History of UCLS

On February 18, 2010, a committee representing Concordia-Trinity Lutheran School (CTLS) of Altenburg and Frohna, Missouri, and Salem Lutheran School of Farrar, Missouri, met for the first time to brainstorm ideas on how an association school might be established. In 2007, an attempt at an association school, involving more East Perry Country congregations, failed. The committee in 2010 consisted of the pastors and a lay representative from just three area congregations: Concordia, Frohna; Salem, Farrar; and Trinity, Altenburg. Representing Salem School and CTLS were the principals and a teacher from each school. 

After numerous committee meetings, much research, and two joint congregational informational meetings, a vote was taken August 1, 2010, in all three congregations to see if they favored the idea of an association school. The three congregations accepted the proposal to establish United in Christ Lutheran School (UCLS), an association school for preschool through 8th grade by a combined 77% majority. The vote also indicated that the school would be located on the campus of Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, beginning in fall 2011. The proposed UCLS Constitution was accepted, and two voting members from each congregation were elected to represent them on the UCLS school board, with the three pastors and the principal acting as non-voting advisory members.

UCLS has, as its foundation, a strong heritage of Lutheran schools in East Perry County. After the Saxon immigration in 1839, Lutheran schools were established along with their churches in their respective communities by the Saxons and other Lutheran forefathers. Before actual school buildings were erected, classes were held in homes, parsonages, or church buildings. 

Trinity’s first school building was dedicated in spring 1841. After holding classes in its old church structures for several years, Concordia built its first brick school building in 1883. In fall 1957, Trinity and Concordia combined resources to form Concordia-Trinity Lutheran School, which operated in various buildings and classroom formats until 1969, when each congregation built its own school building. These two schools housed CTLS until May 2011. 

Immigrants from Saxony and Hanover moved into the Farrar area in the 1850s, starting a Christian day school in 1867. Classes initially were held in the church building. In 1892, Salem built its first brick schoolhouse. Another school building was erected in 1926. Both of those buildings were eventually razed, and a new school building was dedicated in 1958. Classes were held there until May 2011.

At one time, CTLS’s and Salem’s combined enrollment peaked at more than 200 students per year, but in the early 2000s, enrollment at both had declined. To ensure a solid and sustainable quality Christian day school, based on the beliefs of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the idea of an association school began to take shape. 

Once approval was given in 2010 to move ahead with the new school, the school board met relentlessly to lay the necessary groundwork. Along with completing all legal and synodical paperwork, the school board worked on facility and faculty needs. Concordia’s congregation, which owns the building, agreed to a two-classroom addition, bringing the total number of classrooms to six. Groundbreaking for the addition took place February 13, 2011. With volunteer labor from all three congregations and from individuals outside the congregations, a target completion date of August 1, 2011, was set.

The call process began in December 2010. On February 20, 2011, Miss Cheryl Honoree, who served CTLS as a teacher/principal, accepted the call to serve as UCLS’s first principal. The remaining faculty were called or contracted in the weeks and months that followed. UCLS’s inaugural faculty included: Robyn Koenig, 7-8thgrade teacher; Debbie Lichtenegger, 5-6th grade teacher; Laura Goodson, 3-4th grade teacher; Whitney Pohlman, 1-2ndgrade teacher; Nelda Koeberl, kindergarten teacher; and Ashley Pedrosa, preschool teacher. 

First-year support staff included: Crystal Verseman, secretary/physical education teacher; Sara Grebing, cook; Sarah Benkendorf and Tina Koeberl, teacher’s aides; Duane Wunderlich, bus driver; and Eric Seibel, band teacher.

On February 13, 2011, the UCLS PTL was established. Immediately, it became active with projects such as purchasing and assembling playground equipment, taking orders for UCLS school shirts, and organizing fundraisers and other projects.

Any congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod within a reasonable distance of the campus may become a member of the United in Christ Lutheran School Association by following standards as set out in the Constitution of the Concordia, Salem, and Trinity Lutheran School Association.

Heartfelt thanks go to many people in our community for their prayers, hard work, support, enthusiasm, excitement, and trust which has helped to make UCLS a reality. Also, thanks to all three association congregations and to many individuals for their generous contributions of money, furniture, equipment, books, supplies, labor, etc. To God alone be the glory!