St. Patrick's looks at expanding school

By Doug Stohlberg

St. Patrick's Church is exploring the possibility of expanding its parochial school with hopes of having a bigger facility for the start of school in the fall of 2000.

Father Peter Szleszinski said the planning is in the early stages, but that there is a definite need for an expanded school.

A letter sent to parishioners said that "Due to space limitations, even children of some present parish members cannot be allowed to enroll in St. Patrick's School next year."

Father Szleszinski said a committee has been formed and is looking at the possibility of either an eight-classroom addition, or a 16-room addition. The new structure would also house a cafeteria.

He said the committee is looking at adding to the southeast side of the current building, along St. Croix St. The site currently has a home that is used as a convent, just east of the current school.

"The house has to be moved if we go forward with this plan," Father Szleszinski said. "The addition would make the school an L-shaped building."

Most of the current school is on Fourth Street, but the official address is 403 St. Croix St.

Father Szleszinski said the structure would be one floor if the eight-room expansion is approved. If the 16-room expansion is approved, the structure will be two floors. He said the estimated cost of the eight-room project is $1.5 million; the 16-room project estimate is $2.5 million.

"We've got to study the plans and determine the finances before any concrete decisions are made," Father Szleszinski said.

Rita Bibeau is the principal of St. Patrick's School. Enrollment this past year was 348 students. As of May 17, Bibeau said enrollment for next fall is already up to 379 students. She said additional requests are likely to come in the months before school opens.

Father Szleszinski said there are more than 400 children in the parish under the age of four.

"A survey of those parents shows that there will be a waiting list to just get our own parishioners enrolled in the school," Father Szleszinski said. "There are just more kids than we have room for and the Hudson area is continuing to grow at a rapid pace."

In fact, several grades are already filled for the 1999-2000 school year. The school already has waiting lists for kindergarten readiness, kindergarten and first grade. Seventh grade enrollment recently closed.

St. Patrick's Church is located at 1500 Vine St. It was opened in 1991. The school at 403 St. Croix St. is across the street from the former location of St. Patrick's Church. The school has provided Catholic education in the Hudson area for more than 100 years.