Hastings Catholic Schools break ground on high school renovations

Video from KSNB LOCAL 4

HASTINGS, NE — St. Cecilia High School is one step closer to seeing its first renovations since the school opened.

Hastings Catholic School officials and students broke ground on an expansion and improvement project for the 61-year-old building on Tuesday.

The project’s fundraising campaign “Our Faith, Our Future, Our Time” started in October and has raised $8.7 million of its $10 million goal.

Chief Administrative Officer Father Tom Brouillette says changes in the market will force the school to raise more money.

“With the increase of costs that have come about for the last year and a half, two years, you know, we know we’re going to have to raise more money than that but, we just want to first get to our goal of 10 million and celebrate that and be grateful for the people that have given to it,” Brouillette said to our news partners KSNB Local 4.

Items included in construction include renovated north and south wings, expanded front entrance, a secured entry, a new science classroom and improved handicap accessibility.

An increase in teacher compensation is also a large focus of the campaign, with $1.5 million going toward raising the salary of educators.

The project is expected to begin this summer with construction planned to finish by the end of 2023.

Starting on Monday, Kansas Avenue from 5th St. to 6th St. will close to allow for renovations to begin.