The St. Louis County Planning Commission heard a petition for a conditional use permit for a new private school in Oakville at its public hearing March 20.
Victory Christian Academy, a private Christian school, is seeking a CUP for a new kindergarten through 12th grade school building on 3.88 acres at 802 S. Kinswood Lane. The petition is in the 6th District of Councilman Ernie Trakas and the Mehlville School District. VCA purchased the property from the Missouri Baptist Association in December 2021.
VCA was founded in St. Louis city in 1975, and started out serving younger grades before building up to a high school that closed in the 1990s. Since then, the school has moved to various locations including Lemay and Arnold. In 2020, the school partnered with Canaan Baptist Church, 5409 Baumgartner Road, to relaunch the high school beginning with ninth grade, with the goal to add a grade each year to achieve grades nine through 12th by the 2023-2024 school year. At the moment, all grade levels meet at the church.
There is currently an existing building at the proposed site, which would be used as the new school building. All planned improvements to the property would be to the interior of the existing building, Project Manager Larry Johnston told the commission.
“We have no new outside construction required, no new landscaping or any changes,” Johnston said.
The existing building will be brought up to current code, including Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility. There will be 13 classrooms divided between the building’s three floors, with two office rooms and two restrooms on each floor.
According to Johnston, the school is currently installing a fire suppression sprinkler system and fire warning system in the building, and plan to install the new restrooms, HVAC systems, two ADA-compliant lifts and upgraded electrical systems once the school gets approval from the commission.
There are currently 120 students who attend VCA, with projections to grow to 200 students with the new building.
“We believe the property is well-suited for our small private school,” Johnston said.
No members of the public spoke in favor or against the plan.
The commission will consider a recommendation for the petition at a future executive meeting.
