Hill-Murray School

In my last blog, I talked about several initiatives for the future that will have an impact on Hill-Murray:  the Strategic Plan now being updated and an exploratory group formed to investigate the efficacy of alternative energy sources (wind, solar, geothermal) for the campus.

I want to continue in that vein for this blog, focusing attention on what’s been happening relative to our plans for the school’s academic wing.

Academic Wing Remodel
I’ve been asked on several occasions, “Will Hill-Murray ever do the academic wing upgrades?”  The answer is, without question, “Yes.”  I just can’t tell you “when” right now.

The Hill-Murray School building was built in 1958.  Over the years we have put several million dollars into the building that just needed to be done right away–adding a new chapel; addressing code issues; replacing and upgrading lighting and ventilation;  addressing accessibility including the addition of two elevators in the building; and updating voice/video/date infrastructure, etc. so that we could enjoy and benefit educationally from the terrific technology we now have in place.

We work from a Master Facilities Plan that has outlined priorities and defined stages of each phase of upgrades for the entire building.  As we “worked the plan,” the Sports Center was the next priority, and that has now become a reality.

Next in line on the list is the Academic Wing…all of the classrooms, science labs, library, restrooms etc.  We actually have been through the design development stage for the academic wing.  That means that the plans are already in place.  When this area of the building is addressed we will also need to add a small power house to centralize the utility upgrades that have been completed as well as those that would be needed with additional upgrades.  Total cost would run a little over seven million dollars.

It’s obvious that the recent economic times have had an impact on our capital fundraising.  My main concern in fundraising right now is the Annual Fund which supports tuition assistance. I’m very optimistic about the fact that we will find a way to address the needs in the academic wing…we just need to be patient.  God has provided in the past.  I have no doubt He will provide for this project as well.  (OK, I’m might be a little impatient about it…but I’m trying to learn.)

Rest assured that we are committed to this next step in our campus development.  We will resume a full effort on capital fundraising once our economy improves, and this project is the top priority.  And, if anyone reading this blog is a little impatient like I am, and is interested in funding the entire amount or a portion of it, let’s talk!

Let me begin this message with a disclaimer in case you were wondering why I haven’t added a new message since February.   We have had some issues with our Internet Service Provider and I have not had access to the blog editor.  As a result, I haven’t been able to update my blog until now.  I am happy to report the issue is resolved, and I’m back.Once April arrives in a school year it’s pretty much “hold on” as the flurry of year-end activities gain momentum.  Students begin to feel the warmer spring air and let their thoughts drift into the summer vacation.  School administrators are probably among the few who pray for a cool, wet spring.  That type of weather helps to keep everyone focused on the academics.  At least, I like to believe it does.In this and a next blog or two, I would like to update you on several initiatives we have been working on over the past several months.  I’ll take on a couple in this issue and follow up with others later.

Strategic Planning
Part of my job is to continually look to the next three to five years and envision what Hill-Murray will look like as we continue the work of implementing our strategic plan for the school.  After a process of surveys, focus groups, one on one interviews, and a series of meetings with the Board of Trustees and other constituents, we adopted our the Vision Statements for our strategic plan last December.  The Vision Statements address the following areas of the school:  Catholic Identity, Programs and Services, Human Resources, Facilities, and Finances.  Since December various internal committees have been working at developing strategies for implementation to accomplish these visions, with benchmarks for measuring our progress.  We believe strongly in planning at Hill-Murray.  Planning our future is much better than “waiting to see what happens.”  If you would like to view the Vision Statements, click on this link.  We will continue to develop, implement, and evaluate our progress in making these visions a reality.

One of the things we learned as we started working on the vision statements was that our constituents—students, staff, current and past parents of students, and alumni rate Hill-Murray as “excellent.”  We did an online survey of a mixed sample of over 400 constituents.  They gave our academic program, quality of teaching, and the college preparation of our graduates unbelievably high marks.  Actually, and I hope this doesn’t sound boastful or arrogant, it is not unbelievable.  Honestly, we talk a lot about achievement and excellence at Hill-Murray, and expect our students to be successful.  So, I am not surprised at the ratings.  Hill-Murray’s excellence is becoming evident to the general public.

Another area for which Hill-Murray was praised was the warmth and support of our community—and the character development that is foundational to an education here.  It was very affirming to receive these comments.  If you want to read more on the survey, just return to our homepage for an article in Latest News.

Wind Turbine Committee
A subgroup of our Facilities Committee has begun the exploration of constructing a wind turbine on campus.  We did a preliminary look at this a few years ago.  We have now regrouped with some new members and have begun to gather preliminary information related to sustainability, costs, payback, partnerships, etc.  The intent is to not only utilize wind energy as a possible source to cut our electrical bills, but to also use the turbine in our environmental education for our students.  There are some real possibilities with this, but we haven’t made any commitments thus far.  It’s still under study.

