Columbia Elementary opens doors for the final time

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin Schools will host the Final Open House for Columbia Elementary from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 24. The school is located at 610 West F Street.

Neighbors, families, Columbia alumni and community partners are invited to take a last walk around the building and grounds before the space is permanently closed in anticipation of a razing later this summer.

“We know there are many Joplinites who hold fond memories of their time at Columbia, so we felt it was important to allow them one last goodbye,” said Joplin Schools Superintendent Dr. Kerry Sachetta. “Columbia has been a special place during the past century, and we want to honor our shared history in this neighborhood.”

The current Columbia Elementary facility was originally constructed in 1927 to replace Columbian (also sometimes known as North Heights) Elementary, which was built at the same location in 1892. Students attending Columbia Elementary and West Central Elementary were recently consolidated at the newly constructed Dover Hill Elementary in January 2023.

Joplin Schools is required by its memorandum of understanding with the city of Joplin to raze Columbia within 12
months of occupancy at Dover Hill.

Joplin Schools Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Matt Harding, said that following the open house event, an asbestos abatement process will get underway leading up to the razing later this summer.

“A project like this requires a lot of specific processes from a facilities standpoint, but we also know it has a community impact,” said Harding. “We’d like our Columbia neighbors to feel welcomed into that process.”

No building mementos will be available at the Final Open House.