The Construction of a New High School is a Complicated and Time-Consuming Process
The Board has been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that the new high school is designed to meet the needs of our current and future students, families and staff.
After purchasing 26 acres of land on Chatham Road, the Construction Committee consulted with Graham and Hyde Architects to develop a conceptual design plan. These plans were then presented to our Lutheran community, which resulted in little to no recommended modifications. As required by the City of Springfield and Sangamon County, a traffic study and large-scale site development survey were also completed.
Fellowship Development, a development consulting firm, completed a planning study to gather input and opinions about our plans to re-build a permanent home for Lutheran High. Based on our Lutheran community responses, the following recommendations were made: invest in a permanent and dedicated Development Director, immediately move forward with a fundraising campaign, and begin construction in an urgent manner.
The Board approved hiring of a full time Development Director and approved our Capital Fundraising theme “Strong Faith. Strong Foundation. Strong Future.” A campaign strategy and timeline are being finalized. Potential grants and national appeal plans are being researched along with the establishment of our fundraising committee.
In 2024, The State of Illinois appropriated $1.5 million in grant funding for Lutheran High to rebuild at our new Chatham Road location. Lutheran High is now partnering with Mercury LLC, a high-stakes public strategy firm. The firm’s Senior Research & Grants Associate graciously offered his expertise to assist Lutheran High with obtaining reimbursement for land and construction expenditures.
Board of Directors Passed the Following Resolutions!
On October 5th, based on the conceptual plans of Lutheran High School, the Board authorized the Building Committee to enter into an agreement with Graham and Hyde Architects to prepare bid documents with compensation on an hourly basis. The Board moved to proceed with the removal of the farm house on the Chatham Road property. The Board also moved to contract with Generis for a period not to exceed six months to provide Coaching and Strategy Engagement for the development office.
The Development Team and Construction Committee will continue to work concurrently to ensure no time is lost. We understand the urgency to plan for and construct our new LuHi Home but must also ensure that we proceed in a thoughtful and steward manner.
Please keep Lutheran High School, its students, faculty, staff, board members, and all members of the LuHi family in your prayers. Thank you to all of our volunteers! We couldn't do this without your support.
In Christ,
George Perkins
Chairman, Lutheran High School Board of Directors
November 7, 2024
Exciting progress is being made towards the construction of our new Springfield Lutheran High School!
As most of you are aware, in July the Association purchased approximately 26 acres on Chatham Road, just north of Spaulding-Orchard Road, from and adjacent to Cherry Hills Baptist Church. We believe the site will enable us to build a beautiful new facility, complete with classrooms, science labs, offices, meeting space, a place for worship, a gymnasium, and outdoor athletic facilities. Now that a site for the high school has been purchased, the Board of Directors has directed the formation of a Construction Committee to plan the development of the site.
The Construction Committee, chaired by Steve Nardulli, with Principal Zack Klug, Board President George Perkins, Michelle Cox, Nancy Fuchs, Dave Harshaw, Rich Harkins, Rick Koopman, Dave Lientz, Mike Matzke, and Greg Womack, has been meeting regularly with architect Kevin Handy of Graham and Hyde Architects. Committee members have toured new construction at Pleasant Plains High School and Athens High School. High school faculty have met twice with the architect and discussed at length a conceptual design for our new facilities.
At present, the Construction Committee has extensively commented on a rough draft of drawings laying out a basic plan for our new school. The rough draft is being refined based upon the committee’s and the faculty’s observations and suggestions.
The Board has also retained Fellowship Development, a division of the Steier Group, a professional fund-raising organization with a national scope. Our fundraisers, working with a fundraising committee. They are currently working on fund-raising study and plan.
It is the Board’s intention to develop sufficient conceptual plans to formulate a construction budget and to give members of our community an opportunity to comment on and participate in the planning process. To that end, the Board plans to approve and publish the conceptual plans in November. Thereafter, it is our hope that a series of public open house forums will be conducted to give members of our community to ask questions and make suggestions
There have also been meetings with the Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. As required by the City of Springfield and Sangamon County preparations are being made for a traffic study and large-scale site development.
The construction of a new high school is a complicated and time-consuming process. We ask you to remember the Association in your prayers.
July 15, 2024
Dear Lutheran High School Community and Supporters,
Greetings in Christ!
I am excited to give you an update related to the future of Lutheran High School. At the July Board of Directors meeting on July 8, 2024, there were several decision made about the future of Lutheran High School.
The first is that Lutheran High School has contracted with Graham and Hyde Architects to provide conceptual, architectural drawings for a new building. Our building committee, led by Steve Nardulli, will be meeting with their architects in their coming meetings. These drawings will be completed by the beginning of October. The building committee will also be working to review proposals from architectural firms for the larger project.
In addition, the Board of Directors has contracted with the Steier Group's Fellowship Development to head up our fundraising efforts. They have worked with many Christian churches and schools throughout the United States to raise funds for building projects. We are excited to begin collaborating with this group and move this project forward.
If you have a been out on West Washington lately, you will have noticed a fencing has been place around the building. We are anticipating demolition in the near future, but have not been given a specific date, as they are still waiting of specific permits to be obtained. We will let you know when that takes place.
We offer up thanks to God for His blessings over the last couple years and in the future of Lutheran High School in the Springfield community. Please keep all of these things in your prayers along with our students, faculty, and staff as we start back to school on August 19, 2024.
Faithfully in Christ,
Zachary Klug
Principal
June 18, 2024
Dear Lutheran High Community,
As a family we share sorrows and joys. The past two years have brought much of both. They have also brought opportunity. We wish to inform you of some exciting changes as steps are being taken to lay hold of these opportunities.
On Friday, June 14, Lutheran High School was blessed to close on 25 acres off Chatham Road, just north of Cherry Hills Church. This site is large enough to hold an academic building, gymnasium, and athletic fields. The cost of this purchase was covered by generous supporters of LuHi.
A building committee is being formed to make recommendations to the Board of Directors for hiring an architect, site layout, and building design. A fundraising committee is also being formed to raise the money needed. LuHi is embarking on a multi-million dollar campaign to complete the new campus. Those interested in supporting this project can email the school office.
Lutheran High was also able to sign a lease agreement with Springfield First Church of the Nazarene for the next 3 years, with a 4th year extension option. That means while progress is made on the new campus, LuHi will have a cozy home at 5200 S. 6th Street Frontage Rd. E.
LuHi is also bidding farewell to the Washington Street academic building, as well. This should take place in the next month. When a firm date is set, it will be made public.
As you can see, God has been moving, and there's still more to be done. Please keep Lutheran High School, its students, faculty, staff, board members, and all members of the LuHi family in your prayers as things move forward!
In Christ,
The Lutheran High School Board of Directors
