This weekend you will notice some construction equipment on the property.  We are working on replacing the curtain wall windows in the 1960s portion of the school building. Fr. Jenkins was told over 30 years ago that the windows needed to be replaced.  Fr. Jenkins decided to wait for whatever reason.  Fr. Walsh indicated that during his tenure they tried to replace the curtain wall windows but could never find the funds to make it happen.  Fr. Dragga was not here long enough to address the issue so it fell to me.  I have been working with finance council and our facilities committee over the last six years to try and find a reasonable solution.  Early estimates that we received were from $350,000 to $400,000.  We were finally able to find a solution for about $150,000.  I am attaching a few pictures of what they looked like prior to work beginning.

This is a major capital investment and a difficult one to make during a pandemic when our collections are down.  We decided to move forward at this time for a number of reasons.  One, the cost of materials are skyrocketing.  We were able to lock in a much lower price by doing the project now.  Two, the current system is failing and in serious need of replacement.  It would be difficult to go through another winter especially with a tenant in the building.  The two rooms on the first floor with the curtain wall windows are used as infant rooms by the tenant.  Every winter those rooms are shut down more than once when the temperature outside drops to very cold levels.  The heat literally pours out through the single pain uninsulated glass.  We have an excellent tenant and I would not want them to leave at the end of their current lease term.  The rent we receive from the tenant has made possible many of the capital improvements we have made.

Replacing the curtain wall windows will also decrease our heating costs in the school building.  The four classrooms and the hallway enclosed by them make up a substantial portion of the 1960s section of the school building.

This is a project more than three decades in the making.  I hope that I have given you a fairly thorough explanation of what we are doing and why.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Peace of Christ,
Fr. Kevin