“For the past 10 years, Kansas City has strived to turn downtown into a real neighborhood. The main ingredients were all there — new loft housing, a vibrant library, parks, cultural amenities, even a grocery store.

But one crucial element was lacking: An all-purpose elementary school.

Now that’s no longer the case.”

This is how The Kansas City Star began its page one article on Downtown’s new charter elementary, Crossroads Academy. The article, written by reporter Lynn Horsley, helped to introduce this outstanding new educational entity to the greater Kansas City area.

Horsley went on to report:

“Since Sept. 4, nearly 200 children have filled and enlivened a 100-year-old office building that has been transformed into the Crossroads Academy charter school.

“The address is 1015 Central St. But in a way, the entire downtown serves as their classroom as the children study at the nearby central library, meet the mayor at City Hall, enjoy recess at Barney Allis Plaza and sit star-struck at Folly Theater productions.

“’We wanted the kids to have access to the arts and culture and civic assets of our city,” said Crossroads Academy Executive Director Dean Johnson. “What a great, rich place for a school to be.’”

“Opening the elementary school fulfills a longtime dream of the Downtown Council, which every two years has surveyed residents on their desires for a revitalized neighborhood.

‘“Clearly at the top of that list is the need for a high quality school for them, close to where they work or live,” said Downtown Council President Bill Dietrich.”

To read the rest of Horsley’s story, follow this link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/20/3927948/downtown-elementary-school-fills.html#storylink=misearch