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 students, space was inadequate. 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 to the school building, or replace aging eq
uipment. At that time, 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 generous financial support from parents and friends and backing from 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, the building was finished out in phases, to the current level of 30,000 square feet housing 24 classrooms, 5 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. The elementary playground is at one end of the building.
With the growth that the new facilities have allowed, and with a more attractive school campus 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 the funds to purchase a 3.4-acre tract across the street from the school. In cooperation with a local soccer association, a full-size lighted soccer field and track were constructed. In addition, the campaign funded improvements and upgrades for technology, curriculum materials, and facilities and allowed us to reduce and consolidate debt.
