When Nicole Trueman-Shaw heard that her alma mater, the city’s second-oldest Catholic high school, would close, her heart sank.
That night, she began talking with other alumnae of the school about a way to save St. Elizabeth Academy. What has developed is a plan to transform it into what would eventually be a charter school, leaving behind its roots in Catholic education.
To do so, supporters must raise $750,000 by June 1 to cover the costs of 2013-14 — a bridge year in which the school will remain a private school while founders complete the charter application process that would lead to public funding.
“I thought about those girls — (they) really feel that’s their home, that’s where they belong,” Trueman-Shaw said. “And what a void we would have in the city.”
In January, the Catholic order that has operated the all-girls school at 3401 Arsenal Street since 1882 announced the decision to close at the end of the school year, citing declining enrollment. This year’s enrollment is 133. Decades ago, it was more than 500.
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St. Elizabeth is the second-oldest Catholic high school operating in the city. St. Louis University High School opened in 1818.
The new school would be called SEA Academy, or Service Ethics Academics Academy. This fall, SEA Academy would open as a private, college preparatory school for girls with a low tuition commitment, Trueman-Shaw says.
Although it would not be a Catholic school, it would still offer an all-girls, college-preparatory education with a strong foundation in service to others, character education and leadership, founders say.
Debbie Lowry, an alumna and parent of a freshman and sophomore at St. Elizabeth, said her daughters were hoping to attend the new school and were helping with fundraising.
“They all felt like SEA is home. The diversity, everyone is accepted for who they are,” she said.
She said the new school would include community service requirements for students, which is included in Catholic education, although daily prayer and other religious practices will disappear.
But to some parents, the strength of St. Elizabeth Academy is its Catholic education.
“To many of us, St. Elizabeth’s is important first and foremost because it is Catholic,” said Thom Pancella, a parent. “When it closes after this academic year, that will go away. A charter school simply cannot do that.”
In fall 2014, SEA Academy would transition to SEA Academy Charter and will be free to all female city residents in grades 9-12 living in the defined ZIP codes and to female students in St. Louis County school districts participating in the voluntary desegregation program.
The challenge is raising the $750,000, says Trueman-Shaw, a 1993 graduate who is dean of students at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, where she plans to stay and volunteer her time with SEA Academy.
Charter schools, which are independent public schools, must first secure a sponsor, typically a college or university, before getting final approval from the Missouri State Board of Education. That process often takes more than a year and must meet certain deadlines.
Organizers also need 50 girls for the 2013-14 school year, and are confident that many will stay, although some have had to commit to other schools.
The property is owned by the order of Sisters of the Most Precious Blood.
“My preference would be that it is a Catholic education, but if that’s not possible, then I think we need to look at what is possible,” said Sister Susan Borgel, president of St. Elizabeth.
For more information on fundraisers or to donate, go to sea-academy.org.
