"Keeping the Promise" Campaign
In 1878, John A. Creighton made good on a promise he made to his brother Edward Creighton and Edward's wife, Mary Lucretia(Wareham) Creighton, that the family fortune would be used to create a school for boys in which education was quality, Catholic-based, open to all young men of promise, and most of all, affordable. Fast forward 130 years as Creighton Preparatory School has embarked upon a major initiative to see that promise continue, by launching a $37 million capital campaign. On May 9, 2008 Creighton Prep broke ground for the new Student Health and Fitness Center and adjacent academic facilities. Below are 10 priorities encompassed within the campaign.
STUDENTS:
Affordability
Creighton Prep has the second lowest tuition among the 52 Jesuit Secondary Education Association(JSEA) network of schools, and Creighton Prep ranks in the top twenty percent of JSEA schools in financial assistance. While the current effort is good, Prep wants to assure that every young man of promise has the necessary financial resources to attend the school. This effort is in line with our commitment to be a more socio-economically and racially diverse school.
Customized Learning Experience (CLE)
Creighton Preparatory School will provide each of its students a customized learning experience with academic and leadership components. The major emphasis of the academic component will be to assure that each accepted student will have the support and resources that he needs to succeed. The leadership component will help each student to identify his own unique talents so that he can be a leader among leaders.
Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy (JVLA)
Creighton Preparatory School has completed the pioneering work to begin the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy connecting the 52 Jesuit secondary schools in the United States. The JVLA, led by Jeff Hausman, ‘83, has been separately incorporated and has its own curriculum and business-planning boards in place. Three virtual classes will start in the fall of 2008.
FACULTY:
Compensation
Creighton Prep pays faculty salaries comparable to the Omaha Public School pay scale with a one-year lag. The goal is to increase faculty compensation. Members of the Faculty Senate Committee are working with administration and governing board members on this priority.
Formation
The goal of this initiative is to create a comprehensive system for evaluating each teacher to help him/her be the very best. The basis of this evaluation structure is a shared understanding of excellence in Ignatian teaching as defined in the document Characteristics of Excellent Ignatian Teachers.
Innovation
This endowed fund will be a resource for teachers who have adaptive, creative and entrepreneurial ideas in meeting the academic needs of the students. (A group of faculty members are currently engaged in developing this initiative)
FACILITY:
Student Health and Fitness Center
Currently, Creighton Prep has one serviceable multi-purpose gym for over 1,050 young men. This space is not adequate to meet Prep's need for intramurals, fitness and competitive athletics. We will construct a new three-court gym with a competition court, indoor walking/jogging track and a new weight room.
Academic Facilities
There will be construction of an amphitheater style classroom and a four-classroom technology center. The area which was the cafeteria and rec room until 1991 will now be home to 12 newly renovated/constructed classrooms and two department offices.
Outdoor Competition Areas
A synthetic field turf will be installed on the back game field and the baseball field will be renovated. The development of these particular spaces will allow Prep to utilize our entire space in a more efficient manner. In addition, an access road heading north will be opened in order to provide greater safety and convenience for everyone.
Land Purchase
Land to the north of Prep has been purchased by the school to allow for future expansion.
