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by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net In April 2019, voters in the Springfi eld Public School District voted to entrust officials with a $168 million in- vestment in school facilities by approving the Proposition S bond issue. For its work on 39 building projects, plus three bonus projects paid for through cost-saving measures, Spring- field Public Schools was named the Springfield Contrac- tors Association’s Developer of the Year during the 37th annual Salute to Design and Construction Awards Banquet on Nov. 12. In a video presentation, Ty Alexander, SCA board presi- dent, said, “These improvements have a critical impact to our students and teachers, creating fantastic learning environments and resources to give our students the best chance to succeed.” Alexander cited the district for its significant expansion of early childhood education, as well as the construction of the new Adah Fulbright Early Childhood Center. The district also added 31 secure school entrances, four new elementaries (Boyd, Delaware, Sunshine and Williams), a new Jarrett Middle School and a partial renovation and new addition to Hillcrest High School. Additionally, school officials say savings in projected costs have allowed for the construction of a new York El- ementary, plus storm shelters at Mark Twain and Field el- ementaries. Michael Sapp, president of Sapp Design Associates Ar- chitects PC, which designed the Adah Fulbright center, among other district projects, noted SPS is important to everyone in the community. “For Springfield, a huge driver of our quality of life is our public school system,” he said in a video introduction to the award presentation. “This bond issue is more than just supporting kids; it’s supporting our entire community lo- cally and regionally in a lot of different ways, directly and indirectly.” Gregg Scholtens, executive vice president of Nabholz Construction Corp., which was the general contractor for the Williams Elementary and Hillcrest projects, called the district a collaborative owner to work with. BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Cats and coffee combine at a Branson cafe. PAGE 6 Two earn lifetime praise at Salute to Design and Construction Awards SPS saluted for $168M in building investments MCKENZIE ROBINSON Standing in front of the new Delaware Elementary building are Travis Shaw, Springfield Public Schools’ executive director of operations, and Stephanie Young, building principal. See AWARDS on page 27 Nathan Stooke : Wisper has nearly doubled its employee count this year. by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net An Illinois-based internet service provider is working in the Springfield area as part of its multimillion-dollar commitment to expand high-speed broadband access to rural areas in several Midwest states. Wisper ISP Inc. is launching new wireless broadband towers in Greene County this quarter – an investment that is a portion of the $220.3 million in federal funding the company was authorized to receive last year from the Federal Communications Commission. Wisper CEO Na- than Stooke said the company won the funds in 2018 via the FCC’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction. The grant requires Wisper to provide broadband service to over 80,000 households in rural areas by December 2025. Of the total, Stooke said $170 million is dedicated to broadband development in nearly 68,000 households in Missouri. Wisper also is working on projects in Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma with CAF funds. Stooke said Wisper should fin- ish roughly 20% of its work in all six states by the end of the year, noting a milestone would be to reach 30% by 2022’s finish. “Our goal is to be closer to 40% to 45% by the end of next year,” he said. The FCC auction allocated over $1.4 billion to businesses to be distributed over the next 10 years to expand rural broad- band service in unserved areas in 45 states. The $220 million awarded to Wisper was the second-largest recipi- ent in the auction behind $281 million won by Hudson Oaks, Texas-based AMG Technology Investment Group LLC, according to FCC data. Wisper ISP expands rural broadband in southwest Missouri New towers are part of Illinois company’s $170M work in state See ISP on page 32 NOV. 22-28, 2021 NOV. 22-28, 2021 · VOL. 42, NO. 18 40 YEARS • YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY $2.00 · SBJ.NET