Building damage from a pair of summer storms has led Costa Catholic Academy to delay the start of classes and seek a temporary location for the start of the upcoming school year.
Families of Costa Catholic received an email from the Catholic Schools Diocese of Peoria dated Aug. 1 notifying parents and teachers of the changes. Costa was scheduled to start school on Aug. 16, but according to the letter, the first day of school will now be Sept. 5 at a yet undetermined location.
In the letter, Superintendent Susan Miller of the Catholic Schools Diocese of Peoria writes, “I am writing you today to let you know of a change in the schedule for this school year. Over the summer, our school encountered an unforeseen challenge when it endured significant damage caused by two large rainstorms. The root cause of this damage was identified as a broken drain pipe on the roof. I want to assure you that the school is fully insured, and immediate action has been taken to address the situation safely and efficiently.
“Due to the extensive nature of the required repairs, we must prioritize the well-being and safety of our students and staff. As a result, we have made the decision not to conduct regular classes in the building while the restoration work is underway. Instead, we are diligently working to secure a suitable temporary location nearby, which will serve as our interim school until the building is fully restored.”
Miller said they will adjust the academic calendar of the upcoming year to minimize the impact of the delayed start.
Father Lee Brokaw, priest at Costa, tells WGIL, “Although this is unfortunate and unexpected, the safety and well-being of our teachers and students is our top priority.
“We are confident our school building will be even better following the renovations, which is an hidden blessing. Our school family is very close and we place our trust in Jesus as we embark on this adventure this fall semester.”
Miller said in the coming weeks parents and staff can expect to receive more comprehensive information about the temporary school location, transportation arrangements and other details related to the upcoming academic year.