School news in brief

Notre Dame de Sion School has received the largest one-time gift in its 102-year history, the school announced last week.

Officials said they couldn’t divulge the size of the gift from Marny and John Sherman, but said the school previously received $1 million from an anonymous donor.

Sherman founded Inergy in 1996, and he and his wife have been active in civic organizations. Their two daughters graduated from Sion’s all-girl high school in 2005 and 2009.

In a news release, the school said the donation will go toward a $4 million campaign to create an outdoor athletic complex at the high school, including an all-weather track; turf field for soccer, field-hockey and lacrosse; and improved softball and practice fields.

The head of School, Christina Broderick, said: “The impact of this gift is profound not only for our current families but for generations of Sion students to come.”

Nearly 75 percent of Sion high school students participate in at least one sport, the school said, which contributes to the education of the whole person.

The facilities can also be used by students from Notre Dame de Sion’s coed grade school.

Boone Elementary School Prinicpal Sheryl Cochran will be moving from the Center School District to Lee’s Summit, where she has been named principal at Meadow Lane Elementary.

Cochran has been the top administrator at Boone since 2004. She previously worked in the Fort Osage School District. She has a doctorate in educational administration from Saint Louis University.

In addition, Lisa Detig will be principal at Richardson Elementary School, where Kelly Seitz is retiring. She is now assistant principal at Richardson and at Prairie View Elementary.

The Raymore-Peculiar School District is elevating Al Voelker to assistant superintendent for academic services, effective July 1. He’s now principal of Bridle Ridge Intermediate School.

Voelker will replace Kevin Daniel, who is moving to the Lee’s Summit School District.

He joined the district in July 2007 as assistant principal at Ray-Pec Middle School, when the school was on the main campus in Peculiar. Voelker became principal of Bridle Ridge three years later.

He previously worked in the Lexington and Warrensburg school districts.

Cass Career Center is working to create an alumni database through an online survey. The information will allow the school to provide updates and news to alumni and offer them opportunities to reconnect with the school through guest speaking, field trips, and advisory committee opportunities.

Alums can complete the survey at

www.casscareercenter.com

This story was originally published April 7, 2014 at 10:17 PM with the headline "School news in brief."