GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- The new Catholic elementary school at Central Catholic is one year closer to reality. 

It’s been 49 years since the Catholic grade school closed its doors in 1974, and it will be 50 years by the time they plan to open it. 

Foundation Executive Director Jolene Wojcik said she began the foundation in 2019 and the first thing she heard people wanted was an elementary school. 

“We decided to do a study, and we found out that there was just a lot of community support along with the four parishes in town and we decided, let’s go for it,” Wojcik said. 

The campaign efforts began in May 2022 and so far they have raised $8 million of the $11 million goal that will fund the addition which will add 27,000 square feet of space to GICC’s current building, a new atrium and office space, playground space and more. 

It will also help establish the Bishop Golka Legacy Fund, which will help create scholarships, amongst other things. 

Superintendent and Principal Jordan Engle said that this will give the community another option. 

“I think it makes our community more desirable for young families because it just provides more opportunities for education, and when you think about that, you know, education is so important for kids,” Engle said. 

Engle said he hopes that the school might reach everyone in Grand Island and not just the Catholic community. He said that what differentiates the school from others is the faith aspect. 

“Catholic education brings a faith aspect to that, that really helps our students grow in a way that they can really engage the world with strong values; and have that faith background to really deal with the difficulties that come with living in 2023,” Engle said. 

Chief Construction is in charge of the project. The Grand Island elementary school is planning to open its door in fall 2024.