In 2024, D7 residents made a powerful statement about their commitment to our children’s future and their trust in the District’s vision for progress. Through their overwhelming approval of a referendum, our community enabled transformative capital projects that will significantly enhance our schools and strengthen our community’s educational foundation.

We are excited to shape the future with a brand-new Jesse Boyd Elementary School, which will be built on the site of the former McCracken Middle School. With the McCracken building standing vacant since spring 2020, preparations are now underway to transform the space into a state-of-the-art learning environment. Demolition started in March and will take approximately three months to complete. Once cleared, the site will transition into the construction phase, bringing our shared vision to life. The new school is scheduled to welcome students to their new learning home in August 2027.

As this project progresses, you may notice increased activity around the site, including construction vehicles, heavy equipment, and noise. We recognize this may impact nearby businesses and neighborhoods. District 7 is dedicated to being a good neighbor, to keeping disruption to a minimum, and to helping our community stay informed every step of the way.

The latest project developments will be shared on this page, so please return to check things out! We appreciate your patience and support as we work to create a bright future for our students and community. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at communications@spart7.org — we’re here to help!

The new Jesse Boyd Elementary School will be thoughtfully designed to support diverse learning experiences and teaching approaches. In addition to traditional classrooms, the school will feature flexible collaboration spaces where students can engage in small group activities, hands-on projects, and creative problem-solving. These areas will be equipped with interactive technology and seamless wireless connectivity to enhance engagement and exploration. By fostering curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking from an early age, this innovative learning environment will help prepare students for success in middle school and beyond.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, Jesse Boyd is committed to developing globally minded, lifelong learners. The new facility will be designed to enrich the IB experience, providing students with dynamic spaces that encourage inquiry, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning. Additionally, a full complement of fine arts spaces will allow students to explore their talents in music, song, and theater, further supporting the well-rounded education that is at the heart of the IB philosophy.

During the 2024-2025 school year, District 7 conducted an open bid process and selected McMillan Pazdan Smith as architect and Harper Construction as Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR). A project timeline was developed and is outlined below. Conceptual designs were shared with members of the Jesse Boyd community and with the District 7 Board of Trustees for input. We are excited to share these with you and will update the documents as the project progresses.

March 18 and 19 we invited local media outlets to interview Jesse Boyd principal Jonathan Duvall and District 7 Board Member Jeff Mason on-site as demolition began. Mr. Mason attended McCracken Middle at the former building at enjoyed his time there so much that he recruited fellow students to help create his Eagle Scout project there – a physical fitness trail that runs behind the school. His interviews added the great human-interest angle to the story. Mr. Mason even enjoyed a surprise reunion with Herald-Journal reporter Baker Maultsby and photographer Alex Hicks, who were covering this news and also wrote and photographed him for a newspaper story about his Eagle Scout project back in 2004! See the photo of the three of them below, with Mr. Mason holding a copy of the article from his scrapbook.