Lutheran schools help each other survive

They share the same faith, the same roof, and the same struggle to survive.

Fox Valley Lutheran Academy in Elgin this fall moved its two teachers and all eight high school students into Good Shepherd Lutheran Elementary across town.

Even now, the halls at the campus are quiet, with just 60 students occupying the building originally intended for many more.

The move, officials say, was an economic necessity for Fox Valley Lutheran, which, because of a severe drop in student numbers, could no longer afford to rent space in its former location on Division Street in downtown Elgin.

But it's also a marketing strategy for both schools, which are aiming to build a stronger Lutheran schools network for both fellowship and recruitment.

"You don't want to lose your Lutheran heritage," said Jan Burmeister, the acting principal of both schools. "But unless Lutheran schools work to improve, they're going to get themselves in trouble."

Lutheran schools generally get financial help from the churches to which they are tied, but they receive no monetary help from a higher power. Struggling Catholic schools can get support from a Diocese or Archdiocese.

Instead, Lutheran schools are on their own to keep up their buildings, pay their teachers and assist needy students.

When the economy tanked, those tasks became harder than ever for Good Shepherd and Fox Valley Lutheran.

Struggling with enrollment for years, the Good Shepherd school board last fall hired a consultant to help formulate a plan to reinvent itself. The church's congregation in March approved a plan to turn the kindergarten through eighth-grade school into a kindergarten through fifth-grade. Middle school students, the Rev. Martin Balzer said, are encouraged to attend St. John's Lutheran School in downtown Elgin.

The arrangement with Fox Valley, Balzer says, is an "outgrowth" of Good Shepherd's new school plan.

Good Shepherd not only had extra space, but was in need of a principal, a role Burmeister was able to fill by serving as an administrator for both schools.

The high school is using the upper floor at Good Shepherd for free, though high school students assist grade schoolers with class work and lunchtime tasks on a daily basis.

"It's good for our students, and for the little ones, too," Burmeister said.

One recent afternoon, Fox Valley Lutheran sophomore Callie Krueger and junior Megan Pfortmiller helped lead kindergartners through the lunch line in the school cafeteria.

"You're opening it the wrong way, honey," Megan tells 5-year-old Miles Schuring, who is struggling to open his milk carton.

She helps him turn it around and plunk in a straw, then moves on to help another student.

New tasks and a new location aren't the only differences for the high school, which saw enrollment drop from last year's 23 students to this year's eight. Four freshmen, one sophomore and three juniors now attend classes taught by two part-time teachers and a volunteer.

With tuition close to $6,000 per student, the economy drove a majority of those students away, Burmeister said. But others left after learning that the school would not be big enough to offer athletic programs this year.

"We didn't have enough to field a volleyball or basketball team," she said. "We want to provide that, but we can't at this point."

As you can imagine, life in an eight-student high school is not the typical school experience.

Students are split up by class year in the mornings for math, science and Spanish classes, Burmeister said.

They are taught current events, theology, English and social studies as one group in the afternoon, though assignments cater to the students' different ability levels.

Eventually, Burmeister hopes, a new, stronger high school will open at its own location. She estimates that Fox Valley will use space at Good Shepherd for the next three years.

For now, the main focus is on strengthening connections between Good Shepherd, St. John's and Fox Valley Lutheran.

Staff from all three schools attended a back-to-school luncheon together. St. John's and Good Shepherd are taking part in athletic events together. More meetings are planned throughout the year.

"I think this allows them continuity," Balzer said of Fox Valley Lutheran Academy's arrangement. "They have a wonderful vision of where they'd like to be. And this allows them the continuity until they can put that into place."

Though the new year has come with big change, Megan and Callie say it hasn't affected their pride in Fox Valley Lutheran.

Callie, who will celebrate a birthday in a few weeks, pointed out that she'll be inviting the entire school to her party.

"Just because we're a small school doesn't mean anything," Megan says. "I like it. You get a ton of individual attention and help with homework."