St. Francis School History
St. Francis School was founded in 1985 by a small group of parents and teachers. At that time the school had 50 students and operated in borrowed Sunday School rooms. Classrooms had to be completely dismantled every Friday and put back up on Monday morning.
From 1987 to 1995 the school rented a building but, by the time enrollment reached 144, space was inadequate— and with no room for growth it was impossible to achieve any economies of scale. There were no funds to pay teachers an appropriate salary, make repairs, or replace aging equipment. The school ended at fifth grade, and there was no space for a middle school. In the spring of 1995 we were informed that our lease would not be renewed. With a tremendous effort, generous financial support from parents and friends, and the backing of a local bank who supported our mission, St. Francis purchased a burned out shell of an office building and renovated it to meet the school’s needs in time to open school in August.
Over the next three years we finished out the building in phases, to the current level of 30,000 square feet housing 24 classrooms, 3 tutoring rooms, office space, music room, library, teacher’s lounge, kitchen and small gym. St. Francis also owns a small house adjacent to the main building, which houses the art and computer classrooms, as well as a kitchen. An elementary playground is at one end of the building, and a Pre-K playground is on property across the street.
With the growth that our new facilities have allowed, and with a more attractive physical plant and increasing revenues and gifts, St. Francis is now able to pay teachers a competitive salary and benefits.
A capital campaign in 1999-2003 raised funds to purchase a 3.4-acre tract across the street from the school, and, in cooperation with a local soccer association, to construct a full-size lighted soccer field, track, and long jump pit. In addition, this campaign funded improvements and upgrades in the library, technology, curriculum materials, and facilities and allowed us to reduce and consolidate debt.
