The new Miller Elementary School Grand Opening and dedication ceremony was held on Friday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the new elementary auditorium.
Honored speakers were: CBS Producer for Nightly News and Miller Alumni, Mary Hood; Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan; Missouri Senator Jack Goodman; Teamsters Local 245 Secretary Treasurer and Miller Alumni Jim Kabell; and the Miller High School Senior and FFA Speaker of the Year, Emily Whitmarsh.
The evening not only included highly recognized speakers and ribbon cutting, but also the revealing of a time capsule that was installed in the recently torn down grade school some nearly 60 years ago.
History leading up to this big event:
The present day school district was formed in 1951 during the state’s reorganization of school districts. Approximately twenty to twenty-seven one room schools formed the new school district. The school structure had three elementary schools serving children 1st through 8th grade and one high school located in the city of Miller serving freshmen through seniors. In 1966, a bond levy was passed to add onto the high school in order to add grades 7 and 8; therefore, the other schools would serve 1st through 6th grade and eventually kindergarten.
The district serves approximately 620 students pre-K through 12th grade. During the past 58 years, the three elementary schools have served the patrons diligently, however time and the need for updating have left those buildings in a challenge to improve. As a result of declining enrollment and the need to become more financially efficient, one of the elementary schools was closed in 2003. Prior to that closing several if not a half dozen levy attempts were made to improve facilities and consolidate the district. All of those efforts were voted down by the patrons of the district.
In 2005-2006, the district consulted with Dickinson Hussman Architects to begin a series of public engagement and facility planned. After a years’ worth of meeting and planning it was decided by the committee to recommend to the Board of Education the idea of a new elementary school. As with many school proposals, the issue of higher taxes was at the center of the issue, additionally the idea of closing the remaining neighborhood elementary schools was not well received by some. The district chose to run the election in April of 2007 as a bond levy which required a 4/7ths majority. The proposal failed by 4 votes. The district came back in August and ran the issue as a lease purchase still increasing the tax levy by 66 cents to make an overall levy of $3.99. There are approximately 2700 registered voters in the Miller School District and the turnout on election day was approximately 2300 votes cast. The community mobilized and made a difference. The proposal passed and now this is one of the most modern elementary buildings in the area. The building is updated with contemporary technology that students will need to use in the 21st century. It is also “greener” in the fact that it will be heated and cooled with geothermal technology.
The district has much to celebrate about and all are excited. This event is special because it represents a metaphorical step forward for progress to this community and statement of how important our children are. It has been 58 years since the last new building has been constructed in this district.
A big thank you to the many, many who worked so hard to make this possible.
