Supplements

archive ISSUE

more than a facelift: althoff grads committed to school's future

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

A worker walked up to Althoff Catholic High School principal, Dave Harris, last week, and handed him a window crank.

“This is the last one,” he said and handed over the old piece of hardware.

It was a piece of hardware taken from the last window being replaced at the high school that was dedicated in 1964 as a diocesan high school to replace Cathedral High School, which had been run by the Brothers of Mary.

This $2.6 million renovation presently under way has been broken into three phases, Harris said, and was actually “on the drawing board” after Heritage Hall was added in 2003 when Sister Jan Renz, ASC was the principal.

While this seems like an inopportune time to do any kind of fund raising for a renovation project given the present economy, Harris said, “the time picked us.”

To continue to attract students to the school for a quality Catholic education, updating was needed.
Phase I should be completed by Aug. 14, general contractor Jim Bozsa said.

Phase II will introduce new technology into the classrooms, and Phase III will include landscaping that will invite students and teachers to utilize outside areas for gathering and classes as well.

One of the more unique aspects of the remodeling has nothing to do with the look of the building but of the people who are doing the work.

Bozsa, who said he was one of 21 people who expressed an interest in bidding on the project, decided he would talk with subcontractors about contributing more than their skills to the project.

If they were awarded the bid, these folks would “give something back,” Bozsa said, in the form of reducing their costs for services.

It turned out Bozsa and crew were the lowest legitimate bid, Harris said. Bozsa said he has spent time on the project every day to make sure everything goes as close to schedule as possible.

Capital campaign cochair Patty Guignon, said all the members of the committee believe “Catholic education in Belleville is important,” and they have raised enough money in donations and pledges to finish Phase I, which includes the building exterior with additional insulation, new windows and air conditioning and the facade.

Bozsa said the workers have laid the groundwork for Phase II, which is the technology update, by running wire and fiber-optic cables for computers.

The building had to be air conditioned, Harris said, because of the planned updating of technology.
The additional insulation will pay off with lower utility bills as well.

Guignon said the committee has received no resistance to their efforts and will begin speaking with members of each of Althoff’s 44 graduating classes soon.

“We will engage the alumni to help them become part of the vision,” Guignon said. “I have no doubt we will be able to raise the money.”

The project will not move forward until the remaining money has been raised or pledged.

Harris said they did not want to add debt to the school, and so far, their plans have been successful.
Each phase is being implemented individually as the money becomes available.

At this point, $800,000 is needed to complete all three phases of the project.

Harris is not only pleased with the progress but with the overall project, especially because so many Althoff graduates are involved in the work.

“They’re working on their school, and that has made a difference,” he said.

For more information about Althoff, the renovation, or to make a donation, please call Althoff at 235-1100.