Leavenworth public school officials have closed Muncie Elementary School and sold the property. But it appears the building will be a school once again.
The property has been purchased by the Leavenworth Regional Catholic Schools. Barbara Ferrara, president of the Catholic schools, said officials plan to use the former public school to house Xavier Elementary classes.
“It’s a huge step for the Catholic school system,” she said.
Catholic school officials had looked at constructing a new building for kindergarten through eighth grade classes at the site of the existing Xavier middle school campus.
Ferrara said the results of a feasibility study showed there was support for consolidating three Xavier campuses into one building. But there also was concern about using the middle school site on Osage Street because of its location and lack of space to grow.
She said the archbishop for the area granted Catholic school officials permission to pursue the Muncie property.
Muncie Elementary is no longer needed by the Leavenworth public school district because of a bond issue that paid for the construction of a new elementary building and renovations to others.
Ferrara said the Catholic school system was unable to purchase Muncie Elementary School directly from the public school district. But the Catholic schools bought the property for $250,000 after it was acquired by a third party.
“It’s just more centrally located for our region,” Ferrara said.
She said the property’s 16 acres also will allow for growth in the future
.
The former Muncie school is large enough to accommodate all of the Xavier students in kindergarten through the eighth grade.
“We have assured the archbishop that we will give it a Catholic identity,” Ferrara said.
She said this may involve changing the look of the exterior of the old school.
Ferrara said Catholic school officials also would like to eventually make other improvements to the school.
“We’ll do (another) feasibility study right away,” she said.
For the 2010-2011 school year, students will continue to attend classes at the existing Xavier campuses.
But Ferrara said she hopes money can be raised and renovations completed in time to move into the old Muncie school for the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
She said officials plan to call the building Xavier Catholic Elementary School.
Catholic school officials also have secured a home football field for the upcoming school year.
Immaculata High School previously played varsity home games at Abeles Field, which was owned by the Leavenworth public school district.
With the construction of the new Pioneer Stadium behind Leavenworth High School, Abeles has been sold by the public school system.
Ferrara said Abeles’ new owner is allowing the Catholic schools to use the field this fall.
In addition to varsity games, junior varsity and middle school football games will be played at Abeles, Ferrara said.