Look for my next blog coming soon in which I’ll talk about the The Marshlands Coalition, update you on plans for the academic wing, and perhaps others.

Members of the Hill-Murray School Community,

When I initiated this monthly blog last fall I made a commitment to myself that I would not use this venue to talk about money or fund raising.  I’m breaking that commitment this month.

Last fall I did not anticipate these economic conditions we are facing as a nation and a world.  Hill-Murray doesn’t operate in a vacuum.  We are feeling these difficult economic times just like everyone else.  Hill-Murray is not an entity unto itself…it is a living Christian community made up of all you…students, parents, teachers, alumni, and friends.  Each of us has been affected in one way or another by the economy and as a result, so has your Hill-Murray community.

I have had some difficult conversations recently with parents who are being affected by the current economic conditions.  These are hard working, value centered parents whose kids attend Hill-Murray.  They and their kids love the school, but these parents believe they may need to pull their kids from Hill-Murray because of job losses and/or severely reduced income.  They find it difficult to be in a position where they cannot “pay their own way.”  When they talk, the tears in their eyes underscore the reality of what Hill-Murray means to them.

Unfortunately, there are a growing number of families reaching out to Hill-Murray for help with tuition.  Despite these economic difficulties, I am committed to keeping our students enrolled – regardless of any downturn in their family finances.  I’m asking you to help me in this challenge.  Tuition assistance comes from the money raised through our Annual Fund drive.  As thoroughly as we planned, we could never have anticipated the depth of this economic challenge.  And so I turn to you, and others in our generous Hill-Murray family, to ask if you might consider helping us at this time.  Some families need only a little help to complement their ability to pay tuition.  Others need more.  All gifts go to support these students and their families.  You can make a gift on-line by clicking on “Ways to Give/Make a Gift Online” in the Quicklinks menu on our website homepage.

I thank you for your consideration.  By making Hill-Murray a giving priority you truly make a difference in young people’s lives – and make a statement about the value you place on the quality, Catholic education at Hill-Murray.

Thank you,

Joe

We begin the New Year at Hill-Murray with the usual excitement brought on by adolescents who have just come back from a two week Christmas vacation.  Of course, not all of the students had the full two weeks off.  Many were participating in the various athletic tournaments that have become a tradition in high school sports here in Minnesota during this time of the year.  But whether the students and staff had the full two weeks off to get refreshed and reinvigorated for the second half of the school year, or if they only got a few days here and there, it is always pleasure to see the students return to the hallways and classroom that have been empty during their absence.  One of the students asked me in the hallway this morning what my New Year’s resolution was.  I told him it was to keep better track of him.  I can do that.  He’s really a good kid, but a little “watching over” won’t hurt.The New Year always brings with it the usual resolutions for “reforming” ourselves, to begin “anew” with the intent to improve ourselves in one manner or another.  Fresh beginnings are important to all of us, no matter what age.  That’s a great thing about schools.  We have two beginnings in our calendar.  One is at the start of the school year in August; the other is at the start of the new calendar year.  The New Year beginning is the last round before semester exams and creates the impetus to really push hard before exams.  Each new beginning gives us the opportunity to start “anew,” to recommit to those behaviors that we wish to change or improve upon so each of us can become a better person.

The important thing is to make a commitment or a resolution that is focused on becoming a better person.  I like to use it as a time to reflect on the Benedictine focus of “balance” in our lives.  The Benedictine focus of balancing Prayer, Work, and Leisure is an incredibly wise way to live our lives.  I encourage students and all of us think about it.  Keeping our work life, spiritual life, and fun time in balance will no doubt lead us to becoming better people.  Too much of one can throw the balance off of the others.  Too much play impacts our work.  Too much work with little play or prayer can make us a bit dull…to ourselves as well as to others.  Not addressing our spiritual development will ultimately leave us empty and unhappy.  Maybe we all need a little “watching over,” and I believe that prayer and other ways of addressing our spiritual needs are how to get that help.

Each of these areas is important in our lives.  I hope the Hill-Murray School experience helps our students recognize this and will help them learn to live “balanced” lives.

Happy New Year!

Joe

It’s difficult to believe that we are nearing the end of another calendar year.  To use a common Minnesota metaphor, December at Hill-Murray is a flurry of activities, that sometimes develops into a raging blizzard as the excitement builds among the students for Christmas and all it means, as well as the vacation days they are anticipating, of course.  During this season, the school environment takes on whole new personality.  It’s full of energy, expectations, joy.  It’s very much a personification of the Advent Season as we await the celebration of the coming the Christ Child.  You can sense the anticipation and see it in the faces of the students.

