The project was paid for by money raised through the school’s Capital Campaign, which is an ongoing fund for donations to Alter, and a contribution from the booster club.
“It is more restoration than it is construction,” said Jeff Plate, director of institutional advancement at Alter, who added that the project started in May, just before graduation. It is scheduled to be done by Aug. 18 — “because that’s when school starts.”
The gym is being pressure-washed and painted, ceiling fans are being installed, and the floor is being stripped and refinished.
“It will include the current logo that Alter has come to be known by,” Plate said. “It will be a more appealing place to watch games.”
Also, the Spirit Shop will exchange places with an athletic equipment room. The Spirit Shop will be inside the main door of the gym entrance to the school.
“This will make the Spirit Shop more accessible for parents and students,” Plate said. “And, by adding a ticket booth as part of the Spirit Shop, it streamlines ticket sales for home events, thereby reducing traffic entering and exiting the gym.”
Finally, the stairwells at the school are being repainted and are getting new skids.
The last renovation of this scale happened in 1980s, according to Plate, when the gym floor was stripped, sanded and refinished.
To keep people abreast of the renovations at Alter, the school has been posting construction updates on its website (www.alterhighschool.org) throughout the summer.
“The community is interested in what we’re doing,” Plate said. “We try to keep that fresh for everybody. We also get a lot of looks during the summer from prospective parents.”
Alter, a private Catholic high school at 940 E. David Road in Kettering, was founded in 1962.
The school is expecting an enrollment of 659 for the 2010-11 school year, which Plate said is “holding steady.”
Alter draws students from Kettering, Bellbrook, Centerville, Springboro, Miamisburg and the Greater Dayton area.
Tuition costs $5,750 to $8,095, depending on family income and whether families are members of an area parish that sends its students to Alter.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley @DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author