Bishop Kagan has announced a donation of $3 million to the Light of Christ Catholic Schools expansion effort. It is the largest single gift the Diocese has given to an entity.
Bishop Kagan shared the news with a gathering of supporters earlier this month, challenging them to commit to educating the future generations. Officials from the Light of Christ campaign spoke at the event, as well as North Dakota native and former college basketball coach Dale Brown.
"Now is the time to step forward and become a part of something much larger and more influential than you can accomplish individually," stated Kagan. "Our commitment to a Catholic education with high academic standards for the youth of today and tomorrow is unwavering and impels us to give sacrificially."
Light of Christ Catholic Schools unveiled plans for the largest expansion project in its 138 years of existence in November 2015. Dr. Ron and Ruth Knutson and their family donated nearly 48 acres of land, located just north of 57th Street and east of Washington Street in Bismarck, to provide a new home for St. Mary's Central High School.
In addition to plans for building a new school, the current high school and academy will be converted to a full middle school academy. Upgrades have been made, and will continue to be made to the current schools serving pre-kindergarten and elementary students. More information can be found at
keepthepromise.net.
The rapidly growing interest in Catholic education has spurred the need for expansion. Light of Christ Catholic Schools has experienced a 20 percent increase in students in the past five years. There is an increase of 4.3 percent in enrollment for the 2016-17 school year, with more students expected to register before the fall.
Improvements to the current school facilities will continue this summer. Groundbreaking for the new St. Mary's Central High School is forecasted for the fall of 2017.