New Elementary School Update

Drummond Elementary School

(Click here to see update photos)

Background

In September 1998, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave officials at Lambert International Airport the approval to proceed with plans to build a new runway west of its current facilities. Construction is currently underway, and the airport has already bought many homes and businesses as part of its expansion plan.

The Pattonville School District reached an agreement with Lambert Airport in September 1999 for the replacement of Carrollton and Carrollton Oaks elementary schools. Both schools were in the buy-out area for the airport expansion plan. Under the agreement, the city of St. Louis (owner of Lambert) provided $18.5 million to Pattonville to purchase land and build a replacement school.

Artist's Rendering. Click to view larger.

In the fall of 2000, Pattonville used airport funds to purchase 17 acres of land near the Shop 'N Save grocery store in St. Ann and at the site of the former St. Ann Elementary School on St. Bridget Lane. A committee of parents and staff worked together with an architect to design the new elementary school. Pattonville broke ground on the school in an official ceremony on May 15, 2001. In the summer, fall and winter of 2001, a Parent Redistricting Committee met and developed attendance boundaries for the new school. The plan was approved by the board in January 2002 and involved moving all Carrollton and Carrollton Oaks elementary students to the new school, as well as a few students from nearby Bridgeway and Briar Crest elementary schools.

In April 2002, the Board of Education voted to name the new school Robert Drummond Elementary after a long-time board member who had recently retired from board service.

Classes will start at the new school on Aug. 19, 2002. Mr. Jim Schwab is the principal, and Karen Hall is the assistant principal.