St. Henry HS Plans $6M Expansion

By Mike Perleberg A rendering of a proposed new auditorium at St. Henry District High School in Erlanger. Image provided. (Erlanger, Ky.) – For the first time in more than two decades, St. Henry District High School will undergo major campus expansion. The Diocese of Covington has announced the $6 million building project at the high school in Erlanger. “Catholic education has been a valuable asset in the Diocese of Covington for over 160 years, and for over 80 years St. Henry District High School has been a big part of that,” said Bishop of Covington Roger J. Foys. “St. Henry prepares our young people for the world and helps to evangelize and make the world, our community, and the church a stronger place.” Longtime principal David Otte says St. Henry is proactively embracing the population growth in Boone County. The parochial high school has seen its enrollment increase 18 percent since 2012. Enrollment currently stands at about 560 students from 20 different grade schools from across northern Kentucky and some even in Dearborn County. The expansion will include more classrooms, a new outdoor grotto, and a premiere fine arts facility complete with a 650-seat multipurpose auditorium for assemblies, plays, and community gatherings. Otte says the school’s fine arts department engages more students each day than any other extra-curricular activity. “Nearly three out of every four students strengthen the creative halves of their brains through involvement in the fine arts. We’re excited to provide a space that matches the creativity and dedication of existing students, as well as future students,” Otte says. In addition, existing space will be upgraded to serve an enhanced STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – curriculum. “We’ve had numerous graduates build successful careers as nurses, physicians, computer programmers, engineers and the like on the strong classroom-based STEM education they received at SHDHS,” says Otte. “Now, with this expansion, we’ll be able to add a broader array of hands-on opportunities to an already outstanding STEM curriculum.” Planning began in 2014. Construction will start in the spring of 2018 if fundraising is successful. The Building on Excellence, Guided by Faith campaign is being chaired by SHDHS parents and current grandparents Boone and Karen Riegler. “Like so many alumni and parents, we have a special place in our hearts for St. Henry District High School. We feel that investing in St. Henry is investing in the future of our children and the future of our faith,” said Boone Riegler, a 1970 graduate.