Seeing Growth Ahead, Lindbergh Schools Purchases Musick Avenue Building

The Lindbergh School District has repurchased the Dressel school building, which sits on approximately 10 acres located at 10255 Musick Ave., to house programs such the LEAP program for gifted students, the Lindbergh Athletic Association and Lindbergh’s parents as teachers program.

“The board took advantage of this opportunity to purchase not only one of the last available plots of land in our district, but also a well-maintained school building, at a significant savings to taxpayers,” Lindbergh Board of Education President Vic Lenz said. “Buying Dressel now will allow us to protect the low class sizes that help students excel, now and in the future.”

The district bought the building, which was formerly a Lindbergh school until the early 80s, on July 26 from the Bible Chapel church for $1.94 million. The district financed the purchase by selling lease purchase bonds, part of a state program that allows government organizations to purchase property and buildings. The selling of these bonds did not affect the district’s tax rate, and Lindbergh did not have to use any reserve funds to underwrite the purchase.

Lindbergh's community relations director said that perhaps five years from now the building will be used for another new school for district.

Last week, the district opened a new elementary school, Concord Elementary, as part of a larger reorganization of the growing district.

A district press release states two independent studies commissioned by the board have confirmed that very little open land is available within district boundaries to address the increase in student population that is expected throughout the next four years. The small amount of land that is available is much more expensive than Dressel’s purchase cost and would not include the additional expense of building a new school.

“Lindbergh is very good at renovating old schools such as Concord and Sappington,” Superintendent Jim Simpson said. “Renovating Dressel will cost exponentially less than buying land at commercial rate and building a brand new facility.”

Enrollment projections show a districtwide increase of almost 450 students in grades kindergarten through 12 by 2015. By 2015, Lindbergh’s enrollment is expected to exceed 6,000 for the first time in 30 years.

The last time enrollment was 6,111 was in 1981-82, and student population was declining. As a result, the board voted to close several schools, including Dressel.