Master Plan

Central Catholic is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2014. With this in mind we hope to continue to provide an environment in our school that is conducive to the demands of teaching and learning in the 21st century. Insuring that Central Catholic remains a strong and viable choice among Catholic high schools may entail renovating or upgrading our current facilities. During the past school year we have been developing a case statement document that outlines the history and past accomplishments of Central Catholic, where we find ourselves today as a school, and where we would like to be in our 75th year and beyond. The hopes and needs for the future fall into three categories – an increased endowment fund, potential program enhancements, and capital improvements. The case statement was accepted by the board of directors in May. The board then charged the President with forming a committee to send out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to prospective architectural firms and to recommend a firm which would be most qualified to lead us through a 75th Anniversary Master Plan. This plan would specifically address the facility needs for the future and would be funded off budget.

In August the board accepted the committee’s recommendation to hire Boora Architects. Boora is a Portland firm with a national reputation for school design. It has designed elementary, middle and high schools, both Catholic and public, in the Portland Metro area as well as schools across the nation. Boora has worked at the university level in Oregon and at prominent schools throughout the nation. The board was impressed with Boora’s sensitivity to Catholic values, its previous work with the local Buckman Community Association, its respect for the traditions of Central Catholic, and its reputation as a firm committed to the stewardship of the earth, as reflected through sustainable practices fundamental in their design of schools.

Boora will begin a planning study by working with a Master Plan committee. The committee will consist of representatives from the school’s administration, development office, faculty, parents, board, alumni and students. While the initial emphasis will be on gathering information about the school, the timeline calls for a presentation to our board in February 2010 with a concept design proposal on how best to address the facility needs of the school. We are committed to sharing information and soliciting input at appropriate times from the school community. We hope to keep people apprised of discussions and recommendations through updates which will be published on the school website in the coming months.

The support of Central Catholic High School runs deep throughout our school community, and it is important everyone feel connected and invested in the future of this school. The 75th anniversary of our school will be a wonderful time to celebrate the commitment of those who have made this school such a wonderful place. Today, with many families continuing to express a strong interest in Central Catholic, we want to insure that a strong Catholic education will be available at 24th and Stark for generations to come.