St. Paul Lutheran High School moves to MAC campus
St. Paul Lutheran High School’s former home on Showplace Drive. The school will continue to utilize the gym at the building until new construction is complete. Submitted
The North College Center will house SPLHS while its new buildings are under construction. Submitted
St. Paul Lutheran High School (SPLHS) holds the distinction of being the oldest Christian high school in St. Francois County. SPLHS hosted its annual State of the School Address at the end of July. Principal Andy Sherrill announced that he had been keeping a secret and was finally at liberty to share it publicly: on Aug. 20, SPLHS students’ first day of attendance will be at the school’s new home on the campus of Mineral Area College.
Principal Sherrill said the move to the Park Hills college campus marks a bold step in their mission to provide a Christ-centered education that prepares students for life. He expressed his enthusiasm for the improvements to the educational experience for students, thanks to the new access to better physical space and academic resources, as well as a broader range of educational opportunities.
“Our location may be new, but our purpose hasn’t changed. We are still St. Paul. Still Christ-centered. Still committed to building a school culture where students are known, challenged, and equipped to lead,” he said. “This move reflects what we’ve always believed—our students are capable of more. With the right space and support, we can raise the bar even higher for academic excellence, student leadership, and spiritual growth.”
Sherrill provided an overview of the high school’s history from its launch in 2012. Nine students and six faculty members originally gathered daily in a small, four-room house affectionately called the “White House,” positioned next to St. Paul Lutheran Church on East Columbia Street. Two years later, after outgrowing the small space with a total of 24 students, a 14,000 square-foot facility was purchased in the Showplace Plaza. Since October 2014 at the expanded location, there have been 272 students enrolled and 120 graduates.
School leaders say that while Showplace Drive will always be the school’s major stepping stone, its “promised land” can literally be seen from the school’s entrance. More than 20 acres will be the building site for the future home of SPLHS, including athletic fields, directly across US Highway 67. They point to the growth of the Parkland community as a whole and see the building project as a solution to meet the growing demands for Christian education for shaping the next generations of leaders, builders, and thinkers. They envision an innovative space where they will be able to cater to hundreds of students who will shape the future of Parkland and beyond. The proposed construction plan would tentatively stage out a build for a full gym and athletic fields while academics remain situated at the MAC campus for an undetermined time.
Sherrill is optimistic about the fresh possibilities at MAC and estimates the new location can accommodate about 150 students, nearly double the current census.
A “real campus” experience is one positive aspect that Sherrill is looking forward to presenting to SPLHS students, giving them an opportunity to attend classes in a building designed for learning. The larger classroom areas, modern facilities, and the luxury of natural lighting via windows that the Showplace Drive location lacked — are all aspects Sherrill says comprise the physical environment the students deserve.
“We will have access to many resources at MAC for our students,” Sherrill said. “We have access to a full library, we can get meal plans, and eat real meals. There will be collaborative study areas in our new school, and everybody has their own space. Each teacher has their own classroom–except for me and another teacher who will have to share–eSports will have its own space.”
Students will have a better opportunity with fewer barriers to take advantage of dual-credit offerings at the college, which allows students to earn college credits while in high school. Sherrill said he hopes it will be an opportunity for the younger students to take college classes earlier in their academic careers. Other new opportunities include access to the theater and free admission to MAC athletic events.
Sherrill concluded his remarks by saying, “We believe in our kids. We believe in what we do, and understand we need to improve. We ask the students to continue to learn, and now they have a place that matches that opportunity. The option to move has been a huge blessing for us. Being at Showplace has been a great thing, and it will really propel us forward. The sale of this current building will be able to put us in a better financial position to help, one, take care of our teachers, and two, start moving some dirt across the highway. These are things that really matter, and we’re very excited about that.”
A community open house celebration is scheduled for Aug. 18 from 6 – 8 p.m.; the public is invited. The school’s address is 5270 Flat River Road, which is the physical address for the entirety of the Park Hills 200+ acre campus. SPLHS is located in the former North College Center near MAC’s Law Enforcement Academy, close to the O Highway campus entrance.
To learn more about SPLHS, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, visit the website at splhsgiants.com, or call 573-756-1099 to arrange a personal visit.
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a staff writer for the Farmington Press and the Daily Journal. She can be contacted at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
