Crean Lutheran South High School

HIS-story

By God's Grace: A HIS-story of Crean Lutheran South High School
1997
April 9	Following conversations between Ken Ellwein, Executive Director of Orange Lutheran High School and Bill Bartlett, Pastor at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Laguna Hills (south Orange County), an initial "Interest Meeting" is held in South Orange County - at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Laguna Hills, CA. Eight were in attendance. Interest is expressed, but no concrete action results.
2004
April 20	After the sale of the 4000 acre El Toro Marine Base to Lennar Homes, it becomes apparent to many that never again in So. Calif. history will 4000 acres be open for development. Therefore, the second round of interest meetings begins - with overwhelmingly large responses. Meeting #1: Tuesday, April 20, Invited participants include: Lutheran Church of the Cross: Dan Olson, Donna Jacks, Kathy Hutchins, Leann Karr, Rick Needham, Mike Allen, David Walters, Jeff Blaalid, Larry Schuler, Cindy Bartlett John & Donna Crean donate $350,000 as seen money for a Lutheran high school in south Orange County.
July 27	7 Directors are appointed by the ad doc community interested in the establishment of a Lutheran high school in south Orange County: Donna Bussey, Ken Ellwein, Rachel Klitzing, Rick Needham, Jack Preus, Carolyn Sims, Bill Bartlett.
August 31	Initial Governing Board is appointed: Janie Andrich, Donna Bussey, Ken Ellwein, Alan Feddersen, Bill Hemenway, Rachel Klitzing, Rick Needham, Jack Preus, Tom Rogers, Carolyn Sims, Dave Velasquez, Rob Warren, Bill Bartlett.
October 28	Mission and Vision Statements are drafted by Dave Velasquez and Rob Warren. They are adopted by the Governing Board.
2005
January 27	Officers are elected: President Rick Needham, Vice-President Bill Hemenway, Secretary Carolyn Sims, Treasurer Donna Bussey
February 22	Rick Needham reports on conversations with Lennar Homes, after they purchased the 4000 acre former El Toro Marine Base. Rick begins preparing a "letter of Intent" as he continued dialog with Lennar.
April 5	Meet with Capital Funding Services (LCEF) to discuss a capital funding feasibility study.
May	Pastor Bill Bartlett is hired.
June	The board takes a field trip looking at about 10 possible sites in south Orange County.
November 14	Lutheran South High - Orange County incorporates as a non-profit California corporation
2006
July 15	First Annual Corporation Meeting. Jim Hale, Loren Kramer, and Ray Veldman are elected to our Board.
August 31	St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church's brand new, 2-story, 31,000 sf classroom building is proposed as an interim site for LHS-OC.
October 4	Board contracts with Kairos for is first Capital Funding Appeal.
October 26	Board recommends name change from LHS-OC (same initials as Lutheran High School of Orange County), to Lutheran South High School. Board meets Mr. Jeffrey Beavers, candidate for principal, for the first time.
November	Jeffrey Beavers is Called as Founding Principal
2007
January	Brian Underwood is hired as Assistant Principal (Admissions, Athletic Director, Marketing) Gina Hylton is hired as Office Administrator.
February	After interviewing 12 architectural firms, LPA is hired as CLS's architect.
April	The John and Donna Crean Foundation pledge $10 million to Lutheran South High School.
March-July	After approximately 150 interviews, CLS's inaugural teaching and coaching staff are contracted: Rob Blaney, Music and Performing Arts teacher-pt Tim Brink, Coach-Cross Country (girls and boys)-pt Carl Butz, Dir. Of Informational & Instructional Technology Steve Hobus, science Rhonda Jackson, Coach-boys & girls volleyball-pt Danica Kooiman, Coach-Cross Country (girls and boys)-pt Monica Lara, Learning Success and Spanish teacher Bethany Lepe, History, French, English teacher Jeannie Mooney, Visual Art-pt Janet Mowry, math Eric Olson, health and life, volleyball coach (girls and boys) Dave Sleighter, Coach boys basketball-pt Conni Schramm, theology and English Kelci Walker, Coach girls basketball-pt
May	Acknowledging John and Donna's generosity and Christian commitments to Lutheran education, tithing, self-perception of being "blessed to be a blessing," entrepreneurial and fair business ethic, and making a difference in the community, Lutheran South High School changes its name to Crean Lutheran South High School. After interviewing 12 contracting firms, McCarthy is hired as CLS's builder. Bill Godbey is hired as part-time Owner's Representative for phase one of our building project.
July 16	Second Annual Corporation Meeting. The following new board members are elected: Frank Beniche, Bart McHenry, John Randall, Marlin Schulz.
August 26	First inaugural Convocation Worship Celebration is held at St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church. Approximately 350-400 people in attendance.
August 28 2007-2008 Inaugural Academic Year 2008-09 Academic Year	Crean Lutheran South High School opens with approximately 70 freshmen and 30 sophomores. A full academic and extracurricular program engaged the 100 students, families, and staff of Crean Lutheran. Distinctives during our inaugural year included: Wireless campus, laptop school. All the students were furnished with laptops; our books all had companion CDs, so the students did not need to carry their heavy books to and from school. Through a value-added relationship with the Princeton Review and our own Jeremiah 29 Student Personal Profile Planning Page, our students, from their freshmen year on, are active in their college planning. All of our first year athletic programs were successful: Cross Country, Volleyball, Basketball, and Track and Field. An innovative collaboration with Concordia University and the community was designed, named, and launched -- C4PBI (Crean-Concordia-Community Collaboration Project Based Initiatives) for real world, local/global, project based learning. The securing of two letters of intent for two local parcels of land which, God-willing, will become CLS's permanent campus in the 2010 year. The year culminated with the joyous announcement that WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges -- the accrediting agency of the western United States for public and private schools) granted Crean Lutheran South FULL, THREE YEAR accreditation. This is unheard of in the educational world, and at the same time testimony to the excellence of Lutheran schools and our motto: "Decidedly Christian! Distinctively Excellent!" CLS's second academic year anticipates 200+ students -- 100 incoming freshmen, 70 continuing sophomores, and 30 continuing juniors. Additions to the CLS experience for our second academic year include: The addition of several sports: soccer, baseball, golf, tennis, competitive cheer. The addition of several music and drama opportunities with the full-time employment of Mr. Rob Blaney. A pilot online course (New Testament 201) -- which, God-willing, will pave the way for a number of other language-based online course offerings which will enhance CLS's academic and 21st century education. The Opening of our International Department. Student and Staff mentoring program.