FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2019
MIRIAM PURCHASES PROPERTY FROM H.F. EPSTEIN HEBREW ACADEMY FOR NEW LOCATION OF HIGH SCHOOL
Miriam plans initial $2 million in improvements
St. Louis, Mo – The Miriam Foundation announced today that it has purchased the property owned by H.F. Epstein Hebrew Academy for the permanent location of Miriam Academy, an accredited independent high school for students with unique learning needs. Miriam will invest an initial $2 million in improvements and open the new space next August for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
The 58,000-square-foot building sits on eight acres in an easily accessible central location, 1138 North Warson Road in Olivette, Mo. The sale was approved by officials at Epstein Hebrew Academy, who plan to move to a new location in University City.
Construction will begin in January with the space ready for staff in June and for the start of the school year in August. Major renovations include improvements to the roof and building systems, updating the building, and enhancing the layout for high school needs.
The high school will include an administration suite, eight classrooms, a multipurpose room, two science labs, life skills classroom, culinary arts area and full-sized gymnasium. The design includes specialty spaces such as a TV studio and areas for clubs and sports. A large outdoor area contains a fenced-in field that will be used for sports, outdoor classes, motor breaks and gardening club. The campus is surrounded by a double fence and backs up to the Olivette Community Center and a park.
Miriam Academy opened with its inaugural class of 12 ninth-graders in 2016 to serve the unmet demand in the St. Louis region for educating high school students who learn differently. The school has grown rapidly and today serves 63 high school students in grades 9-12 at its current location in Town & Country. The Academy provides a learning environment designed to support the education, development and college and career readiness needs of its students. The new location will allow Miriam Academy to expand to serve approximately 120 students.
After conducting an extensive search, Miriam Executive Director Andrew Thorp said, “The Epstein Hebrew campus is the ideal location for Miriam Academy to serve its mission to educate and inspire unique learners by building confidence and a foundation for success.”
The campus is in close proximity to the Danforth Plant Science Center, Bayer headquarters and 39 North AgTech Innovation District, which could offer exciting partnership options in the future. The property is also already zoned to operate as a school. “Revitalizing the Epstein Hebrew Academy building will allow us to create the perfect learning environment where more students can excel,” Thorp said.
“We are thrilled to have this new expanded space to provide our students and families with a permanent home for their high school education and lasting memories,” said founding Head of School Dr. Sue Jackson. “It will also be wonderful for our alumni to have a place to return to for social gatherings and possibly tutoring and mentoring of our younger students,” Jackson said.
The new site will include offices for Miriam Foundation, which staffs the business, marketing and fundraising functions of the organization. Foundation staff currently occupy rented office space.
For inquiries about Miriam Academy or our other two programs, Miriam School and Miriam Learning Center, please call 314-968-3893 or visit us online at www.miriamstl.org.
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Contact: Laurie Burstein
Telephone: (314) 962-6059
Email:lburstein@miriamstl.org
About Miriam:
Founded in 1910, Miriam empowers unique learners by building confidence and a foundation for success. Through innovative programs including Miriam School, Miriam Learning Center and Miriam Academy, Miriam serves more than 1,200 children annually, ages 2-24, who have a wide variety of learning differences. Miriam annually provides more than $1.8 million in financial assistance to Miriam students and families.
