A $7 million addition to St. Francis High School in Wheaton is progressing swiftly, and so is the community fund-raising effort meant to offset costs of the major construction project that will result in a new science and learning resource facility. (Photos: $7 million science and learning facility at St. Francis)
Tom Bednar, president of the school, said construction is about two weeks behind schedule, but that will not affect the planned opening at the start of the next school year.
Much of the delay can be attributed to a strike among construction workers last summer that lasted for about two weeks.
“It’s doing well,” Bednar said.
Since February 2009 the school was been working with members of the community to reach a fund-raising goal of about $2 million. St. Francis still needs to raise about $110,000 to meet that financial target.
Construction began on the 15,000-square-foot addition last summer. Since then, crews have demolished a 12,000-square-foot building just west of the school and began developing the shell of the new facility.
The two-story wing will include six updated science labs and classrooms, science prep rooms, a biology greenhouse and library stacked with the latest resource materials.
Bednar said, although the school does have a larger master plan with additional needs, building a new science suite seemed a top priority because of the advancements in modern technology.
The current facilities haven’t been updated since the 1950s, making them out of date and not in line with the needs of teachers and students.
“It was something that was more urgent,” he said.
The additional space also will allow for some renovations at St. Francis, with plans to turn some of the older science classrooms into offices for student services, pastoral ministry and other administrative needs.
Bednar said once the science facility opens, the school will begin evaluating the master plan to decide what project will be next for St. Francis. This makes the ongoing support of the community even more important.
“There is a passion in our community for our school,” he said.
For more information on the science facility, or to view a video about the project, go to sfhsnet.org.
