Pacelli Capital Campaign Nears $3 Million Goal, Announces Realignments
For the City Times
Pacelli Catholic Schools has announced it is closing in on its fundraising goal by reaching the $2.7 million mark.
The “Pride in Our Past…Faith in Our Future” capital campaign is looking to raise $3.2 million for needed repairs and upgrades throughout the Catholic school system.
The campaign is focused on growth and efficiency for the school system. The first goal is to upgrade buildings and expand programming at all schools, while the second is aimed at significantly increasing teacher and staff salaries, establishing a fund to support the growth of teacher salaries long-term.
“Our teachers view their jobs as a ministry–and it is,” said Gregg Hansel, director of education for Pacelli Catholic Schools. “As a matter of justice, we need to do a better job of compensating our highly qualified staff.”
Part of the plan includes realigning current building use for future growth and better serving their students. Hansel said the system’s Early Childhood Center, currently located inside St. Joseph’s, has no room to expand–and it needs to grow.
“One of the projects will be to move the ECC to the St. Stanislaus building, which will allow the center to grow significantly, filling the need for childcare in our community,” Hansel said.
Because the campaign solicitations began several months ago, there have already been projects completed at several
buildings, and more will be done as funds are continually raised. Those projects, to name a few, include renovations to classrooms, tuck pointing, and a new roof at Pacelli Catholic Middle School and the re-location of the systems’ central offices to the high school building.
The most notable changes come in the reduction of locations to administer and maintain, a great cost savings, while allowing room for greater enrollment with the realignment of grades in each building.
The changes will bring a “significant savings” to the system’s annual operating budget, Hansel added.
Moving the ECC to St. Stanislaus will result in vacating that building as well, turning it back over to St. Joseph’s Parish, which owns the building. In addition, St. Stephen will house 4K through fourth grade classes, St. Bronislava will see 3K through grade four, and Pacelli Catholic Middle School will house grades 5-8.
Pacelli Catholic High School will not be affected by the realignment.
The timeline for these projects has not yet been finalized, but Hansel said the goal is to complete all of the moves before the 2017-2018 school year.
Fundraising efforts for the campaign will come to a formal close in March, but Hansel said donations are always welcome.
For more information about the capital campaign, or to make a contribution, contact Hansel at (715) 341-2445.