SJSD begins sidewalk project

Two St. Joseph School District elementary schools are expected to receive sidewalk improvements.

To keep students safe, Pickett and Parkway elementary school will see new and repaired sidewalks. 

The District is also surveying Spring Garden Middle School to see which sidewalks will need to be improved there, as well. 

The project, which is projected to cost the District $1.7 million, is part of a list of bond initiative projects SJSD is trying to complete. 

"There's just a lot of students that walk to school every single day..." said SJSD Superintendent, Gabe Edgar. "Some of these schools that are off the beaten path a little bit, we're just trying to provide a safe opportunity for kids."

Edgar said the District is partnering with Goldberg Group Architects and Lawhon Construction to complete the project. 

Even improving something a little as sidewalks, will help the students in may ways. 

"I mean, you see how people drive out there, unfortunately...They fly up and down that road all the time and there's not sidewalks," said Edgar. "There's no safe place for people to get off of the path or get off the road. There was an accident on Pickett Road a few years back, and so that's one of the reasons."

Edgar said the District is trying to also partner with the City of St. Joseph for the project. 

"If you go around the school district, you'll notice that we have some sidewalk issue," said Edgar. "It's not specific to the St. Joe School District- it's a City-wide issue. And, we're just trying to bring a safer building to each one of our kids."

Edgar also said the project is expected to be completed before the end of the 2024-2025 school year.