To prevent further traffic backup while on and exiting campus, the master plan calls for additional parking spaces and a third lane of traffic to leave school.
Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees Sister Mary Helen Beirne said about the importance of such changes, “When people come for events, we want to be hospitable. That’s probably a primary reason. When we have major events, it’s sometimes difficult for people to find parking.”
A core concern of parents, according to President Richard O’Hara, is to get a third lane of traffic to leave campus.
“With the new plan, there would be a third lane. You could stack a lot more cars and they’d be moving a lot more quickly because there’d be a right turn lane to get out on 22,” said O’Hara.
He added, about fixing the current avenues of navigation onto campus, “It’s not solving world peace, but it’s that darn pothole you run over every day that just makes you mad.”
In addition, the hope is a “50% increase in parking spaces,” said Sr. Beirne.
The oval would provide “more opportunities for parking. It won’t be removed, but it will be expanded. We are architecturally looking at the oval space and how it can be adapted for more parking,” said Sr. Beirne.
The area will also be used to allow “spectators to observe different events [on the athletic fields],” said Sr. Beirne.
The current location of the convent will become a combination of an expansion of the student parking lot and possibly a relocation of the tennis courts according to Sr. Beirne. Thus, the entire administration will be moved into the main building.
“It is very important for all the administration to be in the same school, in the same building. We’re part of one community,” said O’Hara. “It would be valuable and beneficial to have that unity. That does not mean that the president’s role suddenly will become more hands on. The roles and responsibilities would remain the same. From my personal standpoint, I would enjoy the greater ease of interaction with students, faculty, other administrators, parents, and alums.”
The decision to eliminate the building, according to O’Hara, came because of the “future functionality of the convent.”
There had been discussion among the Board of Trustees of using the convent as a science or performing arts center. However, O’Hara said, “It would be very, very expensive to renovate it. It is set up for residence upstairs and does not readily lend itself to be an academic building.”
Another issue with that idea was “scheduling conflicts. Do we really want another main academic building?” said O’Hara.
The convent, because of its age, has been faced with “increasing costs with maintaining and repairing the building. There are problems every year with heating and air conditioning,” said O’Hara.
He added, “There is certainly a historical dimension because of the long and wonderful tie to the Sisters of St. Joseph. At the same time, I understand and support the reasons for using this space for purposes because of its age and limited functionality.”
Sister Judy Ridley, one of the original four Sisters of St. Joseph in 1964 and former Vice Principal of Activities, said, “It was wonderful while we used it. It is a beautiful place. Everyplace you looked out the window to beauty all around.”
Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].
“The Patriot” has already broken down aspects of the school’s proposed master plan. Check out the previous installments below and stay tuned for the next installment: fine arts.
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