Ritenour Signs Agreement to Purchase Former Holy Trinity Parish Property in St. Ann

The Ritenour School District Board of Education approved an agreement to purchase the property located at 10901 St. Henry Lane in St. Ann. The district closed on the property on Aug. 13, 2024. The purchase price was $1 million.

The 3.92-acre site was the former location of Holy Trinity Parish and school. The property includes 30,000 square feet of total building space - featuring a main school building and a separate building with five additional classrooms. The Archdiocese of St. Louis closed Holy Trinity School in 2020.

The district plans to use the property to expand programming for students. The International Welcome Center (IWC), the Center for Gifted Education, and the ACE alternative learning program will move to this new location. Ritenour Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride said he is excited about the possibilities the newly acquired property will offer to the Ritenour community.

“Ritenour is committed to serving the whole child and the entire community,” Kilbride said. “Having spaces such as this property is crucial for supporting our growing educational needs. Our IWC has outgrown its space in the north wing of Hoech Middle School, and our Gifted Center and alternative programs are in need of additional space for students and staff, as well. We can now expand the offerings for our award-winning programs and help free up much-needed space for students and staff at our schools.”

The district plans to use certificates of participation (COPs) to pay for the property. This financing spreads out the payments over a longer period instead of making a single large payment. A COP is a low-interest, lease-financing agreement used to acquire real property and for capital projects. School districts, municipalities, and local government agencies often use COPs to purchase property and make renovations.

As part of the closing agreement, Ritenour will officially take ownership of the property on Aug. 20, 2024. Programs are anticipated to begin moving into the new space during the 2024-2025 school year.