Lindbergh District Forced to Drop Summer School for Grades 6-8

Construction at the middle schools and an anticipated loss of state funding has forced Lindbergh School District to cancel summer school programs for middle school students, according to district officials.

Pre-K ages, elementary and high school students will still have summer programs at Lindbergh's early childhood education center, Sappington Elementary and Lindbergh High School.

Summer programs geared toward middle school students, however, were stymied this year by state funding cuts and the district's scheduled interior renovation of its two middle schools over the summer.

"We have not received confirmation yet about whether state funding for summer school will be cut, but we have heard that is a definite possibility," Lindbergh Communications Director Beth Cross said in an email. Cross said several other school districts may be taking similar steps to curb costs, "to make sure we stay within our district budget."

Lindbergh officials said the district has not received any requests from parents searching for alternative summer school programs, but they will do their best to assist families who need new summer options.

The middle school rennovations are part of a larger reorganization process the district is undertaking. In August, Truman Elementary will reopen as a middle school. Sperreng Middle School will then serve only half as many students. The district will open the new Concord Elementary school in August, for a total of five elementary schools and two middle schools. The construction is paid for by a $31-million bond issue approved by voters as Proposition R in 2008. The money is to be used to upgrade the district's facilities and relieve crowding. In January, the district opened its own early childhood education center, having used Prop R funding for construction.

A rainy April slowed exterior work at schools throughout the district, officials said Tuesday, but plans are full steam ahead for the coming months. Current construction includes: 

• the remodeling of Concord Elementary
• additional playground equipment is expected to be installed soon now that prep work has been completed outside the Early Childhood Education building
• concrete and grading work at Crestwood Elementary
• masonry and drywall work has been completed at Long Elementary
• the upcoming installation of discus pads at Lindbergh High School
• the demolition of a house on Adams Lane near Sperreng Middle School

Board of Education Honors Students

The Lindbergh Board of Education gave accolades on Tuesday to top students for their exciting college plans.

Kristi Tanaka is one of 1,500 students nationwide to be accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. She received recommendations from nine teachers as well as from Rep. Todd Akin and Sen. Kit Bond, and she has a long list of academic and athletic accomplishments at Lindbergh.

Robert Patzius bested 90 competitors to win a college scholarship valued at $11,900 in the annual high school welding competition on Jan. 29 at the Missouri Welding Institute.

Kyle Horstman was selected to receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Carondelet Sunday Morning Athletic Club.

Sophia Meyer has earned the Erin's WINGS Scholarship Award, named in honor of Erin Mace, a former Lindbergh student.

The board also gave special kudos to students at Truman Elementary School for raising more than $2,400 for families at the school who were victims of the New Year's Eve tornado, and to Truman third-grader Sam Hunter for raising more than $700 for the Japan Earthquake Fund during a fundraising walk on his birthday.