This season at Hill-Murray is a mix of work, fun, and giving.  Weekly Advent Prayer services along with the collections of toys and clothing for the disadvantaged, cookie break fund raisers for the needy, volunteering at homeless shelters as well as numerous other community service organizations, all point to the incredible goodness in the hearts of these students.  They are a very generous group of young people.  They give of themselves in so many ways to those who have less.  That’s what we are called to do and I commend this generation of young people for answering the call.

Every generation in my lifetime has questioned the commitment of its youth and had misgivings about the future.  But I have no doubt about today’s young people.  You need only spend a little time among these Pioneers of Hill-Murray School and listen to them talk about their aspirations and their interest in serving and helping others.  We are blessed to have such great kids.   In the spirit of this season, I thank and congratulate our parents for the values they work daily to instill in their children.  The season is about giving.  And these kids do.

Over the last couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of new parents to Hill-Murray School and to share with them some elements of the vision for the future of this great school.  One segment of that vision includes the next phases of facility upgrades.  I frequently get questions related to this.  We all know that it isn’t the building that makes the school, but it is important to have the best possible facilities for students and staff. 

 

We work from a Master Facilities Plan that has been developed over the past few years with our architects and Board of Trustees.  This plan addresses facility upgrades that include the complete renovation of the academic wing, space for both the current and anticipated HVAC and electrical needs of the campus, a new Library/Media Center, space for studio arts, vocal and instrumental music areas, as well as other amenities to enhance the programs and services offered for our students and families.  Each of these building upgrade phases has been given a priority rank.

 

In 2006 we did a feasibility study to determine how much Hill-Murray could anticipate in efforts to raise capital funds for building improvements.  We had already completed a number of previous capital fund drives and major gift initiatives for campus improvements that had totaled over $8 million, but there was more to do. 

 

The study informed us that we could expect to raise $5 million for the identified needs.  We raised $5.5 million in that latest effort and were pleased with the generosity of the many friends and benefactors who participated in this fund drive.  The identified needs for that phase, however, were projected to be $8 million, of which we were fully aware when we planned the project.  That phase included the addition of another entrance to the campus from Larpenteur Avenue to help ensure student safety and alleviate traffic congestion, updates to the theatre/auditorium, and the new sports center, which included both the renovation of the existing field house and the building of the new practice/PE facility.  The reasons for moving ahead on the sports center at that time were three-fold; to address gender equity issues related to our athletic programs, to provide a staging area for the next phases of construction, and finally, to provide adequate facilities so our students would be able to finish team practices earlier in the day, allowing them to be home at a much earlier hour than they had in the past.

 

We made the decision to move forward with this project, knowing that we would need to continue our capital fund raising efforts to cover the additional $2.5 million to completely pay for these projects.  It was the right decision.  We are continuing to work on completing the drive to raise that $2.5 million.  When we have finalized the pledges to cover that amount, we will then begin major gift initiatives to address the academic wing and the space for the HVAC and electrical services.  With the continued commitments from alumni, parents, past parents and friends of the school, we hope to have this finalized and begin to move forward on this next phase within a three year period.

 

At the same time, the vision includes campus site upgrades.  We have the need for permanent parking; tennis courts; running track; and fields for soccer, lacrosse, softball and baseball. We are still having discussions with the Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery about the possibility of acquiring a little additional land to help with the exterior site.  When those talks have concluded, we will be better able to address these areas.

 

Of course all of this is dependent upon the continued support from the entire Hill-Murray School community.  These projects will be completed.  It’s just a matter of when.  I hope you share in the excitement about this portion of the

H-M vision for the future.

 

Facilities improvements are but one component of the exciting future of Hill-Murray School. There are many other facets to the Hill-Murray vision relating to the students and our programs and services that are equally exciting.  I will share segments of them in future blogs.

 

Joe

 

I am so pleased that today’s technology affords me the opportunity to communicate with you about this incredible place called Hill-Murray School. 

Last summer I had the pleasure of spending some time with one of our alumnae from Archbishop Murray Memorial High School.  She had great stories and memories of her years at AMMHS.  Visiting with alumni and hearing their stories are two highlights of my position as president of the school.  This alumna lives on the west coast and was in town to visit relatives.  I had invited her up to school for a cup of coffee and a tour.  (By the way, this offer is extended to all alumni and friends of the school!)  She is very tech savvy in her own realm, and suggested that I start to “blog” to let everyone know about Hill-Murray today, the accomplishments of our students, the daily business of this school community as well as our vision for the future.  It was a great idea and I thank her for that.  Because of her, I’ve committed to join the “world of bloggers” in an effort to keep you up to date on Hill-Murray School.  My intent is to do a monthly blog, sharing some highlights of the school year as well as offering insights into the dreams and visions of the years to come.  I invite you to “click” on this blog site on occasion to read some of my short “ramblings” on Hill-Murray School.  If there are some topics you would like me to address, feel free to contact me.

I thank you for your interest and commitment to Hill-Murray School.
Joe