• A demographic study has been undertaken to understand our trends in student enrollment and the potential effect of a new school at St. Jude’s Parish of Dunlap.
• Our building plan is focused on improving the quality of our school and parish. There are no plans to increase the number of classrooms in the school.

Project History

• An exploratory committee began work on this project in 2004. Since Fr. Gray arrived in 2006, he broadened number of people consulted on this project, and brought the committee to view a recently completed project at St. Matthew’s Parish and School in Champaign.
• With the help of a construction committee, the current building has been thoroughly inspected and plans were developed for the renovation of the current building and the development of an addition.
• With the help of a fundraising committee and the Cosgriff Company, this fall has been identified as the ideal time to begin the efforts of fundraising for this project.

Schedule

• These plans call for construction to begin in the spring of 2008. Most of the renovation work in our existing building will take place in the summer of 2008.

Costs

• The costs for this project will be defrayed by the increasing reserves in the parish building fund, the rebates received from the diocesan Rooted In Faith campaign, and other long term assets.

Station 1: Junior High Wing

• 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will be grouped together as the Junior High.
• By moving 6th grade, the lone 3rd grade classroom in this wing can rejoin the other 3rd grade classrooms.
• We will have six teachers chosen to specifically teach one of six subjects: Religion, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Literature, English Grammar and Spelling.

Station 2: Hallway

• Asbestos in the floor and ceiling will be removed.
• Improved lighting and a suspended ceiling will be installed.
• Voice and data cables and additional electric cables will be installed above the ceiling.
• A sprinkler system will be added.

Station 3: Classroom

• Ventilation units will be added to provide more even heating, air conditioning, and proper ventilation.
• Wider doors will be installed for handicapped accessibility.
• More electric outlets will be installed in each room.
• The old single-pane windows will be replaced with newer energy-efficient windows.

Station 4: Aftercare

• The aftercare room will be transformed into an extra-curricular room.
• This multi-purpose room would have larger tables suitable for a variety of after school extra-curricular activities.
• During the school day, this multi-purpose room could be used for art projects, science projects, or even as a potential language lab.

Station 5: Basement

• Basement classrooms will benefit from air conditioning and proper ventilation.
• The school addition will be added onto the south end of the building.
• Basement classrooms will have bathrooms nearby in the new lobby.
• Stairs will allow students to move up from the basement or down from the main level into the new lobby.
• The stairs in the new addition will give students one more way of moving between the main floor and the basement.

Station 6: Gym/Cafeteria

• The floor in the gym will be removed and replaced by an easily maintained flat surface.
• P.E. classes will be moved to the new gym, making this space more available for other activities.
• The gym will still be suitable for athletic activities such as possible 5th grade basketball, additional space for aftercare activities, or additional space for indoor recess during inclement weather.
• The multi-purpose gym can also serve as overflow seating for the cafeteria, and a place for several classes to assemble when no one classroom is large enough.
• The cafeteria would remain in its current location, although it will undergo some aesthetic improvements.

Station 7: Lobby

• The school office will be relocated to the current music and resource room.
• The office will have clear visibility of the school entrance, the parking lot, and the field.
• The doors will be locked in such a way that visitors must visit the school office to gain access to the building.
• The aftercare room will be relocated to the current school office. Aftercare students can also use the gym and the cafeteria after school.
• Parents will be able to pick up their children directly from the school lobby after school.

Station 8: School Addition

• The music room will be moved to new space and will be acoustically separated from the other classrooms.
• The lobby has access to restrooms, concessions sales, and a concessions court.
• With the bleachers extended, the full size basketball court runs north-south. By retracting the bleachers and drawing a curtain, the gym can also be divided into two practice courts running east-west.
• The gym will be built with a stage. Parents and guests will be able to use the bleachers and the gym floor to provide comfortable seating and an unobstructed view of their children for seasonal concerts.
• The new addition has ample space for locker rooms and storage space.
• The parking near the addition would be reconfigured to allow for a turn around and drop off area near the entrance.

Station 9: Parish Office Space

• The rectory currently has two small offices for the secretaries and no office space for the clergy to meet with parishioners.
• By adding office space to the parish church, suitable offices will be available not only for our secretaries and clergy, but also for others who provide pastoral ministry by assisting with funerals, baptisms, weddings, or annulments.
• The office space would be accessed from inside the church via the hallway that leads from the community room to the sacristy.
• The church will be unlocked during office hours in order to provide access to the office. This increased access means that the church will also be more available for prayer.