Our school experience is engaging, modern, and advanced.  We prepare children for an exciting future. However, new parents who first see our school buildings would not get that impression. We wish to provide a much needed facelift for our facilities which would include:

• New signage that reflects our new Bishop Guilfoyle Academy brand identity
• Updated cladding and designs to modernize the 1970’s era brick exterior
• Updating the high-traffic portico area where most students, parents, and visitors enter the high school building.  Fixing the cracked concrete, pillars, and adding enhanced design elements.
• Other items to make a positive, fresh first impression.

Creating an invigorating, personal experience for our students is the heart of what we do.  The majority of funds from this capital campaign will be invested in areas that make a difference for our students. These include:

1. Faculty salaries.  Attracting and retaining the best, most engaging, expert instructional staff is the most important thing to ensure a high quality student experience. While our faculty are dedicated to the mission, the gap between BG salaries and other schools is too significant. 
2. Technology. Since we were the first area school to launch 1-1 iPads and an advanced, college level online learning management system, technology has continued to advance. We need to upgrade wifi, introduce a single, unified phone system (voice over IP) that covers all four campuses, and update computers in the tech lab.
3. Infrastructure. HVAC is original to the buildings since the 1960’s and 1980’s. Parts of the high school do not have air conditioning. 
4. Classrooms. Refreshing and updating some classrooms to create an even more collaborative learning environment
5. Athletics. Updates to the gymnasium and locker rooms as well as other areas and programming.

The exact list of priorities to receive funding will depend on the total amount raised from the campaign.  The total investment required by the above items exceed the $2.3mm allocated out of the $7mm campaing target but each of the above areas will receive some investments from the campaign funds and will be prioritized based on greatest needs. 

A newly added school in Hollidaysburg – the 3^rd elementary school site  – is important for our future. We are growing enrollment now and want that to continue.  We need this added capacity so we do not need to turn away students who wish to enroll. Growing enrollment is proof that our PreK-12^th grade school under the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy brand and is desired by families and is great news for our future. 

It will take time to fill all grades in the new building. The first year (2024/25) we offered only PreK-1^st grade. In 2025/26 we will add second grade and in future years we will progressively add levels until this becomes another full PreK-5^th grade elementary school.  

Until then we must invest to hire faculty, pay rent and maintenance, and incur other start up and fixed costs. Like any new venture, it requires investment until the growing enrollment covers the fixed costs. This Capital Campaign will provide those investment funds. 

The full cost of attending BG is prohibitive for most families in our area. While every family who attends makes a significant financial commitment to tution and fees, we are committed to helping when needed.  When a family cannot cover the full cost we make a commitment to fill the gap. This way, every family who wants to benefit from a BG education can afford to do so.  

Donations in this campaign will go toward building our funds available for scholarships and tuition assistance for families in need.