Kuemper $30 million expansion project moves forward

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
Last October, the Carroll Kuemper Catholic School system announced their first major facility expansion project in over 70 years. The $30 million uKnighted: Building a Future in Faith construction project is now underway.
 
The keystone of the project is the 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 and the project includes renovations to the existing Kuemper Elementary building including transforming the current gymnasium into a cafeteria. A skywalk across South East Street will be constructed for safe passage between the new building and the high school.
 
Heather Pietig, Kuemper advancement director, said a “prayerful and historic” groundbreaking was held in late May with students, faculty, clergy, donors, alumni and community members. Retired priest Father Merlin Schrad of Carroll offered the blessing for the project.
 
“The ceremony marked the official start of construction on a project designed to enhance educational opportunities for current and future generations of Kuemper students,” she said. “The addition is part of Kuemper Catholic’s ongoing commitment to provide excellent Catholic education while ensuring its facilities meet the needs of a growing and evolving school community.”
 
A variety of supporters spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony, reflecting upon the 150 years of dedication to Catholic education in the Carroll area. BCDM Architects and numerous contractors were recognized for their anticipated work on the project.
 
“Kuemper’s mission is not just to sharpen young minds, but to strengthen young souls,” said John Steffes, president of the Kuemper school system, at the ceremony. “And that’s something to celebrate because we need Catholic schools today, now more than ever. Thank you for being part of this noble mission. Thank you for being a part of this new building and the future of Kuemper.”
 John Steffes, Kuemper presidentEnrollment growth was a major factor leading to the uKnighted project. In October, the school noted enrollment grew from 1,078 in 2010 to 1,356 in the 2025-26 academic year. Pietig said from reviewing the 2026-27 academic registration data, Kuemper is expected see another jump in enrollment this fall. 

The construction will allow all elementary classrooms to be unified in one building and free up space in the current high school where some early childhood classes are housed. Pietig pointed out that many of the current academic spaces are not conducive to 21^st century learning.
 
Significant dirt work has begun at the construction site and renovation of the current elementary school will take place this summer.
 
Uninterrupted instruction
Kuemper officials anticipate the new construction would be completed in time for the start of the 2028-29 academic year. When school begins, construction should not impede instruction.
 
“One of the things we are most excited about is that there will be no disruption of student learning, besides maybe the little kids looking out the windows at the excavators,” Pietig said. “Obviously, we are still keeping St. Lawrence open. Right now, no classrooms will be displaced. No students will be displaced.”
 
When the next school year opens in August, it is anticipated that work on the new three-story addition can begin.
 Students donned hard hats at the groundbreaking.With the renovation and construction anticipated on the Kuemper campus, leadership has reconfigured the student drop off and pick up system in front of the school before the end of the academic year. Pietig said the parents and staff adapted very well.
 
Although the groundbreaking was a major milestone in the project, there are other notable events planned throughout the construction process, the director pointed out. There will be a ceremonial beam raising and signing where supporters and students can sign one of the structural beams of the building.
 
A gym floor signing will allow students and stakeholders to sign the gymnasium subfloor before the finished flooring is installed, “making their signatures a literal part of the foundation of the new space,” she said.
 
In addition to the Kuemper families and supporters, the Carroll community is excited about the major expansion project at their local Catholic school.
 
“There’s so much talk about not only what this is going to do for our Kuemper students, our Kuemper families, but also the community,” Pietig said, adding that the current renovation project at St. Anthony Hospital combined with the Kuemper project is cause for a positive outlook for Carroll residents.
Architectural drawing released October 2025For more information on the campaign, go to: https://kuemper.org/uknighted. To contact the Advancement Office, email [email protected].

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