Celebrating 175 Years of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston: Parkersburg Catholic Schools to share single campus
Effort has raised $353K of $500K goal
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PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg Catholic Schools is moving forward with a long-discussed plan to bring its elementary, middle and high school students together on a single campus.
"It's going to make this campus a unified campus from preschool all the way up to 12th grade," Bishop Mark E. Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston said during a February event at the high school on Fairview Avenue. "And in a beautiful setting. ... We believe that Catholic education not only has a past and a present, but a future as well."
To move the project -- called "Crusaders: One Campus, One Community" -- forward, local supporters have been challenged to raise $500,000, which will then be matched with $1.5 million from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, for a total of $2 million.
"We all know the building costs may be higher, and there's all those things we want to improve, so I think we're going to surpass that," said Jennifer Hornyak, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
Within minutes of the announcement, $75,000 was already committed to the goal, Hornyak said.
In a recent fundraising update video, the Rev. John Rice of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church said contributions since the effort was announced five weeks ago have totaled $353,000.
Brennan said an existing building on the high school campus that was once used as a preschool and later as a convent will be renovated to house the elementary school. The high school building also will see upgrades.
"We've seen this now in board meetings for two years," Don Smith, president of the Parkersburg Catholic Advisory Council, said. "When you start seeing the plan come together, and you see that all your hard work really comes to fruition, it feels nice to actually see it come together."
Smith said community outreach has been strong so far and enthusiasm for the project is building.
Parkersburg Catholic High School Principal Jeff Mennillo said the project carries deep personal and community significance.
"I was here back in 1988 to 2005 and this was on the drawing board then. So this means a whole lot to our community," he said. "It was kind of the vision of Bob Hackman, who was my mentor. It's been on the drawing board two or three different times, and one thing or another happened, but it just never came to fruition.
"I think with Bishop Brennan's leadership, I think it's going to happen this time," Mennillo said. "I think our community is really excited for the project, and I think it's really positive for Catholic education."
While momentum is building, Brennan said the school consolidation will not be immediate. He said the upcoming school year will still see the two schools operating at separate sites, with the elementary remaining at 810 Juliana St.
"It won't happen all at once," Brennan said. "It takes time to make all those renovations."
Despite this, there is a clear target date, he said.
"At least by the fall of 2027, we expect to have the two schools together on this campus," Brennan said.
City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentienl.com