Cardinal Newman makes plans to move
By John Dixon Cub@TheColumbiaStar.com

Jacqueline Kasprowski, Cardinal Newman's Principal, explains the plans for Cardinal Newman's move.

For over 40 years Cardinal Newman has been a familiar fixture in Forest Acres, but that will soon change. Current plans are to relocate to a site off Farrow Road in 2010 or 2011. A Blue Ribbon Committee of 68 parents, educators, and community members recently completed an intensive study to determine the best future course and location of Cardinal Newman School.

Cardinal Newman School has a long and rich history, which predates the Civil War. It began in 1858 as Ursuline High School for Girls located on Blanding Street where it remained until Sherman's army burned the city of Columbia in 1865 on his March to the Sea.

For a while, it continued operation at Valle Crucis, summer home of the Right Reverned Lynch. It remained here for two years and maintained an average of 40 students and educated local African American students over the summer. Two of the sisters returned to Columbia and opened St. Peter's School on Park Street in 1872.

In 1887, Ursuline moved to Preston Place on Hampton Street and was accredited as a Class A private institution. The first male students graduated in 1951. In 1957, the name was changed to Columbia Catholic High school.

In 1961, the school moved to its current site, 4701 Forest Drive and its name changed again to Cardinal Newman High School.

Currently, Cardinal Newman is over its capacity. Four portable classrooms were hauled in this summer, and the school is out of room to grow. Four itinerate teachers are using different rooms for each of their classes, and there is no room for additional academic or athletic facilities to accommodate the growth in student population.

Technology has reached its highest level possible on the current site. Many sports teams have to travel for every game and practice. All of these reasons have contributed to the decision to move. In addition to the site selected, several other options were considered by the Blue Ribbon Panel. The other options were to renovate the current site, move to Fontaine Business Park, develop acreage on Rabon Road, seek a long term lease off of Garner's Ferry Road, or purchase acreage off of I- 20 near exit 83, or 25 acres off of Two Notch Road.

In the end, the TETRA site near the Farrow Road exit off of I- 20, was deemed best for many reasons. There are 30 acres for athletic facilities next to another 25 acres for academic buildings.

Jacqueline Kasprowski, Cardinal Newman's principal, says "There will be main academic buildings, a gym, auxiliary gym, auditorium, a cafeteria, a library/media center, science labs, and a chapel that will become known as 'Our Lady of Joyful Hope Chapel' because it was she from whom so many of us sought guidance throughout this process."

The site is part of a planned community including single family homes, apartments, office condos, and senior living facilities. The school would be the center of the community with adequate room for growth and easy access to athletic facilities. When the Blue Ribbon Committee completed their study, their report and recommendations were submitted to the final decision maker, the Bishop of Charleston, for consideration and their plan was approved. Change is definitely in the wind for Cardinal Newman.There will be growth but it will be carefully calculated and balanced to allow for a quality faith- based education for the students."

Current educational research shows the small school concept (classes of fewer than 200) are best for the students." said Kasprowski. Thus the school will seek to increase attendance to between 100 and 200 in each of the five classes, seventh through 12th grades.

Due to planned growth, the administration has no immediate plans for tuition increases. Building and operating costs will be considered as fundraising efforts continue throughout the process. The current site will be put up for sale, and all proceeds will go to the new school.

Depending on money flow and the success of fundraising efforts, the school may be ready in time for the class of 2011 or 2012 to graduate from the new Cardinal Newman. It looks as though Jacqueline Kasprowski has already begun to fulfill her charge of bringing Cardinal Newman into a new era. As she does so, she'd like the public to know, "The most important aspect of Cardinal Newman School is that it offers education of quality in a faith- based environment. Having a state of the art facility will help our school to continue and expand what it does."