Schools
Dressel Elementary Officially Back in Lindbergh School District
The school, closed in 1982, is set to reopen as the number of students in the district rises.
Donald Bee was elated when he read a resolution Tuesday night to rededicate a recently bought building on Musick Avenue as Dressel Elementary School.
The Lindbergh School Board, which includes Bee, unamiously passed the resolution during its board meeting Tuesday. It once again names the building, which cost $1.93 million, after John Maritn Dressel.
The resolution describes him as “a pioneer of educational excellence in south St. Louis County and a founder of Lindbergh schools."
Find out what's happening in Affton-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
His namesake opened in 1958, but was one of four elementary schools closed in 1982 after enrollment declined.
That trend has changed since then and school officials expect the district to have 450 more students by 2015.
Find out what's happening in Affton-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The current building will house three programs: LEAP—geared toward gifted elementary students, Parents as Teachers—which is meant for early childhood students, and the Lindbergh Athletic Association.
John Dressel’s son, Roy Dressel, and other family members were there to accept the resolution.
“We are very honored,” the son said. “It is a neat thing to have a close relative honored like this.”
John Dressel was a director on the Sappington Elementary District board in 1927 and the first board president of the R-8 Consolidated District in 1948.
“History with the Dressel family and Lindbergh School District goes back to the very beginning,” district Superintendent Jim Simpson said.
Classrooms ready for students
In other news, principals within the district reported to the board their schools are ready to begin classes following what Simpson described as an “incredible year of transition.”
A $31 million bond issue approved by voters as Proposition R in 2008 has upgraded the district's physical facilities in an effort to relieve overcrowding.
Truman Elementary will soon open as a middle school allowing Sperreng Middle School to serve half as many students. Additionally, Concord will open as an elementary school for a total of five elementary schools and two middle schools.
“We are in the final horse race to make sure all of our schools that had major construction are completed,” Simpson said.