The Warren County R-III Board of Education unanimously approved a new engineer for the entrance of the new elementary school on May 8. 

The construction for the entrance of the new school will include a turn slip lane, starting from Ash Road to the edge of the school property. There will also be a turn lane going into Columbus Circle. Its main purpose is to expand Highway 47, which is where the new school is located. 

The preliminary plan was for MoDOT to handle the entirety of creating the entrance to the school, including the engineering and drawings. The district had planned to split the cost of $3 million with MoDOT. 

However, after the district sent in their application, MoDOT said they would not be able to complete the project until September 2029. 

Due to the projected plan to open up the new elementary school for the 2027-28 school year, MoDOT suggested the district hire a private engineer, vote to cancel the original cost share application and reapply for a new cost-share application for construction costs only by the July deadline. 

The board unanimously voted to cancel the original cost-share application and send in a new one for construction costs only. 

Construction is estimated to cost around $2 million. However, the district will send in their cost-share application in hopes of receiving $1 million from MoDOT. 

Essentially, the board would pay an extra $500,000 from its original plan but they would have the entrance done two years quicker. 

Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith recommended hiring a private engineer due to time and the district having the money to do so. 

The board signed a new contract with CBB with plans to have it done by August 2027. MoDOT will have to approve this company. CBB has worked with the district before to construct traffic studies. 

This contract was signed for a cost of $255,000. This price is included in the total estimated cost of $3 million for the entire project.