New performing arts and early childhood facility nearing completion in Purdy

Crews are putting the finishing touches on a $4.2 million project in Purdy.

The school district's new FEMA shelter will do much more than keep students safe during storms. The project not only includes the FEMA shelter, but also a performing arts facility and an early childhood education center.

"We are looking at [it being complete in] about 30 days. That gives us some time to finish some things structurally, work on the finishing cosmetics. Then, put on some finishing touches, like audio-visual, some technology," Purdy School District Superintendent Dr. Steven Chancellor said.

The performing arts portion is nearly 8,000 square-feet.

"We'll have approximately 300 seats that would be fixed," Dr. Chancellor said.

Dr. Chancellor says the performing arts center will give students more opportunities in choir, band, theater, and other arts education.

"This certainly crosses off something on our wish list, to provide an adequate facility that really allow those kids to challenge themselves, and really, broadens our opportunity to be influential in their lives," Dr. Chancellor said.

However, the space is multi-use, also serving as a FEMA shelter for the entire community.

"If you can reach this threshold, these doors, you are now inside the shelter," Dr. Chancellor said.

FEMA is funding about half of the project and a bond issues passed by voters in 2016 is helping the district with the rest.

"Tremendous support. We had about 74 percent voter approval," Dr. Chancellor said.

That support also allows the district to create a new early childhood center, designed specifically for little ones.

"The state has requirements that we have to follow. But, it's also a challenge for us because we want to challenge the kids and give them a space that's going to allow them to interact and also engage in a learning environment," Paragon Architecture Project Manager Kirsten Whitehead said.

Dr. Chancellor says it's all an effort to open doors on brighter futures for students and the community.

"We are excited to share this with the town of Purdy," Dr. Chancellor said.

Dr. Chancellor says the goal is to host a Christmas program at the performing arts center on December 6th, with preschool students moving in at the start of next year.