Jan. 26, 2023

The Lindbergh Schools Board of Education voted on Jan. 19 to approve an official name for the district’s new Gifted Center, which will be located in the former Lindbergh High School library building.

The Lindbergh “Idea Center” will be home to elementary school LEAP, and the St. Louis Regional Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students, also known as PEGS. 

A committee of parents, students, gifted education teachers and administrators met this fall to develop parameters for the naming process, brainstorm potential facility names and review community feedback. In all, 374 parents, students and staff in the gifted education community responded to a survey proposing five naming options.

The committee determined that the facility name should be sustainable, relatable and relevant. Connecting to program goals and district initiatives was important. In addition, committee members also wanted a name that would be aspirational and one that would connect to its program attributes, including global citizenship, innovation, creativity, diversity of thought, adaptability, and challenging.

During a Board of Education presentation in December, committee representatives shared that ultimately, the community and committee appreciated that “Idea Center” gives a clear picture of the type of learning that is happening in Lindbergh’s Gifted Education program. 

Over the years, gifted education programs have been housed in various locations around the district depending on space available. The St. Louis Regional Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students is currently located at Kennerly Elementary School, and LEAP programs are at Sperreng Middle School.

The existing Lindbergh High School library building is being renovated to create a dedicated, permanent home for both LEAP and PEGS. The iconic circle-shaped building is vacant as a result of Prop R LHS construction, which includes a brand new, state-of-the-art library media center.

“This new, permanent home for Gifted Education will support student innovation and collaboration across our entire district,” said Dr. Tony Lake, superintendent of schools. “We are excited for this opportunity to provide a dedicated space, and the learning potential that it holds for our teachers and students.”

The Idea Center is scheduled to open in August 2023.