everything about it, from the players to the environment. The team understands how to play the game the right way and I think this is the perfect place to continue my development.”
A native of Madrid, Munoz spent eight years in the Real Madrid academy system and was a member of Spain’s under-15, under-16 and under-17 youth national teams. After being recruited to Celta de Vigo’s academy, Munoz moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a college education.
As a freshman at Iona College, Munoz was named the conference’s Rookie of the Year with five assists for the Gaels. Munoz then transferred to UCLA and helped the Bruins reach the NCAA College Cup with eight assists in his sophomore season en route to recording three goals and 26 assists during his collegiate career. His eight assists in 2013 led all UCLA players and he earned second team All-Pac 12 recognition as a senior.
Following his participation in the 2014 MLS Player Combine, D.C. United traded up to draft the left-footed Munoz in the second round (No. 29 overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He appeared in four games for D.C. United during the 2014 preseason but was released by the club last month.
Sporting Kansas City’s roster will feature 28 players under contract upon the addition of Munoz.
