Wednesday, August 20, 2003

By Julie Spohn

A renovated storm-damaged Catholic school in West Mifflin will be ready on schedule for the start of the school year, its principal said.

	Related articles What's new in South schools this year Teachers teach teachers how to use technology in classroom

Sister Phyllis Scello said James L. Lavelle Memorial School in West Mifflin's Resurrection Parish will be open for classes Monday, the first day of school. Approximately 160 pupils in preschool through eighth grade are registered for classes this year, she said.

The renovations won't increase pupils' tuition, she said.

The school was severely damaged during last year's May 31 macroburst. Its roof was torn off and flung back on the building, walls buckled, and water damaged some school equipment.

At first, officials of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh thought they might have to close the school permanently.

While the damage was being evaluated, they approved converting the cafeteria of the Resurrection Parish social hall in West Mifflin to accommodate the preschool and kindergarten pupils registered at the school.

For the pupils in first through eighth grades, they also approved renovating the St. Rita school building in Munhall, which hadn't been used for classes in several years.

For a school year, pupils attended class in the social hall and at St. Rita. Then, late last year, Scello notified parents that the diocese had given Resurrection Parish approval to renovate the James Lavelle building.

No new rooms or other structures have been added to the building during the renovation, Scello said.

There will be a dedication of the school at the parish's 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday in the Resurrection Parish church building at Church Street and Majka Drive, West Mifflin.

The public is welcome.

Julie Spohn is a freelance writer.

E-mail this story   Print this story