Fond du Lac's St. Mary's Springs Academy announces $21.3 million expansion, renovation

One of Fond du Lac’s most familiar landmarks since the twin spires of the former historic St. Louis Catholic Church fell to fire in 2007 felt the bite of a wrecking ball.

“Old Main,” the former St. Mary’s Springs Academy high school built in 1928, its eight-story bell tower perched on the side of the Niagara Escarpment overlooking the city, was demolished about two weeks to make way for an elementary and middle school capable of educating up to 600 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

The new building, which will bring all of St. Mary’s Springs schools and its nearly 1,000 students from kindergarten through grade 12 to the same campus site, is the highlight of a $21.3 million school system construction, renovation and improvement project announced Aug. 7 by academy officials.

In addition to new elementary and middle school buildings, the project includes renovating the current high school, built in 1970, building shared art, music, science classrooms, new gym and fitness facilities and updating Springs’ sports fields and administrative offices.

“This project will allow us to share classroom resources among teachers and students,” said St. Mary’s Springs president Kevin J. Shaw.

Springs Academy elementary and middle school students currently attend St. Joseph and St. Mary schools in Fond du Lac. Both schools are owned by Holy Family Catholic Community Parish.

Shaw said once the new school is completed St. Joseph and St. Mary schools will close.

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