When Nikki Tucker and her 9-year-old son, Niko Musegades, toured St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Pacific Beach last summer, it felt like stepping into a sanctuary. Having recently lost her husband, sister and mother, Tucker was navigating the grief process when she relocated her family from Las Vegas to a condominium in San Diego.
The cozy church school campus offered exactly the kind of tight-knit haven Niko needed.
That haven is set to close, at least temporarily.
St. Paul’s abruptly suspended its K-8 program earlier this month, blindsiding families with no warning and no explanation — but church leadership on July 23 shared that the closure is temporary, intending to reopen the school in 2027.
Founded in February 1943, St. Paul’s is an institution in Pacific Beach, deeply ingrained in the local fabric as a place of worship and tight-knit community. The church’s education arm was founded in September 1947 as a one-room school with 30 children, expanding seven years later with two more classrooms.
“It was like going to school back in the 1950s — how it used to be, kids being friends with everyone, and no bullies,” Tucker said. “It was like a different world. It was amazing, and he excelled.”
Niko attended vacation Bible school there last summer, then thrived during his third-grade year there, becoming a student leader, Tucker said.
She and Niko returned to Las Vegas after school ended earlier this summer to clean out their Nevada home, fully intending to be back in San Diego for the 2026 holidays. Instead, on July 1, Tucker received an email from the church council announcing the suspension of K-8 operations, with no warning or explanation given:
“Dear St. Paul’s Parents and Families,
We cling to God’s promise in Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lorde with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.’
It is with heavy hearts, but also with faith in God’s plan, that we share an update regarding our K-8 school that was finalized at a meeting last night. After prayer, careful consideration, and difficult conversations, St. Paul’s Church and School has made the difficult decision to suspend K-8th-grade school operations. This was not the desired outcome, as the school is a treasured part of our ministry. Our preschool remains strong and will continue operating as planned.
Our school has been more than a place of learning. It has been a community where students have grown spiritually and academically, surrounded by teachers and staff who love and care for them. We are grateful for our teachers and staff. Their love for Jesus and their dedication to our students have been the heartbeat of this ministry, shaping the lives of the children entrusted to their care. We are thankful for the lasting impact they have made.
We want what is best for our students and families. We understand this news brings uncertainty and difficult decisions. We are committed to supporting you through this transition, including providing records and assistance as you enroll your children in new school programs.
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of partnering with your family in your child’s spiritual growth and education. The relationships formed, the lessons learned, and the memories shared remain a treasured part of St. Paul’s story.
Please join us in praying for our students, families, teachers, staff, and church leadership as we seek God’s wisdom for the path forward. May God bless your family as you begin this next chapter.
With gratitude and hope,
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School”
Of the email, Tucker said: “Everyone was devastated. There was no reason given, and they’ve been there for 79 years. Niko was heartbroken.”
Tucker said that her son decided to launch a social media petition to show support for the school, one that has gathered nearly 200 supporters.
“Before any definitive or irreversible decisions regarding closure or downscaling are considered, we request an open-forum meeting between leadership and families,” the petition reads.
Niko and his mom are not alone in their concern about the future of the school.
Erik and Kristin Kistler’s three children moved through St. Paul’s for more than 13 years, from preschool through eighth grade. Their eldest graduated two years ago, their middle child graduated just last month, and their youngest, age 9, was set to start fourth grade this fall.
“St. Paul’s was a phenomenal school,” Erik Kistler said. “The staff were caring, the students were kind to each other, and the academics were top-notch.”
Kistler also cited the school’s bell choir, camping trips to Palomar Mountain, Catalina and Yosemite, and its fall and spring performance days.
“The school gave the students a strong sense of self and confidence, and this translated into success at the high school level and beyond,” he said.
Church leadership: Just a temporary close
Church leadership maintains that the closure is a temporary pause, not a permanent shutdown.
“It was unfortunate and it caught me and a lot of people by surprise,” said Steve Grebing, chair of the board of elders for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a 1984 graduate of the school. “It was almost a perfect storm.”
Grebing pointed to a rapid enrollment drop as the primary driver: the K-8 program historically held 120 to 140 students, but after peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, it plummeted to just 40 or 50.
A staff of 20 teachers and administrators left for other positions, and the principal recently resigned. Grebing also cited a possible student-to-student incident that unsettled some parents, two years without a senior pastor and rising per-student costs.
But he also added that the campus isn’t sitting empty — St. Paul’s preschool remains active. Grebing pushed back on rumors of a real estate deal for the Felspar site or permanent closure.
“We are not leasing the school property to another school,” he said. “We own the space, and we’re going to be there.”
The board is treating this year as a reorganization period, aiming to reopen in 2027, Grebing said.
“The idea is to be up and ready to market, have it prepared, and staff hired by the end of 2026,” he said.
That is still tough for some families who were planning to keep their kids at the school, and now must scramble to place their children elsewhere for this fall.
“It would have been nice if they would have communicated earlier,” Tucker said.
Kistler remains hopeful but worries the damage runs deeper.
“There was a synergy between the school and the church that is now lost, and this loss will ultimately affect the church as well,” he said.
