Road to 2020 Update
NEW IN 2013!
Every student at St. Francis DeSales High School is now participating in the school’s 1:1
Program (one computer to one student). This summer all students were issued iPads. The use of the iPads create
a learning environment where students are challenged to use technology to expand their skills and knowledge.
Placing the iPads in the hands of the students extends the learning process well beyond the classroom. One of St.
Francis DeSales High School’s main objectives is to provide our young people with the technological skills to be
competitive in a global society and to help them become responsible digital citizens. Students are also able to
use their school-issued iPad to begin a new initiative, compiling E-Portfolios of their service, which complements
the school’s goals as a Catholic institution.
Things might look different soon as you drive down
Karl Road in Northeast Columbus. This academic school year
will bring the arrival of hardhats, jackhammers, backhoes,
and a sense of excitement that has not been felt since Alumni
Stadium was completed in 2005. After a successful fundraising
effort, the
Road to 2020
project is underway and promises to
change the appearance of the front of the school.
The
Road to 2020
is a focused construction project that
will address some of the major elements of the school’s strate-
gic plan. This first phase of the project will create an enhanced
streetscape, improve traffic access, and create a grand front
entrance to the school. Thanks to generous contributions of
more than 40 DeSales supporters, the fundraising goal needed
to start the project has been achieved. However, additional
financial support continues to be sought for further land
acquisition, growth of school endowments, and other campus
improvements critical to future plans.
The project is being overseen by the school’s Leader-
ship Committee, led by current parent and committee chair-
man, Brian Ellis. The most noticeable work will be the creation
of a new grand entrance to the school. This entrance will be
located on the site of what was the conference room just off of
the school office. The entrance will feature a soaring two-story
entry which will look onto the beautiful Senior Courtyard and
provide easy access for visitors to the school’s Main office and
the Admissions office. It will restore the original entrance loca-
tion to the school that was closed off in the mid-’90s due to the
lack of foot traffic utilizing the front of the school.
In conjunction with the new entry will be the creation
of a connecting road that will run in front of the school, linking
the north and south parking lots. This drive will feature visitor
parking directly in front of the new entrance to allow for easy
access for guests. On the north side of the property, the inter-
section of Evaline Drive will be aligned with a new driveway
into the school. This new traffic signal, which will be possible
due to a generous partnership with the City of Columbus, will
allow southbound traffic on Karl Road to turn left into De-
Sales’ property at a traffic light. This realignment is a reality
due to the purchase and demolition of the home which previ-
ously sat at this location.
The final part of the first phase will be the
creation of an attractive streetscape with the addition of
trees, lighting, and ornamental fencing which will run
from Evaline Drive to the corner of Ferris Road, essen-
tially combining the campuses of St. Francis DeSales High
School and our neighbor, St. Matthias School and Parish.
This decorative fencing, anchored by stately brick piers,
will provide a clear message that St. Francis DeSales High
School is a critical part of the Northland Community.All
work is being staged in a manner that will keep operation
distractions to a minimum.
The next phase of work to take place will consist
of a complete renovation of the tennis courts, improve-
ments to parking lots, the installation of an elevator
in the school, and additional connections between St.
Francis DeSales High School and neighboring St. Matthias
Church. In total, the construction associated with the
Road to 2020
project will be accomplished over the next
12-14 months.
As Principal Dan Garrick has stated, “The outside
of our building needs to reflect the excellence that is tak-
ing place inside the building.” There is no doubt that with
these noteworthy improvements, the excellence that is St.
Francis DeSales High School will be felt both inside and
outside of the school.
A list of the generous donors who have made a gift or
pledge to the project can be found on page 20.
