Kuemper to raise $28.5 million for building addition

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
For the first time in over 70 years, the Kuemper Catholic School system in Carroll is planning a major facility expansion project. Last week, school leadership unveiled the $28.5 million uKnighted: Building a Future in Faith campaign at an informational meeting with supporters.
 
“This is the most significant work done at our campus since the high school was built back in 1954 and it is a very exciting time for the Kuemper family,” said John Steffes, president.
 
The keystone of the project is an estimated $17.3 million 50,000 square foot, three-story addition to the elementary school with 26 classrooms, chapel and other rooms.
 
A 12,000 square foot gymnasium, locker rooms and music room will be constructed for an additional $4.4 million. There will be renovations to the existing Kuemper Elementary building including transforming the current gymnasium into a cafeteria and the current cafeteria into a library. Plans call for a skywalk to be constructed for safe passage between the new building and the high school.
 
The school will be allowed to build across South East Street to accommodate the expansion, explained Heather Pietig, Kuemper advancement director.
 
Response to growth
The campaign is a response to a steadily-increasing enrollment for the past 15 years from 1,078 students in 2010 to 1,346 in the current school year. This steady growth has led to waiting lists and the school system outgrowing their facilities. Elementary classrooms are spaced throughout the system’s buildings and the project will centralize the three-year-old PreK through sixth grade
 
“Right now, the St. Lawrence building has grades four to six. Our preschool, TK (transitional kindergarten) and three-year old PreK are all in the high school building,” Pietig said.
 
Once the elementary grades are unified in one building, space will be freed up in the high school for the upper grades. Campaign literature pointed out that “storage rooms, a former stage and even hallways have been converted into teaching spaces. Elementary art and music classes have moved to a wing in the high school.” 
In addition to overcrowding, many of the current academic spaces are not conducive to 21^st century learning, Pietig pointed out.
 
Planning ahead
Last summer, the Kuemper board and leadership completed a comprehensive planning study, “looking at all the different possibilities and options.”
 
“We’ve done our homework on this and we feel it’s a very strong plan for the future, guided by our faith and our commitment to Kuemper’s mission,” Steffes said.
 
In their planning over the summer, leadership reached out to school supporters to gauge their interest in a potential building campaign. They found that 87% of those surveyed were in favor of the project and 85% willing to make a financial gift.

 “There is an incredible spirit of hope, excitement and unity as we embark on the uKnighted: Building a Future in Faith campaign,” Pietig said. “This is more than a building project, it’s a commitment to our students, our staff and our Kuemper family. Building for the future shows the utmost trust in what we are doing here at Kuemper.” 
Although uKnighted: Building a Future in Faith is technically still in the planning phase, Kuemper is “excited to get the word out and make sure people are aware,” she said. Kuemper anticipates launching the major gift and public phase in January 2026. The Feb. 23 town hall meeting will largely be updating stakeholders on the project’s progress.
 As plans unfold, Kuemper supporters are asking about the future of the St. Lawrence building. Pietig said some ideas have been raised including transforming St. Lawrence into a Catholic center for various entities. However, the facilities will continue to serve as part of the Kuemper system for another two years.
 
The advancement director said a large number of supporters will be serving as general and honorary chairs for the uKnighted campaign:
 
General Chairs:
 Eric '94 and Heather Boes '95
 Dan and Marie '98 G’Sell 
 Michael '10 and Sarah Greteman
 Jon '92 and Allisa Tiefenthaler
 Ryan and Trish '98 Tigges 
 Scott '85 and Cathy '85 Tigges
 Chase '12 and Megan Werden

Honorary Chairs:
 Father Craig Collison
 Tim and Ann '74 Fitzpatrick
 Marty '69 and Dee Halbur
 Howard and Deb '81 Koster 
 Richard '70 and Jeannine '71 Muhlbauer
 Father Merlin Schrad '69
 Russ '70 and Mary Jo Steinkamp
 John '80 and Kate Strautman

In the upcoming months, donors will be updated on the project and will be asked to both pray for the success of the campaign and consider making a financial pledge and/or gift. Pietig anticipates a three year pledge period.
The director noted that she is pleased with the response to the building project at this point and is looking forward to construction completion in time for the opening of the 2028-29 academic year.

“We are excited to give the kids and the staff the buildings they deserve to move us well into the future,” she said.

For more information on the campaign, go to: https://kuemper.org/uknighted. To contact the Advancement Office, email [email protected].

HOME