Our Needs

Lack of Accessibility

Our current campus design makes it extremely difficult for those with physical limitations to get from place to place. Our Parish Center and school do not demonstrate our commitment to be a welcoming and inclusive community.

• The Parish Center’s wheelchair lift to the basement is accessed by steps and can only accommodate one person at a time.

• The Parish Center’s top floor meeting rooms and office space are not accessible, so those unable to navigate stairs cannot attend meetings or work in this area.

• Our school buildings are not connected to each other or to the Parish Center without going outside.

• The gymnasium’s outdoor wooden access ramp is open to the elements and becomes slippery and unsafe when wet.

• The school’s lower level, cafeteria, library, and music and art rooms, can only be accessed by stairway.

• The cafeteria’s lack of accessibility really limits its use.

 

Security & Safety Issues

Our campus layout does not provide the level of security our school needs and that parents expect.

• The school’s office is not located by the front entrance.

• While, visitors have to be buzzed in, they are not funneled through the school office.

• Our Primary Building (Pre-K through third grade) is not connected to the main building. Requiring our young students to travel outside between buildings is a safety issue and challenging for staff and children in inclement weather.

• Having our daycare program in a separate building (the “Bus Garage”) is neither secure nor convenient to the rest of the school facilities.

 

Inadequate Multi-Use Space

Without a Parish Hall, Holy Spirit lacks adequate social and multi-use space for our Catholic community to meet and share fellowship.

• The Parish Center was originally a convent and its repurposed basement social hall is too small, inconvenient to the church, and not easily accessible for large activities and events.

• The gymnasium is larger but has scheduling conflicts for events on school days.

• We struggle to serve our members who need or want events such as a funeral lunch. The Funeral Mercy Meals group is challenged to provide their service to larger groups.

• We also lack meeting space that can accommodate the adults of our faith community.

 

Inadequate Gymnasium

During the town hall meetings and the feasibility study, we became aware of the need and desire for a larger gym.

• Our gym is not regulation size and is one of the smallest athletic facilities in the east deanery.

• We cannot promote active, healthy lifestyles for our school or community with physical education facilities that are not adequate.

 

Parking & Traffic Flow Issues

Our many unconnected buildings surrounded by drives and parking lots cause safety issues and confusion on our campus.

• Current traffic flow puts our children in vulnerable situations at times.

• Multiple entryways create confusion on how to navigate between our buildings.

• Limited parking is a continual challenge.