Attempt to reopen military school in time for fall fails

BOONVILLE, Mo. -- A group working to buy and reopen Kemper Military School has failed to recruit enough students in time for a fall class but plans to continue trying to revive the school founded in 1844.

"Families made choices that were best for them, and we applaud them, because the care and guidance of our cadets was the genesis of this project," Greg Early, leader of the so-called "Project KMS," said in a note posted on the school's Web site. Early is a former principal of the school.

The oldest military school west of the Mississippi, Kemper had struggled for the last two years to remain open as it fought financial woes. The school filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after officials announced in May 2000 Kemper needed $1.3 million to stay open.

Alumni and cadets raised about $650,000 to keep the school from closing immediately. To pare expenses, the school closed its junior college program.

But officials announced before the scheduled beginning of this year's summer term that Kemper would close for good.

Early and others who formed Project KMS responded with a "grass-roots" effort to buy the school and reopen it with around 70 students this fall.

Parents of prospective cadets were told that 57 families had to put up $10,000 apiece by Aug. 6 to secure a fall reopening, said Ruth Hosking, mother of senior cadet Briana Hosking of Michigan.

"They had 61 that said they could go, but then they were trying to track everyone down when people are on vacation," Ruth Hosking said. "Not everyone can come up with it just like that."

Students who had signed onto the project and planned to attend Kemper this fall are now stuck looking for another place to study.

"I'm just brokenhearted," said Briana Hosking. "I like the staff and faculty there."

Some of the former Kemper staff are now employed at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico.

About 135 students in grades six through 12 attended the school during the last academic year. The academy graduated its 158th class May 18.