De Soto School District Summer Projects Underway
Date Posted: June 30, 2026
Posted In: Projects,
From Leader Publications: The school year may be over, but the De Soto School District has been a busy place this summer.
The De Soto School Board of Education unanimously voted May 21 to hire ABC Quality Moving in Crystal City to move 25 classrooms’ worth of furniture, instructional materials and equipment due to the restructuring of the elementary level buildings. The district paid the company $10,944.
Under the restructuring that starts this school year, Athena Elementary will house kindergarten through second grade students and become De Soto Primary. Vineland Elementary will become De Soto Intermediate School and house third through fifth grade students.
“During the week of June 8, ABC Quality Moving began transporting furniture and materials between buildings and (returned) the week of June 15 to finalize remaining moves,” said Joshua Phipps, assistant superintendent of operations.
According to board documents, the De Soto Classroom Teachers Association recommended the use of a professional moving company as a practical solution to help staff and ensure the relocation was completed in an organized and timely manner. District officials said the move would have taken three times as long using just district resources.
“I think (using movers is) going to be enormously beneficial to our folks to be able to continue other work that needs to be done,” Phipps told the Board of Education after the vote to hire the only company that submitted a quote. “I think it’s a very good decision – money well invested for our district and our people.”
Superintendent Ron Farrow commended staff for their preparations for the elementary level restructuring.
“Our administrators and teachers have been tremendous throughout the past two years of planning for the building changes,” Farrow said. “They have invested significant time in preparing both instructionally and logistically to ensure a smooth transition for students.
“This includes collaborating on grade-level alignment, planning for student needs, organizing materials and preparing for classroom and room relocations that will take place this summer.”