Construction of the new St. Louise school building addition began the day after the summer dismissal of students in June.The complete plan for the new parish school and faith formation center is a 50,000 square feet, 2-story building of which 35,000 will be finished immediately and the other 15,000 will be shelled-in for future completion.

“Our original school buildings were constructed before I was born – that’s a long time ago,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, St. Louise School’s principal for the last 20 years.

The construction project will be rid of outdated portable buildings, ease the overcrowding in some of original spaces, and construct something more suitable for 21st century education, Fitzpatrick said.

“I’m excited that in a year we will finally have a dedicated science lab, a computer lab built specifically for that purpose, and a large library that can hold evening and weekend meetings for the parish.”

When our original school buildings were constructed in 1960, the only technology needed in classrooms was a record player, school officials said, so having only two electrical outlets in each classroom was sufficient.

Technology additions in the new classrooms will include interactive whiteboards (e.g. “Smart Boards”) and computer projectors will be installed in many of the new classrooms. Wireless access also will be created throughout the new school building to benefit students in their research and group-project work.

Added space may allow the school to establish new programs such as a preschool, and the parish would have space to add a daycare for use during evening meetings and Sunday Masses.

A capital campaign last year raised around $8 million in donations and pledges from alumni, parents of alumni, parishioners, current school parents and friends.

The new facilities are expected to be completed by September 2010.