Plans for new school announced

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
St. Michael Parish School in Auburn may have small beginnings, said parish pastor Msgr. Michael Farmer, but there’s certainly big excitement.
Msgr. Farmer announced Dec. 8 the establishment of a new school, with plans to offer an option for full-day kindergarten, plus one class each of grades one and two starting in August 2022. The parish currently offers half-day preschool and kindergarten. Classes will be held on the first floor of the parish’s Sacred Heart Hall at 1100 N. College St.
There’s also room to add more grades by completing work on the second floor of Sacred Heart Hall. The parish also recently purchased 51 acres on Cox Road for a possible new school building. 
But it’s one step at a time for St. Michael Parish School.
“In a sense our hope is to start off small, particularly to see if there is the support indicated, but we feel very confident we can do this,” Msgr. Farmer said. “There are a lot of good signs and excitement. It’s another step of a very positive Catholic identity in Auburn but now with a Catholic school.”
Msgr. Farmer hoped each class would have between 16 to 20 students when the school opens in August. Before the school opens though, there’s plenty of work to be done.
The school hopes to determine what tuition will be by sometime in January. The school will also soon hold preliminary registration, hire faculty and prepare the facility for additional classrooms.
“There’s going to be some trial and error and we may fall here or there but I believe we should make a go at it for the sake of our youth and the life of our faith here in Auburn,” he said.
Archdiocese of Mobile Superintendent of Catholic Schools Gwen Byrd added “I can’t begin to express my excitement for families in and around Auburn, who will benefit from the school. I am also grateful for the leadership at St. Michael Parish for taking on such a meaningful and extensive project. I pray that this school will impact generations to come and I look forward to working with the wonderful people of St. Michael in this great new school.”
Much work has already been done in preparing to open a school. Msgr. Farmer said serious conversations began well over a year as staff educated parents and the parish on the need for Catholic education.
St. Michael also undertook a feasibility study conducted by Dr. John Convey, professor emeritus at Catholic University. According to Msgr. Farmer, the feasibility study concluded in early November indicated strong support for a Catholic school in Auburn.
Msgr. Farmer stressed that the new school would not be established to create competition for public schools, but rather “that there is a Catholic vision of giving quality academic education as well as Catholic identity and religious education. (One thing the feasibility study noted was) no one wanted a Catholic school that would just be a private school. They wanted Catholic values, Catholic teaching, Catholic identity to be part of every classroom experience.”
Msgr. Farmer said the establishment of a school indicates the growth of the parish.
“I think the parish itself and the Catholic community in Auburn are to be congratulated because in a lot of ways it is a hidden gem in the city itself and even in the Catholic community in our own archdiocese,” he said.  “When you think of Auburn, you don’t necessarily think of a large Catholic community but St. Michael Parish has 1,200-plus families. The university tells us there are 3,000 self-identified Catholics going to Auburn. There continues to be growth.”