Funds Being Raised To Update St. Raymond Church, School – Journal & Topics Newspapers Online: News: mount prospect, st.raymond, church, school, improvements
Approximately $3.1 million needs to be raised to improve thefacilities at both St. Raymond Church and School.
St. Raymond officials started the “Upholding the Tradition”campaign for its renovations back in September.
Staff has been scheduling personal visits with theirparishioners, providing information about the repair andimprovement campaign to explain why they need donations to completethose projects.
To date, over $1 million have been donated towards the overallproject.
The two buildings, located just west of Elmhurst Road south ofNorthwest Highway are both approximately 60 years old and in direneed of infrastructure improvements, according to St. RaymondAdministrative Assistant Mary Siefke.
After a recent planning Study was conducted, the FacilitiesCommittee established a five-tiered priority list. that list,created as a direct response to desires expressed by those whoparticipated in the study, provides a detailed accounting of areasof concentration.
The first priority at a cost of $601,250 provides a safe andhealthy educational environment for school children, religiouseducation students, teachers, catechists and parents.
This entails removing asbestos tile and ceilings in classroomsand hallways; removing deteriorating carpet in the school andreplacing vinyl flooring; reconfiguring the administrative offices,school lobby area and cafeteria entryway; upgrading electricalsystem in the school; and installing protective fencing in thecourtyard play area.
The second priorities totaling approximately $142,300, consistof installing a fire sprinkler in the parish’s ministry center;providing a panic alarm in the chapel, repairing concrete walks,driveways, stairs, handicap ramps, the main church chimney; andupgrading electrical wiring in the church’s sanctuary area.
The third priority, at a projected cost of $706,600, consists ofreplacing existing lighting in the school, church gathering space,and parish offices with energy efficient lighting; installingmotion sensors; replacing inefficient furnaces and water heaterswith energy efficient equipment; replacing deteriorating windows inthe rectory; upgrading technology in the school and parish offices;and modernizing the boys’ and girl’s bathroom facilities in theschool using water saving fixtures and energy efficientlighting.
Addressing aging and deteriorating parish property is the fourthpriority at a cost of $470,300. Those projects entail replacingcarpeting in the community room and hallway; and replacing andrepairing the mechanical systems such as pumps, storage tanks, sumppumps and more.
The fifth and final priority is to enhance and improve theoverall property at a cost of $469,500. Those projects entailrepaving the parking lot, fixing the fence, and improving lighting;modernizing the restrooms in the parish ministry center, improvingthe children’s play areas; improving the courtyard lighting andelectrical distribution; providing handicapped access to thesanctuary; and moving forward with other miscellaneous improvementsand upgrades.
An additional $750,000 is included in the campaign for relatedexpenses, professional services, construction fees, and othercontingencies.
The Archdiocese requires that 90% of the goal be pledged andthat two-thirds of the cash be collected in order to begin theproject. Since a priority list is in place, church and schoolofficials believe there is a possibility that repairs andimprovements to individual areas could be approved in phases aspayments are received.
According to Siefke, the goal is to have all the money collectedand projects beginning by 2014 or 2015 the latest.
St. Raymond’s congregation currently encompasses approximately2,900 families.
