The Harrisonville Board of Education voted at its November meeting to approve a $370,000 bid with SGI Construction to build a new 6,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion for the Cass Career Center.
About half of that cost is intended to be funded by donations, according to CCC Director Anne Hickman. About $184,000 of the cost is intended to be paid for with donated funds, according to a report included in the board packet and submitted by Hickman to Superintendent Josh Chastain.
The pavilion will have seating capacity of more than 300 people, and the space will be able to be configured in a variety of different ways. According to Hickman, there are a lot of different ways the pavilion can be utilized by the school, local businesses and organizations, and the community-at-large.
“We anticipate the result to be a vibrant and dynamic hub of learning, engagement and community interaction,” Hickman said.
According to Hickman, this outdoor pavilion will have integrated storage capabilities, allowing for a lot of different uses. In addition to educational instruction in a versatile outdoor classroom space with ample space for the activities of classes and student organizations, it will be able to be used as a shelter for volunteers during training exercises, and can be used to store equipment and used to host events.
“The outdoor space will offer a range of configuration options to suit the various needs of CCC programs and the community,” Hickman said. “This includes live instructional events like student organization activities, fundraising events and even community events like farmers markets, concerts, reunions and outdoor movie nights.”
According to Hickman, investing in this project will help support career and technical education in the area, as well as ongoing workforce development, provide additional networking opportunities and enhance talent recruitment.
“This can enhance the investor’s reputation and relationships within the community,” Hickman said. “Businesses investing in the pavilion can gain a myriad of sponsorship opportunities.
“The fundraising process is just about to unfold. It has been developed to allow investors to contribute to our CCC Educational Enhancement Fund through the Harrisonville Public School Foundation. Investing in the pavilion project is not just a financial transaction; it’s an investment in the education, skills, and future success of the students and the community.”
In November 2022, the Cass Career Center was awarded a grant intended to match local funds in the amount of $300,000. An article explaining the donation process was included in the school’s newsletter.
One of the fundraising efforts already in motion is “the brick program” which allows donors a chance to purchase a personalized brick on the pathway leading from the CCC to the pavilion.
There are also five different levels of support pertaining to large donations ranging from $1,000 up to $20,000.
To participate in the brick project visit ccc.brickprogram.com.
To learn more about how to support the project contact Hickman by email at anne.hickman.harrisonvilleschools.org or call (816) 360-3253.
