Rolla’s former Columbia College campus is getting a second life, this time for the town’s youngest residents. The district has hired St. Louis contractor S. M. Wilson & Co. under an approximately $8.3 million construction contract to turn the site into a dedicated early childhood center with expanded pre‑K classrooms and an on‑site pediatric clinic, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. District officials say the project will support a shift from half‑day preschool to full‑day programming that will serve roughly 350 children.
The property at 550 Blues Lake Parkway, formerly the Columbia College‑Rolla campus, was purchased with help from the Phelps County Community Foundation, and the district says the larger site lets it grow pre‑K capacity from about 162 half‑day seats to roughly 350 full‑day slots, according to Rolla Public Schools. District materials also note that the move frees up classrooms at elementary campuses while centralizing early childhood services in one hub.
What’s in the Plan
The Phelps County Community Foundation describes the future center as a roughly 36,630‑square‑foot facility on 2.78 acres, with classrooms, administrative offices, outdoor play areas and a separate pediatric clinic run by Four Rivers Community Healthcare, according to the Phelps County Community Foundation. The foundation says the clinic will have its own entrance and will offer pediatric medical and dental services that align with the preschool program.
Why It Matters
District leaders say the shift to full‑day pre‑K is about more than nap mats and snack time. Tying the program to full‑day schedules allows the district to tap attendance‑based state funding and cut into waiting lists that have kept many local children out of pre‑K, according to Rolla Public Schools. R31 Superintendent Dr. Kyle Dare said on the district site that the change "removes barriers for some families who were not able to enroll in our program previously due to the inability to secure care for the other half of the day." The district and its partners estimate a roughly $3.5 million annual return on investment when they factor in both educational and public‑health benefits.
Local Contractor Ties and Timeline
S. M. Wilson is no stranger to Missouri school work. The Rolla Board recently accepted the firm’s bid to rebuild Mark Twain Elementary’s cafeteria and classrooms, according to Phelps County Focus. The company also notes it completed an early childhood center for Jefferson City schools last year, according to S. M. Wilson.
District materials state that preconstruction and planning began after the purchase was finalized in January 2025, with renovations targeted to start in the summer and the goal of opening the new facility for the 2026‑27 school year, according to Rolla Public Schools. The St. Louis Business Journal reports construction could wrap by the end of 2026. Officials say more details on phasing, staffing and a public timeline will roll out as the project moves through permitting and active construction.
