PARK HILLS — Covington Catholic High School Principal Jack Kennevan is certain that the familiar three-story school structure on Dixie Highway will make way for a new, larger building by 2003 with a little help from about 6,000 alumni.

        Covington Catholic officials received tentative approval from Bishop Robert Muench in December to proceed with planning and fund raising for a new high school, at the same location, which Mr. Kennevan said could cost about $7.5 million.

The Covington Catholic High School building is scheduled to be replaced by a new structure by 2003. (Enquirer photo) | ZOOM |

        The new school would rise on land behind the present structure and in front of the baseball field.

        When the new school is completed, the old building would be demolished, according to Mr. Kennevan.

        “When I came on board as principal five years ago, the decision had already been made that there was a need for a new high school,” he said Tuesday.

        “The present school building was constructed in 1954. The science labs are out moded, the cafeteria is too small and the building is not handicapped accessible. We're building for the 21st century.”

        Covington Catholic has 57,000 square feet and an enrollment of 489 boys. The new building would add about 25,000 square feet.

        Mr. Kennevan said Bishop Muench “wants us to spell out how much it will cost, and how we will pay for it. We've already completed a three-year study of our needs, and we will be in the planning stages for possibly another year.”

        He said the school did a financial feasibility study before getting the bishop's approval, and “It was obvious that it would cost as much to rehabilitate the building and put on additions as it would to build a new school.”

        “The only thing that will remain will be the gym,” he said. “Eventually we'll build a new gym.”

        Covington architect Rick Wolnitzek has been hired to design the building.

        Mr. Kennevan said the school obtained the volunteer services of Fort Thomas businessman Wayne Carlisle, whose sons attended Covington Catholic, and 1957 Covington Catholic graduate Jerry Thelen to run the fund-raising campaign.

        “The money will be a challenge, but we're hoping everyone will pitch in,” he said.

        “We're already getting a lot of verbal support.

        “I have faith that the new school will be built.”
       

Hospital crunch worsens
OxyContin: Pain drug becomes the 'heroin of the Midwest'
Physician caught up in OxyContin scheme
TV's sex content climbs, study says
Deters bows out as GOP chief
Ditch the coat - for a day or 2
Brookville woman dies in collision
FBI aids in Hamilton racism
RADEL: State quarters
Village disbands its police force
AIDS fight targeting young, gay black men
CROWLEY: Bunning gunning for Greenspan
SAMPLES: Connections
Colerain buys flood-prone homes
Commandment group buys TV time
Company downsizing spawns fair for jobless
CovCath plans $7.5M home
Error puts schools in money bind
Genesis problems known for years, Heimlich says
Kenton obtains office space
Ky. Assembly has contentious first day
Ky. loses bid to reinstate death sentence against Gall
Lines form for heating program
Mason hires new fire chief
Merger of two cities questioned
Murder suspect seeks 3-judge panel for new trial
Patrons of Music Hall will get new lift
Robot project teaches Highlands students engineering
School district land swap rejected; tax hike fails again
Senate committee OKs reform bills
Suspect says killing was self-defense
Suspect's transfer blocked
Taft demands child-support flaws be fixed
Three men killed when their vehicle falls through thin ice in Lake Erie accident
Woodlawn tax boost passes; school measures elsewhere fail
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report