The girls’ school

For the beginning of the 1840 school year the boys occupied the newly built school but the girls continued to be schooled in an unsuitable house.

Already in 1852 the city council had decided to build a school and a plan had been made by the architect Mr. Viel. Unfortunately the decline in the income of the commune from the communal woods of La Muette postponed the project. Indeed, the percentage allocated to the municipalities was adjusted to the population of each and therefore Saint André was allocated 2% instead of 4.5% of the revenue.

On February 6, 1870 the city council appointed a commission to find a site for the school.

 A letter from the Prefect of 15 January 1870 recalling that of 12 January 1864 considers that the current school is in no way suitable for this destination and does not meet the conditions of hygiene because of its small size and its proximity to the cemetery. This letter specifies that the department and the State always come to alleviate the sacrifices of the communes for public education.

In March 1870 the commission, having not found a suitable place for the future school, suggested acquiring a portion of the meadow's grassland as had been done for the boys' school. The council of the fabrique (1) consulted by the prefect issued a negative opinion by hiding behind the terms of the donation of Mme de Valori who intended the presbytery and the land for the use of the priest. In July 1870, the archbishop confirmed the negative opinion of the fabrique council.

It was not until June 1877 that the city council deliberated on the estimate drawn up by the architect Mr. Frégard for the construction of the school. A plot of land was donated by Mr. Lanier in the centre of the commune. The education authorities approved the project and requested assistance of 4000 francs from state funds due to Saint Andrew's indebtedness following the payment of German requisitions in 1870.

The girls' school was built in 1877-1878. It is a brick and flint building with a classroom of 45 m2 and the teacher's accommodation. At the end of the courtyard were the storeroom, laundry room and toilet. Part of the land was intended for the teacher's garden. 

(1)   The fabrique: assembly of clerics and laity administering the property of the parish.