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Big changes are coming to Catholic schools in Eastern Jackson County and it involves the closure of two longtime facilities – St. Mary’s High School and Archbishop O’Hara High School.
Steve Hilliard, director of strategic planning for the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, confirmed Friday that the diocese has acquired 80 acres near the Lee’s Summit municipal airport for the site of a new high school. The land, which was acquired through purchase and donation from a private individual, is along the west side of the airport bordered by Strother Road on the north and Lee’s Summit Road on the west.
St. Mary’s and O’Hara will be the foundation for this school. Hilliard said when the school opens, the two high schools will merge into the new site, closing both existing locations. A name has not yet been chosen for the new school.
“We have seen rapid growth in Jackson County, particularly in Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit. Independence has been developing areas around the southeast quadrant of the I-70 and I-470/291 intersection and western Lafayette and northern Cass County have also been growing,” he said. “This site can be accessed by much of Jackson County and parts of these adjacent counties within 15 to 25 minutes, which includes all of the Jackson County diocesan elementary schools. The diocese’s goal is to continue serving current markets while expanding into these rapidly growing and re-developed areas. This will help ensure access to Catholic secondary education to a burgeoning market.”
Hilliard said subject to the approval and successful execution of a capital campaign, the school could be open as soon as the fall 2015. At this time, he said, there are no other plans to close either school prior to that date.
“Land was acquired at this stage due to availability of a large tract in the target area at a good price. A feasibility study is being conducted to determine when a capital campaign might be conducted,” he said. “While we wait for those results, planning in the areas of curricula and programming, site development alternatives, marketing and communications and ensuring the legacy of the two schools is proceeding.”
Jeff Lynch, principal at St. Mary’s High School, said the plan is “exactly what St. Mary’s needs.” He said for 15 years, there has been speculation that St. Mary’s would build a new school off Little Blue Parkway in Independence. However, there have also been rumors that the school would close. Lynch said with the plan for the new high school in Lee’s Summit, people can believe and get excited for the new facility as well as the future of St. Mary’s.
Big changes are coming to Catholic schools in Eastern Jackson County and it involves the closure of two longtime facilities – St. Mary’s High School and Archbishop O’Hara High School.
Steve Hilliard, director of strategic planning for the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, confirmed Friday that the diocese has acquired 80 acres near the Lee’s Summit municipal airport for the site of a new high school. The land, which was acquired through purchase and donation from a private individual, is along the west side of the airport bordered by Strother Road on the north and Lee’s Summit Road on the west.
St. Mary’s and O’Hara will be the foundation for this school. Hilliard said when the school opens, the two high schools will merge into the new site, closing both existing locations. A name has not yet been chosen for the new school.
“We have seen rapid growth in Jackson County, particularly in Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit. Independence has been developing areas around the southeast quadrant of the I-70 and I-470/291 intersection and western Lafayette and northern Cass County have also been growing,” he said. “This site can be accessed by much of Jackson County and parts of these adjacent counties within 15 to 25 minutes, which includes all of the Jackson County diocesan elementary schools. The diocese’s goal is to continue serving current markets while expanding into these rapidly growing and re-developed areas. This will help ensure access to Catholic secondary education to a burgeoning market.”
Hilliard said subject to the approval and successful execution of a capital campaign, the school could be open as soon as the fall 2015. At this time, he said, there are no other plans to close either school prior to that date.
“Land was acquired at this stage due to availability of a large tract in the target area at a good price. A feasibility study is being conducted to determine when a capital campaign might be conducted,” he said. “While we wait for those results, planning in the areas of curricula and programming, site development alternatives, marketing and communications and ensuring the legacy of the two schools is proceeding.”
Jeff Lynch, principal at St. Mary’s High School, said the plan is “exactly what St. Mary’s needs.” He said for 15 years, there has been speculation that St. Mary’s would build a new school off Little Blue Parkway in Independence. However, there have also been rumors that the school would close. Lynch said with the plan for the new high school in Lee’s Summit, people can believe and get excited for the new facility as well as the future of St. Mary’s.
“The location is ideal. This is where the diocese is growing, and Lee’s Summit is a growing area. There is a need for an alternative for those families who are concerned with the size of the public high schools in the area,” he said. “A brand new facility, in my opinion, is ideal for both of us. Modern, updated classrooms, gyms, auditoriums, choral and band areas, sports facilities. It is what students look for. You take the new buildings interlaced with the traditions, and you will have an ideal Catholic high school for both populations and new students to learn and grow.”
Lynch said he understands that there will be some in Independence who are disappointed, but the school’s families are largely from other communities. He said the merger makes sense.
“I know that the business in the Square will be disappointed to see the school close because of the relationship we have had all these years. But the location we are in now is not a growing one. Our families are from the Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley and even Odessa area, so in that aspect we are getting closer to them,” he said. “We are working on a plan, which will enable the families from northeast Kansas City area to be able to be transported to the school at the new location.”
Lynch said there is no current plan to do anything with the Little Blue Parkway property the Bolger family donated to St. Mary’s a few years ago. He said the diocese has considered it, and the land could possibly play a role in the new school sometime in the future.
“I am sure there will be some alumni from both schools who will not be looking forward to the new school. But I know that both schools and their strong traditions will be the foundation for the new school,” he said. “The new school will enable Catholic education for Jackson County and will be the stepping stone for a new alumni base and legacy to join with the one before them at O’Hara and St. Mary’s.”
Hilliard said maintaining the legacy of both schools is crucial to the success of the new high school. St. Mary’s High School was founded in 1853; O’Hara in 1965. He said both are outstanding examples of all that is good in Catholic secondary education.
“They have played and continue to play a vital role in the formation of our young people in their faith, as leaders within their chosen communities, field of study and chosen occupations,” he said. “We couldn’t open a new successful school without honoring their history and legacy. We will accomplish the transfer of their unique contributions by involving the school communities, the alumni and the boards, teachers and staff in the planning process.”
Hilliard said a new facility offers the opportunity to meet the educational demands of a “highly technology-oriented students population” and to help prepare for future careers in a variety of vocations. He said while both St. Mary’s and O’Hara have struggled with enrollment and uncertainty in their areas for recruiting, he said there is every indication that the demand will be there for a new school.
“This can be a 21st century facility while maintaining a program that helps form future leaders with a strong Catholic faith and prepare them for next level success, ethically and morally, in service to the Church and society,” he said. “Given the growth in this expanded target market as well as many bright spots in our elementary schools, we have every indication that the demand will be there. We are getting many young families telling us that they are excited and ready to support this new school.”
