New School Project

Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Parish,

As we approach the Feasts of Christ the King and Thanksgiving Day, we are grateful for all the blessings of our lives. These feasts are powerful reminders that all we have is a gift from God.

One of these great gifts is the coming of our new Catholic School. As we move into the development of a design for the new school, what appears initially on paper as a sketch begins to take on an exciting life of its own.

The donors are committed to their donation of 12.3 million dollars to St. Francis of Assisi Parish for the sole purpose of building a new Catholic School. We have been in regular contact with the donors to keep them advised on the status of the project and how it has been progressing. The donors have kept us advised on the status of their donation pursuant to the terms in which it was offered.

As the result of a challenged stock market in the past year, the donors have been advised that it would not be prudent nor financially wise at this time to sell 12.3 million dollars of stock shares at such a compromised value. Additionally, as stewards of the blessings entrusted to them, the sale of the stock shares at this time to fulfill their commitment would significantly impede the ability of the donors to provide additional funding for our Catholic School Endowment, especially as it relates to the desire of the donors to establish a separate fund that would endow teacher salaries and other educational opportunities for staff development.

Again, the commitment of the donors remains constant. However, given the need for a more robust donor stock portfolio, it is necessary that an adjustment be made to the timetable of the gift transaction. This adjustment to the timetable could result in a new completion date for this project.

At this time, the building committee and architects will continue to work towards the completion of the design stage which includes the exterior and interior design, selection of materials and all of the mechanical design work. The committee will also continue to work with the city of Manitowoc on all of the issues related to the preparation of the site and a plan for addressing traffic and safety issues.

The donors will pay all costs that will be incurred through the completion of the design stage, thus guaranteeing that there would be no direct cost to parish and school operations for completed work.

At the first opportunity of the stock portfolio reaching the benchmarks established by the donors pursuant to the terms in which the gift was offered, the donors will fulfill their commitment of 12.3 million dollars, the construction documents will be drawn up and bids will be put out to contractors to begin the construction of the new school immediately.

This Monday, November 22, the St. Francis School Administrative Team and the Board of Education President will be available from 5:30-7:00pm, in the Cabrini cafeteria, to answer any questions that you may have at this time. We have always believed that the new school is the working of the Holy Spirit. Acknowledging that Spirit with a grateful and trusting heart we embrace these words of the Lord with a steadfast faith:

Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time, presses on
to fulfillment,
and will not disappoint.
If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come,
it will not be late. –Habakkuk 2:2-3

St. Francis & St. Clare, pray for us!

Pastor

Board of Education President

Illustration: Initial draft of front view - St. Francis of Assisi Parish School

New School letter from Fr. Dan