News

Lourdes plans major building

Lourdes High School and St. John Neumann Middle School in Oshkosh will undergo major construction and renovation starting in early spring, thanks to a $3 million donation.

The project will include a major addition on the southeast side of the building facing Witzel Avenue and Josslyn Street, and a complete facelift to the buildings, constructed in 1959.

Dr. Stan Spanbauer, president of Unified Catholic Schools of Oshkosh (UCS), said an anonymous donor will make the gift in two parts. The first $1.5 million is being deposited with the Catholic Foundation of the Green Bay Diocese to be used solely for this project. An additional $1.5 million was pledged to match contributions Unified Catholic Schools raises from donors. When fully funded, $4.5 million will be available for construction, scholarships, and other operations, Spanbauer said.

In a letter to the UCS Board, the donor said the gift recognizes all those who have devoted their time and efforts to the school system.

The "level of dedication and commitment on the part of UCS staff, faculty, parents, and students has touched many hearts," the donor's letter said. "I have experienced the powerful influence exerted by the quiet and simple daily display of Christian values throughout the UCS System. This gift recognizes that devotion, with the hope that it will enable the system to grow in its mission and touch an even greater number of lives."

Spanbauer said he was surprised and delighted. "This pledge represents a real vote of confidence in the direction of UCS and our dedication to achieving educational excellence. The long range planning process that we began a year ago is yielding measurable results. Last year, the average ACT score of our students was 24.3, well above the state and national averages. Our total system enrollment increased by 77 students, surpassing our first year goal by 27. A $247,000 grant application for our new physical fitness and training program was approved in September, and is already being implemented."

The addition will include a gymnasium for St. John Neumann Middle School, and a commons that will serve as both a cafeteria and performance hall. Space made available in the existing building will become a state-of-the-art fitness center, open to all students and parents, that will house equipment obtained through the grant. The project also will include making the building accessible to all and a general renovation.

Funds remaining after construction will be used for operational needs, scholarships, and renovations to the system's elementary schools.

The Student Commons Center will be a large open space facing Witzel Avenue. UCS is considering naming it in memory of Bill Behring, a former Lourdes teacher and a friend to many alumni. Kevin Purtell, board president, said the board will decide in December.

"I would also like to devote a wall in the new addition to recognize those other special individuals who over the years have generously contributed their time, talents, and resources to our system," Purtell said. "This is a very exciting time for our system, and we are moving quickly to take advantage of this pledge. Preliminary plans have already been drawn, and the process for a complete utilization assessment of the Lourdes site is under way. Our goal is to complete construction so that the gymnasium will be available for the 2004/2005 winter sports season."

Spanbauer said this is the first phase of the UCS System Long Range Master Facilities Plan. The second phase, scheduled for 2006-2007, includes a new elementary school on UCS's 90-acre site on West 9th Avenue, to be built after the property is annexed to the City of Oshkosh and approval from the East Central Wisconsin Planning Commission and the Department of Natural Resources. Approvals and fund-raising are expected to take at least another year.