The diocese continues to take steps toward obtaining preliminary state and local approvals as well as design work for a proposed new high school in southern Gloucester County. The diocese has indicated that Gloucester Catholic in Gloucester City would relocate to the new site.
With demographic trends indicating continued growth in that region, the Diocese of Camden in August 2007 announced that it was considering locating a new 200,000 square foot, 1,000 plus student Catholic high school on a 100-acre site off Route 77 in Mullica Hill, Harrison Township. A survey of parents last summer showed support for the proposed school.
In recent weeks, the diocese submitted a plan to the State Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to amend the Harrison Township sewer service area to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the Harrison Township treatment plant to handle the expanded sewer service area.
In addition, as part of the site planning, the diocese is preparing a traffic study for submission to the State Department of Transportation to determine the impact of the traffic generated by the high school on the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, engineers currently are working on the site plan and the building is in the design development phase. Land Dimensions Engineering of Glassboro has been retained by the diocese for site plan development. The architectural design firm is Manders Merighi Portadin Farrell Architects, LLC of Vineland. Stanker and Galetto of Vineland is the design/build firm.
While preliminary approvals are being sought, the diocese also is exercising caution in the face of the current economic downturn. The diocese has decided that it will defer action on the financing portion of the high school proposal until economic conditions stabilize.
“As you might expect, in the face of deteriorating economic conditions and the uncertainty of the financial markets it is best to wait to procure financing and to seek final approvals,” said Andrew Walton, spokesman for the diocese.
While preliminary approvals continue, Bishop Galante still must obtain final input and endorsement from the Diocesan Finance Council and the College of Consultors before a final decision is made on the project.
There are 10 Catholic high schools serving 6,700 students in the six counties of the diocese. The last Catholic high school built by the diocese was Paul VI High School in Haddon Township in 1965.
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