Bishop McDonnell said the diocese is committed to rebuilding the Cathedral High School campus on Surrey Road.
The Memorial School in Wilbraham.
Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell announces the new school locations at a press conference Monday.This is an update of a story posted at 9:53 a.m. today.
SPRINGFIELD – Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell announced Monday that Cathedral High School will relocate to the vacant Memorial Elementary School in Wilbraham this fall, staying there until its tornado-damaged campus can be rebuilt on Surrey Road, possibly taking up to two years.
McDonnell also announced that St. Michael’s Academy Middle School, also seriously damaged by the June 1 tornado, will relocate to the Holy Cross Campus on Eddywood Street, off Plumtree Road, just a few blocks from Cathedral. The St. Michael’s Elementary School was undamaged.
Cathedral’s entire academic program can fit at Memorial School, with plans to use some modular units for non-academic programs, McDonnell said. St. Michael’s Middle School’s move will lead to some slightly increasing class sizes, he said.
“They are ‘safe harbors’ if you will while we undertake everything necessary to bring us back home, here to Surrey Road in East Forest Park,” McDonnell said. “Cathedral will be back. Cathedral will be here. Cathedral will continue.”
The announcement was made directly outside Cathedral, and was followed by a tour inside the building that revealed serious damage to sections of the roof, walls, floors, windows, the science wing, gymnasium, and elsewhere.
The diocese has considered other temporary locations for Cathedral including two floors of a building at Springfield Technical Community College. The community college site, however, faced challenges of not being ready in time for the start of school in September, McDonnell said.
The U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined in praising the short-term and long-term diocesan plans for Cathedral.
Mario Johnson of Enfield, whose son Michael is entering his senior year at Cathedral, said parents have been on “pins and needles” the past two months, and are relieved a temporary location is selected. In addition, Johnson said he and other parents favored the Wilbraham site over the community college site, believing it offered a better environment.
Diocese statement on new school locations:
Below, the full text of a press release sent by the Diocese this morning.
SPRINGFIELD – New homes for two, tornado-damaged schools were announced by Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell at a press conference at Cathedral High School, today. At the same time he announced both schools will be restored eventually in the east Forest Park neighborhood.
The Memorial School building in Wilbraham was named the best candidate as a temporary home for Springfield’s Cathedral High School. St. Michael’s Academy Middle School will move in with the elementary students on the grounds of Holy Cross Parish.
“After many hours, much work and massive reviews, we have identified Memorial School in Wilbraham as the candidate for the temporary relocation of Cathedral High School,” Bishop McDonnell said at a 9:30 a.m. press conference July 25. “We have had fruitful dialogue with officials at Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District who have been very understanding of our situation. The district has already undertaken to begin the necessary legal and regulatory procedures and notifications required.
“We can accommodate our entire high school academic program in the Memorial School Building utilizing one or two temporary modular units for additional non-academic space,” he said.
Cathedral anticipates opening in September with 350 students. Bus transportation will be provided to the temporary quarters.
“For St. Michael’s Middle School, we have undertaken to rearrange classes at the Holy Cross Campus on Eddywood Street, off Plumtree Road, just a few blocks from here, slightly increasing some class sizes so as to fit the middle school in the elementary school,” Bishop McDonnell continued. “It will be tight, but it is very doable, thanks to some great cooperation on the part of the Holy Cross parish community who will free up some additional space,” he said.
Bishop McDonnell said there are currently “some excellent options for the preschool relocation that we hope to announce within a few days.”
Bishop also said, “I want to stress these are temporary relocations. The goal and commitment is to complete our structural analysis here very shortly and then, through the coming months, working with our insurance carriers, city, state and federal partners, prepare the detailed plans to bring Cathedral High School home to Surrey Road and to provide St. Michael’s Academy Middle School with its own quarters.”
Bishop McDonnell thanked the many dignitaries in attendance including Congressman Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.