On
November 4, 1849, the first building was dedicated
and, Pastor Brauer installed the first teacher,
Henry Bartling. On opening day, there were 8 boys
and 9 girls. As enrollment increased, additional
teachers were employed and new classroom buildings
built. At no time was the enrollment limited or
restricted. Children of parents too poor to meet
tuition costs were always accepted. The policy of
the school always urged the practice of Christian
missions and charity at home. The first bible story
taught at the West District was:
And they
brought young children to Him, that He
should touch them. And His disciples rebuked
those that brought them. But when Jesus saw
it, He was much displeased, and said unto
them “Suffer the little children to come
unto Me, and forbid them not, for such is
the Kingdom of God. Verify I say unto you,
whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of
God as a little children he shall not enter
therein.” And he took them up in His arms,
put His hand upon them, and bless them. St.
Mark. 10:13-16
In
November 1855, Zion reestablished their school. In
1943 the Bloomingdale School (Located near Army
Trail and Swift Roads) which was originally
established in 1881, joined St. Paul. Both
congregations maintained their independent schools
until the establishment of Concord.
During the years between 1972 and 1988 the number of
children in the congregation available to the school
decreased, and in 1988 St Paul Lutheran School
merged with Zion Lutheran School to form Concord
Lutheran School. Pre-School was taught at both the
Zion and St. Paul campuses with grades 1 through 3
taught at the Zion campus and 4 through 8 at the St.
Paul campus. This jointly operated ministry was
established to meet the changing resources and needs
of St. Paul and Zion congregations. Even though
Concord has been around for a relatively short time,
both congregations have a long history of providing
Lutheran education.
In
2006, Zion congregation received notice from St Paul
that they were no longer interested in assisting
with Concord school. Zion's congregation decided to
continue on with the school, housing it completely
on their own campus.
