Simpson Elementary School was named after Richard A. Simpson who has
been a long-time resident of the community, a teacher, principal and an
assistant superintendent. Mr. Simpson and his family have contributed a
great deal to both the community and to the education of many students.
We are very proud that our school was named after such a deserving
individual.
The name of our school was selected from hundreds of entries from the
Fox C-6 students. A second grader from Clyde Hamrick Elementary, Curtis
Ems, was responsible for submitting the name “Richard Simpson.” A
committee of board members and C-6 staff members, without hesitation,
agreed with Curtis, thus naming the school after Mr. Simpson.
The site was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler.
Approximately 16 acres were purchased for about $16,000 per acre. The
total sale came to about $265,000. The cost of the building itself was
about $4,100,000.
The first principal, Mrs. Alice Menne, with the help of many parents
and students, opened the building during the winter of 1994-1995 to
approximately 670 students and 55 full and part-time staff members.
Dr. Charles E. Hudson and Mr. James E. Chellew were the central
office administrators who played a major role in the initial planning
stages of the building and carried out the plans for Simpson Elementary.
Mrs. Terri Eldridge, Mr. Ron Counts, Mr. Steven Ott, Mr. Kevin Kraus,
Mr. Gary Prindiville, Mrs. Kathy Hayes and Mr. Jon Zimmermann were
active board members during the year of construction and the opening of
the building. We thank Dr. Hudson, Mr. Chellew, and the C-6 Board of
Education for such a beautiful facility.
The 1995-1996 school year opened with approximately 750 students. By
the 1996-1997 school year we had to add two double-wide trailers to
accommodate our sixth graders. We had grown to 825 students. Our friend,
Mr. Simpson, retired from the Fox C-6 School District that summer. We
continue to celebrate December 19th as “Richard A. Simpson Day”. During
the 1997-1998 school year there were approximately 900 students
enrolled; the 1998-1999 school year, approximately 800 students. George
Guffey Elementary opened in the Fenton area that year.
The 2000-2001 school year brought honors to Simpson Elementary from
the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch for high student achievement. We were visited by
Governor Bob Holden who recognized our students and teachers for their
superior performance. In the spring, longtime principal Alice Menne was
chosen to serve the Fox District as Assistant Superintendent for
Elementary Education. Bryan Clark, assistant principal 1998-2001, was
selected as principal beginning Fall 2001.