Notre Dame expanding in four-phase plan

Bad economy or not, Notre Dame Regional High School is expanding in more ways than one.

"It all comes down to need and money," said development director Tony Buehrle.

The school started a capital campaign to fund a $4.5 million expansion about 18 months ago, right as the economy started faltering. The private Catholic high school has still seen its enrollment consistently grow. For the fall, it is preparing for its largest freshman class at 150 students.

"We knew we had an immediate need," Buehrle said.

He said the project will be broken into four phases as fundraising continues. Work has started on a multipurpose gym on the east side of the school and is slated to be finished in the spring. Buehrle said he hopes construction of the second phase, a four-classroom addition, will begin by the end of the summer.

When students moved into the new school off Route K in 1999, the school had an enrollment of 380 students. Buehrle said the school expects 525 in the fall.

"To be very honest, we have some on a waiting list because there is no room," said principal Brother David Migliorino. He said the waiting list, which includes five students, is a first for the school. He attributes the growth to the area primary schools, which are also growing. Two also recently had separate capital campaigns. St. Mary Cathedral School recently finished a $2 million addition.

The economy and other campaigns prompted the high school to do "quieter" fundraising, Migliorino said.

Preliminary work on the multipurpose gym has started. Buehrle said he expects the building will start to go up in the next week. The new 200-seat gym will have a separate entrance.

Migliorino said it will help alleviate activity schedules during the day and evening. Student athletes practiced late into the evening to avoid scheduling conflicts. Physical education and health classes were disrupted for special events like blood drives and class assemblies.

"Now you can really just use that room and life can happen," he said.

The classroom addition will add a fourth science lab, second art room and more space for family and consumer sciences.

"Right now we have one classroom, and that classroom is busy every hour of the day," said art teacher Jerry Grim. He said students will be able to do more three-dimensional projects and work during their free time. About a third of the school, he said, takes art classes.

The third and fourth phases will be delayed until enough money is raised, Buehrle said. The school works with the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to secure loans. To receive a loan, the school must raise 50 percent of the loan amount and have the rest pledged.

The most expensive part of the expansion, $3 million in performing arts improvements, will wait, Buehrle said. The addition will include stage improvements and retractable theater seating in the cafeteria, which doubles as a staging area for plays and musicals.

The fourth phase will add a second level to the current gym for extra seating, storage and a walking track.

"The bigger things have to hold until we get there," Buehrle said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Planned projects

Phase 1 multipurpose gym $1.4 million

Phase 2 four classrooms $750,000

Phase 3 performing arts improvements $3 million

Phase 4 gym addition $1 million

Total More than $6 million*

*The school is still raising funds for the phases three and four.

SOURCE: Development office at Notre Dame Regional High School

Pertinent address:

265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO