Thomas More Prep-Marian High School and Holy Family Elementary celebrate charitable gift and time of change.
For Immediate Release - Feb. 24
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School announced today a gift of $855,000 from the estate of Fred James (Jim) Neu. Neu attended and was a graduate of the St. Joseph’s College and Military Academy in 1944-45. The gift is the largest one-time bequest in the 100-year history of the school. Neu, who resided in Des Moines, IA, was an employee of Bankers Trust.
The gift comes at a time for progressive change for the Catholic Schools of Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School and Holy Family Elementary. In December of 2006, Meitler Consultants of Wisconsin conducted a comprehensive study of the Catholic Education in the Heartland Parishes. A recommendation of the Meitler Study was the creation of a unified board to oversee system-wide policies, funding and marketing for TMP-Marian and Holy Family Elementary. The new board commenced operations in July of 2008.
The Meitler study also established change in the administrative structure at TMP-Marian. Denis Coakley has assumed the role of President of TMP-Marian following the retirement of Jean Ross. Coakley joined TMP-Marian as principal for the 2006-2007 academic year and has kept that position throughout the transition. A new position was created to assist with the financial development of TMP-Marian and Holy Family Elementary. Dr. Mark Pahls was named Vice President for Institutional Advancement in 2008.
Facility changes are taking place at both the high school and elementary school. TMP-Marian is near completion of the first capital campaign in school history. The renovations included in the $1.5 million campaign have already begun with the completion of the new floor in the TMP-Marian cafeteria. Renovations to locker rooms in Billinger Fieldhouse are scheduled to begin in April and electrical and mechanical operations in the Administrative building and Billinger Fieldhouse are being planned. The new worship space for the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish will create new educational space for Holy Family Elementary.