St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church plans K-8 school

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A new parochial school in Blair is in the planning stages, according to a conditional use permit (CUP) request made to the Blair Planning Commission on Tuesday night.

The planning commission recommended approval 5-0 of a 20-year CUP to St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church to use its education center for a K-8 classical Catholic academy. Commission members Bob Boettcher, Rebecca Fox, Milt Heinrich and Ryan Schroeter were absent.

The facility, which has nine classrooms, could accommodate 20 students per classroom. Enrollment would be at capacity at 160 to 180 students.

Rebecca Crotty, a representative of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, said the church does not to expand further.

“We don't have to be bigger and better all the time. We just want to be one little piece of a good thing,” she said. “These schools are really doing well in the Archdiocese. They have waiting lists now. We were approached by one of them and asked if we would consider. When we went and visited, we absolutely thought it would be the best thing we could do for our parish and our community.”

The school would utilize the church building for physical education, which would be held in the basement during the winter months, and for the cafeteria in the social hall.

“We do see the possibility of adding a playground in the future as funds allow,” Crotty said. “It would be nice to have a gymnasium but that's not on the radar at least in the short term.”

Commission members expressed concern over traffic due to student drop off and pick up. Crotty said the intent is to have parents use Davis Drive as an entrance only, turn on the driveway and drop off and pick up in front of the education center before exiting to the south.

The Southfork Road entrance to the parking lot would be closed during the day to protect the students.

“Currently, we have a lot of traffic that comes through the parking lot. They're just bypassing the highway. This will take care of that problem,” Crotty said.

Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Beiermann said the church's plans requires a CUP as a parochial school is an excepted use in the multi-family low density zoning district in which the facility is located.

The Blair City Council will consider the CUP at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in city council chambers.